AFL draft 2022: Vic Country produces more draftees than WA and SA

The numbers have been tallied, and Vic Country has defied Covid disruptions to outperform whole footballing states at this year’s draft.

Victorian Country’s brightest football talent defied two years of major Covid-related restrictions and lockdowns to still produce almost more players in the national draft than two other heartland states combined.

AFL clubs swooped on 18 players including the No. 1 selection overall and two other top-10 picks compared to 11 from South Australia and only nine from Western Australia.

The SANFL and WAFL still managed to play in 2020, albeit shortened seasons, compared to the year being a total wipe-out for the Victorians.

The Victorian players drafted this week, country and metro, had no football in the important pathway year of under-16s followed by more pandemic pain last year.

Paul Corrigan, who coached the Victorian Country team this year, said club recruiters had factored in the resilience the players have shown through two disrupted years.

“It’s a credit to them all the way they’ve gone about it,” he said.

“(Recruiters) talk about it a lot, the resilience they’ve gone through in the last couple of years, and still being able to adapt and perform the way they have.”

Greater Western Sydney’s No. 1 draft pick Aaron Cadman from Darley. Picture: Morgan Hancock/Getty Images

Darley key forward Aaron Cadman went to Greater Western Sydney as the first selection overall.

Campderdown’s Sam Walsh (2018) and Mt Martha’s Jacob Weitering (2015) are the only other two No. 1 picks from Victorian Country clubs in the last decade.

Queenscliff’s Jhye Clark was always pegged to be a top 10 pick destined for Geelong and Moe’s Bailey Humphrey overcame a knee injury to rocket into the top-10 and be on his way to Gold Coast.

Queenscliff’s Jhye Clark is off to Geelong. Picture: Morgan Hancock/Getty Images

Veteran talent guru Kevin Sheehan said the country had produced a “bumper crop” of talented players.

“The figures show it’s been the most productive region in all of Australia this year,” he said.

“Vic Country has always produced players for the draft, but they’ve blown everyone else out of the water.

“It’s been a super challenging two years.

“But the country kids all have to leave home at some point to get into the AFL in either Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth, Brisbane or Gold Coast.

Swans fans, your 2022 draftees on their official first day at the club!

L-R: Jaiden Magor, Jacob Konstanty, Caleb Mitchell, Will Edwards, Cooper Vickery and Cameron Owen.#Bloodspic.twitter.com/i2LNLcu12F

— Sydney Swans (@sydneyswans) December 2, 2022

“It’s an advantage, a point of difference if you like.

“Clubs are of the view that country players are more likely to stay rather than in some cases wanting to go back to Melbourne.”

Maffra and North Ballarat had two players drafted with Maffra pair Coby Burgiel and Max Knobel both headed to Western Australia to play for West Coast and Fremantle respectively.

North Ballarat’s James Van Es is off to St Kilda and Hugh Bond is also going interstate to Adelaide.

Moe’s Bailey Humphrey is Gold Coast bound. Picture: Morgan Hancock/Getty Images

Burgiel, Knobel and Humphrey were from the most successful region this year, Gippsland, with five players drafted with the others being Jacob Konstanty and Cooper Vickery.

Sheehan said Collingwood’s decision to take Wangaratta’s Joe Richards in the national draft also provided heart and encouragement to those overlooked.

First of many for Joe Richards ✍️ pic.twitter.com/u8PoN3PI1l

— Collingwood FC (@CollingwoodFC) December 2, 2022

“He is saying to the ones who didn’t get picked up there is still a chance,” he said.

“Just go back and play some local community footy or state league footy, there is still a chance down the track if you’re good enough.”

VIC COUNTRY DRAFT CLASS 2022

BACKS: Cooper Vickery (Bairnsdale, Sydney) James Van Es (North Ballarat, St Kilda) Oscar Murdoch (Newtown & Chilwell, Geelong Rookie)

HALF-BACK: Hugh Bond (North Ballarat, Adelaide) Henry Hustwaite (Rosebud, Hawthorn) Harvey Gallagher (Sandhurst, Western Bulldogs)

CENTRES: Jaxon Binns (Berwick, Carlton) Jhye Clark (Queenscliff, Geelong) Caleb Mitchell (Yarrawonga, Sydney)

HALF-FORWARD: Coby Burgiel (Maffra, West Coast) Aaron Cadman (Darley, GWS) Noah Long (Echuca, West Coast)

FORWARDS: Jacob Konstanty (Drouin, Sydney) Brayden George (Wang Rovers, North Melbourne) Toby McMullin (Port Fairy, GWS)

FOLLOWERS: Max Knobel (Maffra, Fremantle) Bailey Humphrey (Moe, Gold Coast) Oliver Hollands (Wodonga, Carlton)

INTERCHANGE: Joe Richards (Wangaratta, Collingwood) Osca Riccardi (St Josephs, Geelong Rookie) Ted Clohesy (St Josephs, Geelong Cat B rookie), Oliver Sestan (Mansfield, Melbourne Rookie) Jack O’Sullivan (Kyneton, Hawthorn)

COACH: Paul Corrigan