Good in the air, tidy disposal.
I think he played a few games forward earlier in the year, then went back.
Seems a decent player, good luck to him if he gets picked up later in the draft.
4 Likes
Would be an upgrade on Laverde but I feel that spot is Hayes to take.
Would still make good depth with scope for improvement
I reckon about 17 other coaches would have played Hayes over Laverde at some point this season, pretty dumb by Brad I reckon.
20 Likes
He was good down back. I’d be happy for us to give him a go; even with Laverde on the list.
1 Like
From what I saw in the vfl, Hayes was just fair. Not delistable bad, but not particularly promising either. Nowhere near a level where he looked capable of the step up to afl. While I’m critical of Scott’s reluctance to play the young guys, I think in this case, Hayes was not ready for the step up.
Must have done reasonably ok, was runner up best and fairest.
5 Likes
Well i agree he’s impressive, he’d wanna be careful finishing too high as a young bloke in the vfl bnf, might get himself delisted like the others.
7 Likes
Yea, maybe Freo are looking for a key back.
Brisbane lover!
1 Like
SEN’s 2024 AFL full Phantom Draft
By Nathan Sepe
The 2024 AFL National Draft is right around the corner, stacked with more talent than we have seen in years.
This year’s midfield-heavy top order will be shaped by Richmond’s enormous draft hand, which will ultimately be the key factor deciding the direction other clubs in the first round choose.
The first round features some big-name father-son and Next Generation Academy stars, including Levi Ashcroft and Leo Lombard – where will bids for them come in?
This mock draft will detail each prospect, with father-son and Academy bids taken into consideration.
Although live trading won’t be considered in this mock draft, we can expect to see some movement in the top order on the night.
Pick 1. (Richmond) – Jagga Smith
Oakleigh Chargers/Vic Metro – MID, 182cm
Undeniably the most consistent talent throughout 2024, Jagga Smith is a lock for a long and productive career, which is what makes him a safer option at pick 1.
The smaller midfielder is a workhorse accumulator, with sharp ball skills, toughness, and evasiveness that makes him tough to defend and limit around the stoppage.
Pick 2. (North Melbourne) – Sam Lalor
GWV Rebels/Vic Country – MID/FWD, 188cm
If the Kangaroos are picking the next best talent, Lalor is a Dustin Martin prototype, packaged with explosiveness and power in the front half that can swing games and create big moments.
Lalor’s question marks surround his injury troubles in the past two years which would deter Richmond from taking him at 1, however, his X-Factor propels him above most others on the ground with his scoreboard impact and cleanliness around the stoppage.
Pick 3. (Carlton) – Finn O’Sullivan
Oakleigh Chargers/Vic Country – MID, 182cm
Doing things most others can’t on the field, O’Sullivan is an elusive forward of centre player that offers speed and versatility that the Blues midfield demands.
With elite overhead ability and forward-half impact, O’Sullivan may have a similar impact to his cousin, Sam Walsh, at AFL level.
Pick 4. (Brisbane) – Levi Ashcroft
Sandringham Dragons/Vic Metro – MID, 178cm
Picks Given: 27,34,42,43,58
The only player in Talent League history to win three consecutive premierships, Levi Ashcroft has proven himself in every aspect. He is an excitement machine with competitiveness at stoppage and forward half flare that captivates viewers.
Ashcroft’s running power and footy smarts around the ground have translated at every level this year, including a 35 disposal and one goal game for Brisbane’s VFL side.
Pick 5. (Adelaide) – Sid Draper
South Adelaide/South Australia – MID, 182cm
The home-grown South Australian talent is dashing and daring with ball in hand, producing stellar performances at SANFL level to match it with senior bodies, which arguably makes him the most senior-ready among the top five prospects.
Draper’s low centre of gravity is incredible, making his ground ball efforts and forward-half movements near impossible to restrict.
Pick 6. (Melbourne) – Josh Smillie
Eastern Ranges/Vic Metro – MID, 195cm
Despite having a patchy season with questions around his intensity, Smillie made it clear that his peak performance is damaging and AFL-ready.
