Gary Buckenara’s top 50 players for the AFL draft 2016: Part two, 25-1
WHO does recruiter Gary Buckenara rate as the best player in this year’s draft? See his top 25 draft talent rankings in order.
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IN A very deep — and very even — draft, some clubs will rate certain players a lot higher than others.
That makes the order hard to predict, but recruiter Gary Buckenara has listed his top 50 prospects. Who will your club choose?
See who he ranked 26-50 here — and scroll down to find out his top 25 draft talents including who he would take with the coveted No.1 selection.
GARY BUCKNARA’S DRAFT TOP 50 PART TWO: 25-1
25. ALEX VILLIS
Defender, 182cm, 70kg, Norwood/South Australia
Buckenara says: Villis’s strengths are that he’s a good decision-maker, can win his own footy and is a beautiful kick. He’ll need to put on a bit of size to use his in-and-under capabilities at AFL level but he’s a very smart player who is aware of what’s around him on the footy field.
24. ZAC FISHER
Small forward/midfielder, 175cm, 61kg, Perth/Guilford Grammar
Buckenara says: From Perth, Fisher is another small forward who has great footy awareness and is clever like most small forwards are. He has a really light body and the club that picks him up will need to be patient and put the development into him that he needs. He has pace, is athletic and smart, but just needs the body to be able to compete at AFL level. He’s got some tricks.
23. SHAI BOLTON
Half forward, 177cm, 67kg, South Fremantle/Forrestdale
Buckenara says: Bolton definitely has the traits AFL clubs are looking for in a small forward. He’s dangerous around goals, is quick and has x-factor. He can take a big mark but is only a light frame so will need to spend some time in the gym and also needs to get a bit fitter. He’s a really nice player.
22. KYM LeBOIS
Small forward, 175cm, 66kg, North Adelaide/Koonibba
Buckenara says: LeBois is a left-footer with tremendous goal sense, so he’ll be that small forward that quite a few clubs are on the lookout for. He has a combination of speed and endurance, has good vision but because he’s only a light frame he tends to get pushed off the ball a little bit, so he’ll need to work on his body strength.
21. OLIVER FLORENT
Midfielder/half forward, 183cm, 74kg, Sandringham Dragons/Beaumaris/Mentone GS
Buckenara says: Another midfielder/forward, Florent has been in a good system at the Dragons. He has footy smarts, has great agility but probably just needs to be a little bit harder at the contest on some occasions. I still think there’s enough there to like about him to be a relatively early selection.
20. JORDAN RIDLEY
Defender, 192cm, 79kg, Oakleigh Chargers/Knox
Buckenara says: Ridley will be of interest to clubs because he’s a flexible prospect. At 192cm he can play in a number of positions whether it be down back, up forward or in the midfield, but probably plays his best footy as a defender. He’s a hard worker.
19. DANIEL VENABLES
Midfielder/half forward, 186cm, 81kg, Western Jets/PEGS/Keilor
Buckenara says: A mid-sized midfielder from the Western Jets, Venables had a lot of school commitments this year but was All-Australian as a midfielder in the carnival. He competes really well and is very good in congested situations.
18. JY SIMPKIN
Half forward/midfielder, 181cm, 71kg, Murray Bushrangers/Mooroopna
Buckenara says: Simpkin is a playmaker. He’s a midfielder who makes smart decisions and is classy and clever. He’s not an overly high possession-winner but when he does get it he’s creative. He’s one of those guys who, when he gets possession of the ball, you know something good is going to happen for the team. He’ll be of interest to a lot of clubs.
17. JOSH ROTHAM
Defender, 192cm, 79kg, West Perth/Whitfords
Buckenara says: A tall defender from WA, Rotham will turn 19 early next year and will come into the system as a potential third tall defender. He also has the athleticism to be a tall midfielder or tall winger because he does run quite well.
16. JARROD BERRY
Midfielder/half-back, 191cm, 80kg, North Ballarat Rebels/Horsham Saints
Buckenara says: At 191cm Berry is a very good ball winner and a smart player who makes good decisions. He does have his own kicking style but it is quite effective — he doesn’t miss too many targets and it’s penetrating. Berry has had some injury concerns, which limited his year a little bit but is a very hard-at-it player who can also be damaging on the outside. There is a lot to like about him.
15. GRIFFIN LOGUE
Tall defender, 193cm, 92kg, Swan Districts/Guildford Grammar
Buckenara says: A WA boy, Logue is a really nice size as a bid-bodied potential key-position player. He tested really well at the draft combine — he impressed a lot with what he did so I think he came up the pecking order a bit. Logue has shown he can hold his own in one-on-ones and is a long-kicking left-footer. He’ll be in the mix to be a top-20 pick for sure.
14. ISAAC CUMMING
Defender, 183cm, 72kg, Broken Hill/GWS Academy
Buckenara says: Cumming can play on a wing, across half-back and even half-forward — he’s a bit on an all-rounder type of player. He plays outside and is a really smooth mover with a good kick. He is available to GWS as part of its academy despite playing footy with North Adelaide in the under-18s.
13. KOBE MUTCH
Midfielder, 184cm, 79kg, Gol Gol/Bendigo Pioneers/GWS Academy
Buckenara says: A mid-sized midfielder, Much wins his own ball. He has a good work rate but probably needs to work a bit more on his repeat efforts despite the fact he knows how to find the footy and win it. He’s also got good skills, so he’s one of those elite kicking type players who are very important. He’ll be high on club radars.
