WEST Adelaide speed machine Izak Rankine should be taken at pick one at this year’s AFL national draft, according to Champion Data.
Rankine’s sizzling AFL under-18 division one championships campaign has propelled him past SA teammate Jack Lukosius and Larke Medallist Sam Walsh from Vic Country to be the bona fide No. 1 selection in Champion’s eyes.
In a feat never before achieved, forward/midfielder Rankine — who kicked five goals in the Croweaters’ championship-deciding win against Victoria Metro last week — has topped Champion Data’s player ratings in consecutive years at under-18 national level.
SA’s AFL Academy members, from left, Hugo Munn, Connor Rozee, Izak Rankine, Jackson Hately, Jack Lukosius and Luke Valente, with the AFL under-18 championship trophy. Picture: Tait Schmaal.
As an underage player last season, Rankine — who has a bag of tricks which has experts comparing him to greats of the game like Andrew McLeod, Shaun Burgoyne, Cyril Rioli and Eddie Betts — topped the player ratings with an average of 18.0.
The two players who finished right behind him — Paddy Dow (17.5) and Cameron Rayner (17.0) — went at picks three and one at the national draft to Carlton and Brisbane respectively.
This year Rankine raised his rating to 18.5 — a whopping 2.3 points higher than the next-ranked player Walsh, who is in the conversation to be the 2018 No. 1 draft pick.
Midfielder Walsh had 16.2 points, with Vic Metro’s Xavier O’Halloran (14.4) and Bailey Smith (14.1) the next-ranked players.
SA’s MVP Luke Valente, who captained the Croweaters to their first under-18 championships win since 2014, was the second-highest ranked SA player with a rating of 12.9.
Lukosius was ranked 10th overall with an average of 11.8.
The complicated points system is designed to give a true measure of a player’s worth, taking into account disposal numbers, quality of possession, metres gained and key pressure statistics.
Champion Data analyst Jacob Wilson said he had never seen a player dominate like 18-year-old Rankine has in consecutive championships.
“In terms of performance no-one has been so successful at bottom-age level and then backed it up in their draft year like Rankine,’’ Wilson said.
“He’s our clear No. 1 pick at this point and is probably the most AFL-ready junior we’ve ever seen.
“He is that good that he could slot straight into an AFL premiership team now and be among that side’s best 10 players.
“It’s been mentioned that there might be some (discipline) issues which might push him lower than No. 1 but based on pure ability and performance he’s the best player in the draft.’’
The stats specialists rank Lukosius and Walsh as the two players fighting it out for the No. 2 and 3 draft slots.
Rankine and Woodville-West Torrens key forward Lukosius were among six South Australians named All-Australians after the championships.
The others were midfielders Valente (Norwood) and Central District’s Jackson Hately, Bulldogs defender Jez McLennan and under-age key position player, Glenelg’s Will Gould, who is not eligible to be drafted this year.
Rankine topped the Champion Data ranking points for SA with 120.
Valente was second with 118 followed by Hately (108), Lukosius (107), Sturt midfielder Tom Lewis (101), Eagles wingman Kai Pudney (100) and Norwood forward Ben Jarvis (93).
Walsh was the top overall ranking points player, averaging 142, from Smith (125).
UNDER-THE-RADAR FORWARDS
IZAK Rankine and Jack Lukosius have stolen the headlines but Crows key forward Josh Jenkins believes SA’s victorious under-18s side has two draft sleepers who could have successful AFL careers.
Jenkins worked as a line coach with SA’s forward line during its successful campaign and has
identified Ben Jarvis and Oscar Chapman as potential steals in the draft.
“I like them both,’’ Jenkins said.
“When you’ve got probably the No. 1 (Lukosius) and No. 3 (Rankine) picks in the draft in the one forward line other guys certainly go under the radar but those two boys have shown a fair bit as medium-size forwards.
“And that’s a bit of a trend in the game right now, to have those 185-188cm type guys who can get up and compete in the air and then put on tackle pressure at ground level and finish their work around goal.
“Those two guys look really good from that point of view.’’
Sturt key forward Hugo Munn shows his stuff for South Australia. Picture: Michael Dodge/Getty Images
Norwood’s Jarvis, 188cm, averaged 93 ranking points for the carnival while North Adelaide’s Chapman, 187cm, averaged 60.
Jenkins also is a fan of 197cm key forward Hugo Munn, who is a member of the AFL Academy squad.
“He has the size, athleticism and ability to play as a key forward who can pinch-hit in the ruck,’’ Jenkins said.
While Jenkins worked with SA’s forwards, his Crows teammate Brodie Smith worked with the defenders.
“It was just some craft work with the forwards form me, showing them the same stuff that we do at AFL level from an aerial point of view,’’ Jenkins said of his role with the team.
“There was some technique stuff with marking and leading and hopefully the guys benefited from it.
“Having such a prominent and talented forward line to work with made my job a fair bit easier.’’
