Mick McGuane on what your club needs at the draft and trade table to improve in 2022
This draft is vital to the success of Adelaide’s rebuild and the Power need to reload and go again. So who fits the bill? Analyst Mick McGuane runs his eye over both SA clubs.
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For all but two clubs, the AFL season is over and the focus has already turned to the trade and draft period.
Some clubs look set to do some aggressive recruiting, but most are poised to head to the draft in search of an injection of youth to try to launch them back up the ladder.
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There is an added layer of complexity for recruiters, with Victorian draft prospects having played an average of less than seven games across the past two years.
However, there is still plenty of talent to pick from around the country.
Here’s what your club should be looking to do — and who their draft and trade targets should be.
ADELAIDE
The Crows’ list management direction has been quite evident.
They’ve been rebuilding for the last two to three years and they must go to the draft again.
Daniel Talia and Tom Lynch have been giving their marching orders and they’ve lost Jake Kelly to Essendon through free agency.
Expect compensation for Kelly of around pick 40.
About half of Adelaide’s list are under-23s, which is a great core to build for the future.
The Crows have hardworking midfielders with Rory Laird, Rory Sloane, Ben Keays and Matt Crouch, plus Paul Seedsman who had a brilliant year on a wing.
But they could do with a midfield-forward type who can play with penetration.
At pick 4, expect the Crows to be closely looking at draft options like Ben Hobbs and Finn Callaghan who offer that speed and outside spark.
However, recruiting homegrown South Australian talent should also be strong consideration, especially after the impacts of Covid border restrictions.
This is why the homesick Jordan Dawson from the Sydney Swans becomes a logical recruit as he is from the country town of Robe in South Australia but possesses the kicking skills the Crows desperately need.
I’d keep Taylor Walker and let him fulfil the commitments he has made – to his contract and to bettering himself as a person.
DRAFT DOSSIER: PROFILES AND STATS ON THE TOP 70 PROSPECTS
CARLTON
The Blues think they are a finals team and you wouldn’t expect them to change their list strategy after a poor 2021.
Fremantle’s Adam Cerra and Sydney’s George Hewett have both been strongly linked to Princes Park and are two players who would add significantly to the club’s midfield depth and would allow Zac Williams to get back to his best role across halfback.
Hewett can play an accountable run-with role and Cerra is an accumulator who can provide some assistance for Sam Walsh around the ground.
The pairing could be the icing on the cake to launch the Blues back to finals.
With Eddie Betts retiring, Carlton needs the likes of Josh Honey and Corey Durdin to step up in the small pressure forward role.
There will need to be tough conversations with out-of-contract players Lachie O’Brien, Matthew Kennedy, Michael Gibbons and Jack Newnes – who could all find themselves on the trade table.
Other clubs will also have interest in Sam Petrevski-Seton, who is a talent that the Blues coaching staff haven’t been able to bed down a consistent role for.
COLLINGWOOD
It will be Christmas come early for the Magpies, who will get father-son Nick Daicos in this year’s draft.
A special talent, the prolific midfielder is a clear top-two pick in this year’s draft.
The only problem for Collingwood will be finding enough draft points to match such an early bid, which will mean they will need to trade out some players.
Expect the Magpies to shop around Mason Cox at the trade table.
Brayden Sier is another who could find a new home, after having limited midfield time in recent years despite dominant VFL form.
Jack Madgen is out of contract but has played a serviceable role in defence, particularly when Darcy Moore and Jeremy Howe have been out of the team.
Josh Thomas has been a great servant, but there might be a one or two-year opportunity for him elsewhere.
And could opportunity-starved ruckman Max Lynch be traded out to try and secure a young key forward which Collingwood desperately needs?
Is Melbourne’s Sam Weideman on their radar?
He might be, but can he be trusted enough to play the consistent high level role a key forward needs to become.
The Pies have plenty to weigh up.
ESSENDON
Don’t expect the Bombers to be too active in the draft and trade period this year, but there are a couple of specific areas of need.
The biggest internal challenge is trying to get Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti back to his best next year.
How desperate and committed will he be over summer to get back to peak physical condition?
Having also lost Irving Mosquito this year and Orazio Fantasia last year, a small pressure forward might be on their shopping list.
I would be having a good look at Geelong’s Quinton Narkle, who has been starved of opportunity of the Cats but can be that player. His manager says the Cats are working through a deal, but it’s not done yet.
He can also rotate through the midfield with his creativity and natural ball winning ability.
The Bombers could also do with another key forward.
Nik Cox was terrific on a wing this year, but played junior football as a key forward and could be the answer if he builds his body.
Ben Rutten has managed him wisely to this point but is clearly a player of the future.
Alternatively, a player like 195cm West Australian forward Jye Amiss would be a target in this year’s draft.
LIST ANALYSIS: EVERY ESSENDON PLAYER RATED
GEELONG
The Cats have tried to top up to win a premiership and it hasn’t worked.
They’re now in a bit of a pickle, in that a lot of senior players have lengthy contracts to fulfil.
That leaves players like Quinton Narkle, Charlie Constable, Jordan Clark and Nathan Kreuger still on the outer after years of limited senior opportunities.
Both Narkle and Clark are talented players and will be pursued by other clubs in trade discussions.
Narkle has played just 21 AFL games in the last two years, Constable five games in the same period, Clark 14 and Kreuger just two.
The Cats first draft pick as it stands will be into the 30s after early father-son bids are matched, but they could find something earlier if they use the trade equity they’ve got.
