AFL Draft 2024: Koroit, Wangaratta, Leongatha and Moama young guns in mix for early picks

Four top-end AFL draft contenders from country Victoria have already made a mark at their country club. Read the insights from those who know them well.

Vic Country’s reputation for producing top-end draft talent is set to come to the fore again this week when AFL clubs make crucial future-focused calls on players at Wednesday’s national draft.

Koroit’s Finn O’Sullivan, Wangaratta’s Joe Berry, Leongatha’s Xavier Lindsay and Moama’s Jobe Shanahan are among the hundreds of AFL hopefuls.

While they have spent much of the last two years at talent league level and under-age national championships, the four young guns have already made a mark at senior level at country clubs where their careers started.

FINN O’SULLIVAN, Koroit

Koroit’s Finn O’Sullivan, right, is considered a top three prospect in the AFL draft. Picture: Dylan Burns

Koroit is no stranger to producing AFL draftees.

Essendon plucked Martin Gleeson in 2012 and more recently Port Adelaide swooped on Willem Drew.

O’Sullivan will be the next Koroit young gun to progress to the elite level with a subtle difference to his draft predecessors, according to current coach Chris McLaren.

“When Willem and Marty were both Koroit players going into the draft we were crossing our fingers and just so hopeful they would get an opportunity,” McLaren said.

“But watching Finn come through, as each year goes by, it’s been more about how high he will go rather than if he will go.

“He has got all the assets, but the amount of time that he looks like he’s got is the thing that stands out to me.”

O’Sullivan debuted at senior level for Koroit when still playing under-16s and in his only match last year he “absolutely dominated” against Warrnambool.

“Both his brothers (Jack and Paddy) are very good players, who have played in premierships with Koroit,” McLaren said.

“They are an extremely talented family and Finn has always been the best player of his age group.”

Position: Midfield. Draft range: Top 3.

JOE BERRY, Wangaratta

Wangaratta’s Joe Berry playing for Vic Country this year. Picture: Will Russell

Berry began his career at Benalla, but his last three years have been spent at the Ovens & Murray league club that had Joe Richards drafted as a mature-age pick two years ago.

He played in Wangaratta’s 2022 under-18s flag before breaking into the Murray Bushrangers’ ranks last year when he also showed enough for the Magpies to blood him at senior level late in the season.

“He more than held his spot and played well in a couple of finals,” Wangaratta president Jon Henry said.

“Watching this year he has certainly developed physically.

“He’s got great lateral movement, but he’s also got great footy nous.

“He knows where the danger is and when to turn.

“But he wants to be good.”

Berry underlined his talents around goal by booting 11 goals in six senior appearances including three in a final against Albury.

Position: Small forward. Draft range: 15 to 20

XAVIER LINDSAY, Leongatha

Xavier Lindsay made his senior debut for Leongatha last year when free of Gippsland Power commitments. Picture: Graham Denholm

Lindsay crossed from Inverloch-Kongwak to Leongatha for the last two seasons and had Gippsland Power not gone deep into the talent finals in 2023, the midfield jet might be a Parrots premiership player.

Higher duties and a knee injury late in the season prevented Lindsay adding to his five senior matches for Leongatha.

But dual Leongatha premiership coach Trent McMicking is an unashamed fan of the player he rates as one of the best kicks of the ball he’s seen play at VFL, suburban and country league level.

“He’s a really good player,” McMicking said.

“We didn’t have him this year for one game unfortunately.

“But it would have been tough not to pick him for the grand final last year had he been available.

“When he did play he was great off the wing and halfback, but once he gets into the AFL system he will play anywhere.

“He’s really smooth, silky player.”

Position: Midfield. Draft range: 15 to 20

JOBE SHANAHAN, Moama

Moama’s Jobe Shanahan, left, playing for the AFL Academy against the Footscray VFL team this year. Picture: Michael Willson

A change to finals qualification in the Murray league in 2018 to allow talent league games to count as senior matches allowed Shanahan to play for Moama at the business end of the season for the last three years.

After a hectic season that included three matches for Essendon’s VFL team, Shanahan played only one home and away match this year before returning for finals that ended in another preliminary final defeat.

“He nearly won us the preliminary final this year,” outgoing Moama coach Sam Sheldon said.

“He kicked a goal to put us in front and then (Finley) kicked a goal with five seconds to go.

“He first played seniors when he was 16 and actually won us a final in that year.

“He’s an exceptional talent, but he’s an even better bloke.

“He will go a long way when he gets his chance.”

Position: Key forward. Draft range: 20 to 25