The tall inside-midfielder is damaging with his stoppage craft, possessing a neat kick and creative mindset in the forward half, which often leads to a couple of scoring shots per game.
Pick 7. (Richmond) – Harvey Langford
Dandenong Stingrays/Vic Country – MID/FWD, 191cm
If Richmond doesn’t take Sam Lalor with Pick 1, they’ll likely turn their attention to Langford, a strong midfielder with an elite contested ability above his head inside 50.
The beauty with Langford is his versatility, with the options to plant him into every stoppage with a knack for moving the ball inside 50 or to move him inside 50 with the potential to kick three or four goals a game.
Pick 8. (St Kilda) – Bo Allan
Peel Thunder/Western Australia – MID/DEF, 191cm
This may be the curveball of the first round, but the Saints need speed through their midfield, and between the options of Murphy Reid and Bo Allan, Allan possesses the superior explosiveness.
The Western Australian product is a damaging stoppage player, with elite agility and poise by foot, applying pressure around the ground through his contested capability, still with a lot of potential to develop his end product.
Pick 9. (St Kilda) – Harry Armstrong
Sandringham Dragons/Vic Metro – FWD, 195cm
Finding some help for Max King inside 50 will come no clearer than Armstrong, the contested marking forward who has proven clinical inside 50 in the back end of 2024.
Armstrong’s understanding of forward craft makes his decisions effective, and he capitalises on each opportunity, with a proven track record of great set shot kicking and standing up in big moments.
Pick 10. (Gold Coast) – Leo Lombard
Gold Coast Suns Academy/Queensland – MID/FWD, 179cm
Picks Given: 38,40,48,58,67,73,76
The Suns have nurtured Lombard to perfection through their Academy and VFL system, producing the most competitive midfielder in the crop, known for his tenacity around stoppage and forward half ability.
VFL Premiership winner at 16 years of age, Lombard is a playmaker in transition, taking charge with his power and strength to hit the scoreboard or create opportunities for others inside 50.
Pick 11. (Melbourne) – Jobe Shanahan
Bendigo Pioneers/New South Wales/ACT – FWD, 195cm
Shanahan alongside Armstrong has proven himself as one of the best key forwards of the draft, but is more so known for his contested marking and scoreboard impact through his efforts higher up the ground.
Has played everywhere in his junior days and has a strong ability to work through one-on-one contests, with a game that stacks up at ground level as well where he’s clean and sharp to keep the ball moving.
Pick 12. (Richmond) – Alixzander Tauru
Gippsland Power/Vic Country – DEF, 193cm
Tauru’s rise up the ranks has been well documented and it is thanks to his ability to crash packs and take incredible intercept marks.
Played across each third of the ground this year, Tauru has showcased strong versatility, opportunistic in every role, made effective by his athleticism and quick thinking, although there is scope for improvement in efficiency with his kicking.
Pick 13. (Richmond) – Tobie Travaglia
Bendigo Pioneers/Vic Country – DEF, 187cm
Dash and dare, Travaglia has established himself as the best offensive connector out of the defensive 50, with his speed and competitiveness around the contest.
Travaglia’s intercepting makes him a threat both in the air and at ground level, often used well in offensive chains by hand and feet, and a productive two-way runner.
Pick 14. (West Coast) – Xavier Lindsay
Gippsland Power/Vic Country – MID/DEF, 183cm
The smartest footballer in the draft, Lindsay’s creativity and poised understanding of how to move the footy makes him a major steal outside the top 10.
Playing his footy off half-back and as an inside midfielder throughout his juniors, Lindsay is damaging per possession, a hard worker in transition, an elite kick, and was often the backbone of Gippsland’s midfield to set up offensive patterns.
Pick 15. (Port Adelaide) – Murphy Reid
Sandringham Dragons/Vic Metro – MID, 181cm
Reid dropping to 15 would be an exciting prospect for Port Adelaide, who would benefit from his silky creativity with ball in hand, which makes time slow down, especially with his offensive movement.