12. HARRY PERRYMAN
Half-back/forward, 184cm, 75kg, Collingullie/GWS Academy
Buckenara says: Perryman reads the play really well and can play back and forward. He’s good overhead, skilful and is a very competitive type. He’s a member of GWS’s Academy and I think clubs will be very keen to make the Giants pay a decent price for him.
PART TWO: WHO GARY BUCKENARA RATES AS THE BEST PLAYERS IN THE DRAFT, RANKED BETWEEN 50-26
11. JORDAN GALLUCI
Midfielder, 183cm, 75kg, Eastern Ranges/Yarra Valley GS/Lilydale
Buckenara says: Another midfielder, Galluci is a polished player who has good pace and is very athletic. He probably does need to tidy up his disposal a little bit but he has all the traits of becoming a very good midfielder because of his athleticism and speed. Recruiters like his dash.
10. TIM TARANTO
Midfielder, 186cm, 82kg, Sandringham Dragons/Parkdale/St Kevin’s
Buckenara says: Taranto has good skills, makes good decisions and should be one of this year’s top prospects. The only query on him might be his pace, but he’s definitely a very nice player and will go in the first round.
9. JACK SCRIMSHAW
Defender/midfielder, 194cm, 80kg, Sandringham Dragons/Beaumaris/Haileybury
Buckenara says: Another tall defender who can go into the midfield, Scrimshaw makes good decisions with the ball and I believe he’ll go in the top 10. He has had a few little injury issues but I don’t think that’s any concern moving forward. He’ll be highly sought-after because he can also go forward, has a really good pair of hands and can do the uncanny things every now and then. He’s a real talent and has a bit of x-factor.
8. TIM ENGLISH
Ruckman, 203cm, 86kg, South Fremantle/Brookton-Pingelly
Buckenara says: English is the best young ruckman in the draft and because ruckmen are few and far between in this year’s group, a club needing a developing ruckman will pounce. He does still have big of weight to put on, so he’s a bit of a project, but he certainly has some real ability in terms of his athleticism and footy nous around the ground. I doubt he will get past Fremantle’s first pick at No.7. Taking him to be the heir apparent to Aaron Sandilands would be a very smart move.
7. WILL BRODIE
Midfielder, 189cm, 82kg, Murray Bushrangers/Shepparton
Buckenara says: A big-bodied inside midfielder, Brodie is really clean with his ball-handling and will definitely attract early interest in the draft. I think there’s a lot of upside to him but he has already shown he can perform under pressure in the finals of the TAC Cup, which really saw him rise up the draft order.
6. JACK BOWES
Midfielder, 187cm, 78kg, Cairns/Gold Coast Academy
Buckenara says: Bowes is a member of Gold Coast’s Academy and I won’t be surprised if Brisbane keep the Suns honest by placing a bid on him early, which will force them to pay a high price to secure him. He’s a good decision-maker, beautiful kick and his awareness around the ground is second to none — he knows what’s going on and because of that has very good vision. Can be a bit one-paced so will need to try and improve his speed off the mark. Is in the Sam Mitchell and Matt Priddis mould but a taller version.
5. WILL SETTERFIELD
Midfielder, 190cm, 80kg, Sandringham Dragons/Albury/GWS Academy
Buckenara says: A member of the GWS Academy, I have no doubt a bid will come in early for Setterfield. He’s a good size for a midfield type player and has already shown he’s going to be a really good player. He can play in a number of positions, whether it’s as a big-bodied midfielder, high half-forward or rebound defender, and will only get better in a full-time environment.
4. SAM PETREVSKI-SETON
Midfielder/half forward, 181cm, 76kg, Claremont/Halls Creek
Buckenara says: Petrevski-Seton has been an AFL player-in-waiting for quite some time. He’s played very well at under-16s and under-18s and played league footy for Claremont in Western Australia. He’ll come into the AFL system ready to go and be pushing very quickly for a senior game. He offers a lot of upside, has an interesting background in terms of where he’s come from and his journey to being draft hopeful. He’s got the dedication it takes to make it in the AFL. A club won’t go wrong by picking him.
3. BEN AINSWORTH
Midfielder, 179cm, 74kg, Gippsland Power/Morwell
Buckenara says: A small forward/midfielder, Ainsworth is a clever player who makes good decisions with the ball. I like the way he goes about his work — he has genuine upside and I think there would be a lot of clubs looking for a player exactly like him. He’s classy and a professional in all he does. Will be a very good pick-up.
2. ANDREW McGRATH
Defender, 179cm, 75kg, Sandringham Dragons/East Brighton/Brighton
Buckenara says: A ready-made running defender who can also play in the midfield, McGrath’s improvement could be quite dramatic once he gets into the AFL system. He makes very good decisions with the footy, has good skills and is just one of those players who is very reliable. When you’re looking for rebound defenders you’re looking for guys who can break the lines and McGrath is exactly that type of player. I think he’ll adjust to the tempo of AFL quickly.
1. HUGH McCLUGGAGE
Midfielder, 185cm, 75kg, North Ballarat Rebels/South Warrnambool
Buckenara says: McCluggage is a beautiful size, good mover and a good decision-maker. He wins his own footy but he’s also very good on the outside because he’s well balanced and doesn’t waste too many possessions — that’s the most impressive part about his game, he’s very clean. McCluggage is a level-headed young man who will be around AFL circles for a very long time. Essendon will be tossing up who to take, but I just couldn’t go past him. Will be a star.
Originally published as Gary Buckenara’s top 50 players for the AFL draft 2016: Part two, 25-1
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