Toby Conway looms as the best ruckman in this year’s draft and is a local product from the Geelong Falcons, so the Cats would be keen to get him into their system if they can.
An injection of speed through the middle would also benefit Geelong and ruthless decisions
need to be made on out-of-contract veterans Shaun Higgins and Lachie Henderson.
HAWTHORN
The Hawks will be marching straight back to the draft under their new coaching group led by Sam Mitchell.
After years of topping up, the list needs an injection of additional young talent.
The key defensive posts are one key area the Hawks would be keen to add some depth to.
Denver Grainger-Barras looks like being a great player in time, but he’s not going to play on the monster key forwards of the competition just yet.
Three players in this year’s draft who will be of interest for the Hawks’ early picks are Greater Western Victoria Rebels backman Josh Gibcus (if GWS don’t get to him first), Swan Districts’ Rhett Bazzo and Claremont’s Jacob Van Rooyen.
Van Rooyen has primarily been a forward, but has the capacity to be a swingman and looks more comfortable in defence.
The Hawks could also do with another specialist wingman, such as Glenelg’s Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera who has great endurance and is a lovely kick.
Another crafty forward-50 pressure player could also be handy, such as Dandenong Stingrays forward Judson Clarke or South Fremantle’s Jesse Motlop.
I would entertain trading Jack Gunston, which could be good for him and Hawthorn.
NORTH MELBOURNE
After some savage list cuts last year, there looks set to be more of the same this year.
The Roos have already delisted Taylor Garner, Connor Menadue, Dom Tyson and Will Walker but I expect there to be further fallout.
I’d be having strong conversations with Shaun Atley, Tom Campbell and Trent Dumont – who could all be put on the trade table if other clubs are interested.
Richmond’s Callum Coleman-Jones is set to join the Roos and is a perfect fit as a forward and back-up ruckman for Todd Goldstein.
Coleman-Jones gives the Roos another target up forward alongside Nick Larkey and Cam Zurhaar and could eventually become a No. 1 ruckman when Goldstein hangs up the boots.
With the first pick in the draft, North will land South Adelaide onballer Jason Horne-Francis.
He’s a standout in this year’s draft pool alongside Nick Daicos, had senior experience in the SANFL this season and will add to the young and exciting midfield the Kangaroos are growing.
PORT ADELAIDE
The Power had hard calls to make on veterans Hamish Hartlett and Tom Rockliff and made them, moving on both.
Sydney’s Jordan Dawson has been strongly linked to Port and is the type of player they need as a wing or halfback.
To get him will come at a cost as the Swans won’t let him leave cheaply.
His arrival could allow Karl Amon to spend more time in the centre square, where he has proven himself from limited opportunities.
The Power were badly exposed by the Western Bulldogs when it came to post-clearance contested possession in their preliminary final and will be looking to add some midfield depth and speed.
Draft prospects like Glenelg’s Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera and Sandringham Dragons’ Josh Sinn would be perfect to add to the outside midfielder stocks, with both players quick and possessing good kicking skills.
Port’s backline could also do with a speed injection.
The Power have access to father-son prospect Jase Burgoyne, who fits the bill as a lightning quick rebounding defender.
Another player they could look at it is Corey Preston, who trained with the Bulldogs in pre-season, has good speed and can be used at either end.
Players on the fringes who could find themselves on the draft table include young ruckman Sam Hayes, Kane Farrell, Martin Frederick, Sam Mayes and Boyd Woodcock.
RICHMOND
The Tigers look set to go to the draft and are perfectly placed to land some youthful talent.
They currently hold picks 7 and 15 and could secure pick 20 from North Melbourne in exchange for forward-ruckman Callum Coleman-Jones, who is set to walk out the door.
Mabior Chol is also off to Gold Coast Suns as an unrestricted free agent.
Richmond needs to add midfield depth and there are plenty of options in this year’s draft.
Greater Western Victoria Rebels onballer Ben Hobbs is in the Joel Selwood mould and would be a perfect fit on the inside, as would Northern Knights ball-winner Josh Ward.
Sandringham Dragons’ Josh Sinn is more of an outside player, but would also be a nice fit for the Tigers on one wing.
With David Astbury retiring and Dylan Grimes not getting any younger, Richmond would also be looking at adding another key defender to the fold.
Greater Western Victoria Rebels backman Josh Gibcus, Swan Districts’ Rhett Bazzo and Claremont’s Jacob Van Rooyen are all options on that front.
Two players the Tigers might entertain putting on the trade table are Sydney Stack and Josh Caddy.
There would be some interest in Stack in particular, because the kid can play.
ST KILDA
Could big American Mason Cox be a good short-term fix for the Saints?
He will be entertained considering the delisting of Shaun McKernan and retirement of Jake Carlisle.
The out-of-contract Collingwood forward-ruckman would not cost St Kilda much and could provide another target up forward to assist a developing Max King, as well as allowing Tim Membrey to play as a third tall.
Cox’s addition would also provide back-up ruck assistance.
The Paddy Ryder-Rowan Marshall combination works great, but both players have been prone to injury which has meant we have not seen a lot of it.
Currently holding pick 9 in the draft, the Saints would be looking to add some midfield class and speed to the team.
Sandringham Dragons’ Finn Callaghan is a player they should be looking at, as well as Subiaco’s Neil Erasmus who can also go forward and kick a goal.
The out-of-contract Jack Lonie is one player who could attract interest at the trade table.
He would suit a club like Hawthorn, who are looking for another small forward who brings pressure, scoring opportunities and speed.
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