Reid’s poise with ball in hand makes him a unique midfielder who utilises forward craft instincts to aid his game, he roves well around stoppages to find quick outlets and make great decisions.
Pick 16. (Fremantle) – Joe Berry
Murray Bushrangers/Vic Country – FWD, 181cm
Berry rose to the scene early this year with his dynamic running capacity high up the ground and back inside 50, damaging with his scoreboard impact with bags of four or more goals on multiple occasions.
The small-forward is damaging at ground level and smart with his leading patterns to create space and separation to often get quite easy looks at goal.
Pick 17. (Essendon) – Isaac Kako
Calder Cannons/Vic Metro – FWD, 176cm
Picks Given: 30,33
Excitement comes in many forms in this draft, but Kako is a different type that the Bombers have lucked out on, acquiring an elite forward-half ball user who kicks goals, sets up goals, and dazzles with speed.
Kako has elevated his game throughout the year with his ability to create opportunities higher up the ground in transition, clean around loose ball scrimmages to generate forward movement, however, still lacks defensive pressure at times.
Pick 18. (GWS) – Luke Trainor
Sandringham Dragons/Vic Metro – DEF, 194cm
Trainor has been projected as high as the top five throughout 2024, but has ultimately slid as a result of recurring concussions.
His value as a player remains incredibly high, with one of the best defensive-half footy brains to come in and intercept off half-back and distribute efficiently by foot to spark transition.
Pick 19. (GWS) – Taj Hotton
Sandringham Dragons/Vic Metro – MID/FWD, 182cm
Much like Trainor, Hotton has slid down the list as a result of an ACL injury that may deter clubs, however, the talent is raw and he will be undeniably prosperous.
Hotton’s athleticism stacks up with the best in the draft class, known for his high-flying nature inside forward 50, agile bodywork, and speed inside the midfield which damages opponents in a matter of seconds.
Pick 20. (Western Bulldogs) – Jesse Dattoli
Northern Knights/Vic Metro – MID/FWD, 179cm
Dattoli adds a crafty and elusive balance to each midfield he’s in, a smart runner in the forward half of the ground where he’s often able to lose his opponent and sneak into small pockets inside forward 50 to take uncontested marks.
Dattoli’s unafraid to make moments his own with his natural goal sense and can produce multiple eye-catching efforts in an outing.
Pick 21. (Richmond) – Christian Moraes
Eastern Ranges/Vic Metro – MID/FWD, 183cm
Moraes enters this draft as one of the best outside players, explosive by nature and well-versed in his offensive running patterns.
A determined competitor with a consistent ability to hit the scoreboard, Moraes can be utilised as an inside midfielder also, with quick ball skills by hand and the ability to accumulate possessions across the ground.
Pick 22. (Sydney) – Matt Whitlock
Murray Bushrangers/Vic Country – RUCK/FWD, 200cm
Whilst still quite raw in his development, Whitlock’s size has made him an asset in both defensive and forward halves of the ground, starting in the backline before moving inside 50 to become a goal-scoring weapon.
Whitlock uses his body well to stay mobile in the air and at ground level, agile around the contest, but willing to get up in the air for a strong mark.
Pick 23. (Richmond) – Jack Whitlock
Murray Bushrangers/Vic Country – FWD/RUCK, 200cm
Jack possesses similar traits to his twin brother, playing predominantly as a key forward with regular shifts in the ruck.
Whitlock showcased a great contested marking ability and was often willing to push further up the ground and remain mobile at ground level to keep the ball moving forward, still very raw with a lot of upside for a tall.
Pick 24. (GWS) – Tom Gross
Oakleigh Chargers/Vic Metro – MID/FWD, 181cm
Gross is a daring talent with power and explosiveness out of the centre stoppage into the forward half with a proven ability to impact on the scoreboard as well.
Gross’ work-rate often allows him to drift inside 50 and act as a small forward with his opportunistic characteristics at ground level.
