AFL Draft 2024: North Albury’s Ben Paton and Maffra’s Max Knobel headed to new clubs
Second chances have been afforded to two former Vic Country stars with selection in the rookie draft. See all the picks.
The rookie draft held on Friday has given a string of country-based players their first shot at life on an AFL list.
Or in some cases, like North Albury’s Ben Paton and Maffra’s Max Knobel, a shot at another club.
Paton, who was delisted by the Saints at the end of the season, is joining Sydney and Knobel, a ruckman who was drafted by Fremantle two years ago, will head to the other side of the country and play for Gold Coast.
Sandhurst’s Archer Day-Wicks has been picked up with the only selection Essendon used in the rookie draft and East Point’s Harry Charleson will join Carlton.
Day-Wicks is the third Sandhurst junior taken by AFL clubs in the last three days with Tobie Travaglia picked up by St Kilda and Oliver Hannaford joining Greater Western Sydney.
Heyfield’s Asher Eastham is also Gold Coast-bound.
Meanwhile, Vic Country’s draft haul swelled on night two of the national draft.
They included players who spent the majority of the year in the talent league, but also some genuine diamonds in the rough, who had refused to let the dream die by playing at VFL level in 2024 in the hope of being called up.
They included Albury’s Riley Bice and Lavington’s Aidan Johnson, who were members of Werribee’s VFL flag-winning team this year and Sam Davidson, who has played at Sale City, Maffra and South Mildura since 2022 and was rated the best young talent in the VFL playing for Richmond.
LACHIE JAQUES, St Mary’s Western Bulldogs
Geelong Falcons captain who made the talent league team-of-the-year as a medium-sized defender.
JOBE SHANAHAN, Moama, West Coast Eagles
Something of a surprise he wasn’t taken on the first night of draft, but the Eagles swooped in and grabbed the exciting key forward from Moama, where he has been part of the club’s last three finals campaigns.
Is joining Tongala’s Harley Reid in the west.
JAMES BARRAT, Leitchville-Gunbower, St Kilda
Another country defender, who has made his way to the Saints.
Did start the season with the Pioneers as a forward, but was swung back when playing for Vic Country.
Pioneers best and fairest winner this season.
JACK WHITLOCK, Shepparton, Port Adelaide
After also being overlooked on opening night, Whitlock was snapped up by Port, which had already grabbed one of his best mates from the Murray Bushrangers, Joe Berry.
JACK OUGH, Wentworth, Greater Western Sydney
Put his name on the radar of AFL clubs with a big finals series for the Rebels after relocating to Ballarat to attend St Patrick’s College.
Another midfielder for the Giants to develop nicely into an AFL-standard player.
RILEY BICE, Albury, Sydney
Took the plunge to leave Albury where he was a best and fairest winner to play for VFL premiers Werribee.
Played mainly across halfback with his left boot a deadly weapon.
Was best afield for the Ovens & Murray against Goulburn Valley in 2023 after playing alongside Wangaratta’s Joe Richards in the corresponding match the year before to boost his chances of eventually being taken by Collingwood.
SAM DAVIDSON, Sale City, Maffra, South Mildura, Western Bulldogs
Burst out of Covid to be in Sale City’s best players eight times in 10 matches playing in the North Gippsland league in 2022, finishing runner-up in league best and fairest.
Last year he began playing for South Mildura before ending up at Maffra as he travelled the state furthering his medical studies.
The 22-year-old joined Richmond this year and won the Fothergill-Round-Mitchell medal as the VFL’s most promising young player.
JASPER ALGER, Warragul, Richmond
Joined the Oakleigh Chargers when he moved to Melbourne to attend Caulfield Grammar.
Represented Vic Country four times in the national championships and impressed as a medium-sized forward.
RHYS UNWIN, Cobden, Essendon
Lightning quick small forward taken by the Bombers from Cobden, the same club where Essendon star Zach Merrett began his career.
Had to overcome an early season ankle injury, but finished the year strongly to put him in the draft frame.
Snuck in two games for Cobden in the Hampden league on his road back.
RIVER STEVENS, Newtown & Chilwell, North Melbourne
The son of Kangaroos champion, Anthony, and eligible for father-son selection.
Boosted his draft prospects when he was best afield in the Geelong College-Geelong Grammar fixture this year.
AIDAN JOHNSON, Lavington, Melbourne
The Demons dropped a late-night stunner when they grabbed the Werribee premiership forward.
Originally from Lavington where he played alongside Shaun Mannagh in Lavington’s 2019 premiership win in the Ovens & Murray.
Super competitive who will grab his chance with both hands.
FIRST ROUND SELECTIONS
SAM LALOR, Richmond, Bacchus Marsh
As many thought, Lalor was taken by Richmond with the first pick in the draft.
An explosive midfielder who can be equally damaging up forward, drawing similarities already with Dustin Martin.
His dad Steve was a top player for Benalla in the Ovens & Murray in the 1980s, representing the league and winning the club’s best and fairest at the age of 19.
FINN O’SULLIVAN, Koroit, North Melbourne
Went early as many tipped despite battling injuries for most of the season.
The Kangaroos used the second selection to add him to some recent high midfield draft picks including Harry Sheezel, George Wardlaw and Colby McKercher.
TOBIE TRAVAGLIA, Sandhurst, St Kilda
The Saints swooped on the Sandhurst midfielder/defender, who already stands 188cm, with the eighth selection.
Played most of the season with the Bendigo Pioneers where he averaged 24 touches in the 12 matches he played.
ALIX TAURU, Warragul Industrials, St Kilda
The second country player taken by the Saints with their second top 10 pick.
Tall defensive prospect who got better as the season progressed.
Initially overlooked for the Vic Country squad, but ended up playing three games at the national championships.
XAVIER LINDSAY, Leongatha, Inverloch-Kongwak
The Demons used the extra first round pick they secured from Essendon to take the smooth-mover from South Gippsland with the 11th pick overall.
A left-footer with exquisite kicking skills, Lindsay is expected to recover from a late season knee injury to be back training next month.
JONTY FAULL, Redan, Richmond
Created some level of surprise when he was the first key forward chosen in the draft by the Tigers with the 14th pick.
A high energy player who stands 195cm who sealed his first round selection by kicking five goals against the Oakleigh Chargers in the talent league preliminary final.
JOE BERRY, Wangaratta, Benalla, Port Adelaide
Port Adelaide couldn’t resist the talented small forward with the lethal left foot, who was an under-18s all-Australian selection this year and was playing senior footy in the O & M in 2023.
Joins another former Wangaratta player, Joe Richards, at Port Adelaide next year.
OLIVER HANNAFORD, Sandhurst, Greater Western Sydney
The Giants added another player who can play in a variety of positions.
Kicked six goals in a final for the Pioneers against Geelong Falcons, but can play midfield and down back.
Sandhurst’s second pick in the first round.
MATT WHITLOCK, Shepparton, North Melbourne
The final selection on the first night of the draft and the Kangaroos handed up a future first round pick to Richmond to take the key defender, who has also been used up forward by the Murray Bushrangers.
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