Pick 25. (Sydney) – Cooper Hynes
Dandenong Stingrays/Vic Country – MID/FWD, 190cm
Known for his explosiveness out of stoppage and forward 50 power, Hynes produces energy with his touches, able to link up well with teammates in the forward half to create opportunities.
Hynes’ ability to hit the scoreboard from forward 50 stoppages is admirable, often snapping around his body for a trademark goal.
Pick 26. (Richmond) – Jonty Faull
GWV Rebels/Vic Country – FWD, 194cm
Faull has been a consistent hard worker this year, building his craft as a key forward to not only dominate inside 50 with his contested marking but also further up the ground where he’s become a valuable marking target in transition.
While he can have quiet periods, Faull is often proactive in his response to turn things around and get things back on his terms with direct matchups, capable of a big bag.
Pick 27. (Richmond) – Alex Dodson
Sturt/South Australia – RUCK, 201cm
The prized South Australian ruckman might push clubs to trade up ahead of the second night, with a well-versed ability to act as a tall midfielder with his follow-up work at stoppages.
Dodson’s basketball background makes him a mobile figure on the field, able to work up and down the field well and physically impose his direct opponent.
Pick 28. (Western Bulldogs) – Harrison Oliver
Sandringham Dragons/Vic Metro – DEF, 181cm
Reliability is never a given with any player, but Oliver offers just that with his intercepting capability off half-back, punishing the opposition with his vision to open up the ground.
Oliver’s National Championships was the pinnacle of his performances this year, showcasing his agility and contested work in clutch moments throughout the series and later in the year during Sandringham’s premiership run.
Pick 29. (West Coast) – Harry O’Farrell
Calder Cannons/Vic Metro– DEF, 197cm
O’Farrell reads the play exceptionally in the air and at ground level for a key defender, which makes him desirable as a versatile option at the next level.
With a strong understanding of defensive craft, O’Farrell is able to compete well one-on-one and push himself to get from contest to contest inside defensive 50.
Pick 30. (Brisbane) – Sam Marshall
Sandringham Dragons/Queensland– FWD/DEF, 180cm
Picks Given: 44,50
Marshall’s accumulation is an underrated trait of his game, able to inflict damage in small spurts with a running capacity that is well suited to the outside game at the next level.
With sharp kicking skills and an endurance base that produces consistent two-way running efforts, Marshall adds to the Lions hopes of maintaining a cycle of success.
Pick 31. (Port Adelaide) – Jasper Alger
Oakleigh Chargers/Vic Country – FWD, 183cm
An excellent mark overhead for a small forward, Alger is a flexible weapon that can punish with his work-rate, get into good spots and hit the scoreboard.
Pick 32. (Fremantle) – Josh Dolan
Sandringham Dragons/Vic Metro – MID/FWD, 177cm
Dolan’s smarts as a high half-forward make him dangerous, possessing creative running patterns and sharp kicking inside 50 that set up scoring shots.
Pick 33. (St Kilda) – Adrian Cole
Sandringham Dragons/Vic Metro – DEF, 194cm
It’s likely the Saints will split picks down the order and won’t take either NGA prospects with this pick or pick 44, however, they will likely land Cole and Lennox Hoffman.
Cole has become one of the best lockdown defenders of the draft class, able to physically outwork his opponents aerially and bring the ball to ground, however, isn’t a big accumulator of the footy.
Pick 34. (Hawthorn) – James Barrat
Bendigo Pioneers/Vic Country – DEF/FWD, 194cm
Barrat has become one of the few swingmen in the draft, beginning his year up forward before a change down back, where he put together a strong body of work that featured intercept marking and swift kicking out of the backline.
Pick 35. (Western Bulldogs) – Ollie Hannaford
GWV Rebels/Vic Country – FWD/DEF, 180cm
Undoubtedly the best pressure player in the draft, Hannaford is a solid utility who can play a strong running role off half-back, a pressure midfielder, or a dangerous small forward with a clinical scoring ability.
Pick 36. (Port Adelaide) – Floyd Burmeister
GWV Rebels/Vic Country – RUCK/FWD, 199cm
A package of raw athleticism, Burmeister’s mobility as a developing ruck/forward looks promising, with the ability to impact in offensive transition and aerially with his marking contests.
Pick 37. (GWS) – Angus Clarke
Glenelg/South Australia – DEF/FWD, 189cm
The bouncy South Australian product is versatile on both ends of the field, possessing a strong understanding of when to impact the play and create transitional chains with his rebounding capabilities.
Pick 38. (Carlton) – Noah Mraz
Dandenong Stingrays/Vic Country –DEF, 198cm
The key defender was limited by injury earlier in the year, but showed promising signs with his aerial intercepting ability off half back and is able to read the play well and use his frame to push up the ground and go deeper down back.
Pick 39. (Essendon) – Hamish Davis
Claremont/Western Australia – FWD, 190cm
Davis has a lot of scope as a half-forward/midfield combination at the next level, possessing size, toughness, and footy smarts that make him a crafty target in the forward half, but also an asset around the contest.
Pick 40. (Sydney) – Lachie Jaques
Geelong Falcons/Vic Country –DEF, 185cm
Jaques is a prototype dashing halfback who produces athletic efforts in the air with his intercept marking, in addition to a calm presence exiting defensive 50 with a neat kick to ease transition.
Pick 41. (Carlton) – Ben Camporeale
Glenelg/South Australia – MID, 180cm
Picks Given: 55,60,61
The first of the Camporeale twins, Ben comes in with a strong body of work behind him as an inside midfielder with work ethic, power, and offensive penetration with his ball movement by hand, with area for improvement when moving the ball by foot.
Pick 42. (Geelong) – Xavier Ivisic
Geelong Falcons/Vic Country – MID/FWD, 181cm
The Cats will have a keen eye on Ivisic as a local product, a well-known talent for his tenacity and running capacity as a half-forward/inside midfielder combo, capable of producing a punch with his quick decision-making.
Pick 43. (Essendon) – Nathaniel Sulzberger
Sandringham Dragons/Vic Metro – MID/FWD, 187cm
Sulzberger’s potential is largely untapped, with great glimpses of his peak potential this season, possessing clean hands in transition and running power through the corridor.
Pick 44. (St Kilda) – Lennox Hofmann
Sandringham Dragons/Vic Metro –DEF, 190cm
St Kilda’s second likely NGA pick, Hofmann is a raw defensive talent, able to defend tall and small, impacting with his rebounding and hurt factor inside defensive 50 with his aggressiveness and pressure around the contest.
Pick 45. (Western Bulldogs) – Cody Anderson
Eastern Ranges/Vic Metro – MID, 183cm
Anderson’s physically imposing presence foreshadows his game, a pressure-filled talent who makes an impact with his tackling pressure and unassuming speed that is dashing out of centre stoppages.
Pick 46. (Port Adelaide) – Jack Ough
GWV Rebels/Vic Country – MID, 194cm
Another speciality position in the draft, Ough is a well-balanced inside/outside prospect with a strong understanding of forward half running. He is able to impact in close with his touches and one-two step his way out of contests to keep the footy moving.
Pick 47. (Collingwood) – Thomas Sims
Northern Knights/Vic Metro – FWD, 199cm
Collingwood’s search for a key forward will lead them straight to Tom Sims, who made his forward presence felt through his contested marking capability and leading patterns inside 50, with a downside of inconsistency hitting the scoreboard.
Pick 48. (Essendon) – Archer Day-Wicks
Bendigo Pioneers/Vic Country – FWD, 186cm
Day-Wicks has as much x-factor as anyone in this draft class and has a lot of room for growth, best known for his creative forward half movements to hit the scoreboard from stoppage at ground level or his marking ability which makes him excitingly unpredictable.
Pick 49. (Essendon) – Zak Johnson
Northern Knights/Vic Metro – MID, 185cm
Clean and composed, Johnson has a great understanding of his midfield craft, impacting out of stoppage with his clean kicking and distribution around the ground, a reliable accumulator with hurt factor.
Pick 50. (Collingwood) – Charlie Nicholls
Central District/South Australia – FWD, 197cm
The tall forward moves extremely well for his height, able to get into great spots with his leading patterns inside 50, and the ability to push higher up the ground and make use of his kicking in transition.
Pick 51. (GWS) – Logan Smith
Giants Academy/New South Wales/ACT – RUCK, 204cm
The Giants are likely to draft one Academy prospect, and Smith fits the bill with his consistency this season. The well-versed ruck is clean with his tap-work and follows up with aggressiveness, able to work well as a linking chain in transition and battle hard with his direct opponent in one-on-ones.
Pick 52. (Geelong) – Gabriel Stumpf
Northern Knights/Vic Metro – FWD, 196cm
Best known for his spectacular National Draft Combine results. Stumpf is an incredibly athletic prospect, mainly untapped with his potential as a marking key forward, often classier at ground level where he was swift to burn his opponents with speed and assist opportunities for the smaller forwards surrounding him.
Pick 53. (Sydney) – Joel Cochran
Swans Academy/New South Wales/ACT – DEF, 194cm
The Swans Academy product is well-versed in the rebounding tall defender role, able to generate run and carry out of the back half with a good leap to impact with his intercept marking.
Pick 54. (Collingwood) – Hugh Boxshall
Claremont/Western Australia – MID, 188cm
Boxshall has generated some good interest off the back of strong combine testing, presenting well as an endurance-based midfield with some spark around the stoppage, and a tough body with his tackling pressure.
Pick 55. (North Melbourne) – Rhys Unwin
GWV Rebels/Vic Country – FWD/MID, 179cm
Unwin produces some of the best speed for a smaller forward, crafty with his ball use, looking to get involved further up the ground and impact with his swift decision-making and vision to progress the footy inside 50, still with a lot of upside.
Pick 56. (Adelaide) – Tyler Welsh
Woodville-West Torrens/South Australia – FWD, 191cm
Born and bred for the Crows colours, Welsh will fit in under the wing of Darcy Fogarty, coming in as a strong marking forward with the capacity to tear games apart in minutes, known for his spontaneous spurts of goals.
Pick 57. (Essendon) – Jayden Nguyen
Calder Cannons/Vic Metro – DEF, 178cm
The Essendon NGA prospect possesses speed and dare off halfback, playing as a wingman in 2023, Nguyen is a strong field kick to move the ball offensively and has a good tank to keep him on his toes in crucial moments.
Pick 58. (Collingwood) – Sam Toner
Dandenong Stingrays/Vic Country – FWD, 184cm
The Narre-Warren local came into contention with a plethora of goal-scoring performances at local level, seeing him get the invite to Dandenong, where he turned it on yet again with a bag of five goals early in his Talent League career. Injury unfortunately brought an early end to 2024, but his upside is quite evident.
Pick 59. (Fremantle) – Luke Urquhart
East Fremantle/Western Australia – MID, 194cm
Powerful and bullish around the stoppages, Urquhart’s upside as a dominant big-bodied mid should be capitalised on, possessing a strong clearance ability with opportunism in the forward half to hit the scoreboard.
Pick 60. (Hawthorn) – Kayle Gerreyn
West Perth/Western Australia – RUCK/FWD, 199cm
Gerreyn has had moments of dominance this year as a tall marking forward with the flexibility to play in the ruck with his mobility and strong bodywork to outmanoeuvre opponents and win his one-on-ones.
Pick 61. (Carlton) – Lucas Camporeale
Glenelg/South Australia – WING, 184cm
The second of the Camporeale twins, Lucas possesses a greater outside game, known for his ability to read the play in the defensive half and use his drive and running patterns to propel his side forward.
Pick 62. (West Coast) – Malakai Champion
Subiaco/Western Australia – FWD, 172cm
The exciting small forward has been given opportunities to thrive at WAFL level for Subiaco, where he was able to showcase his deadly speed pushing high up the ground to burn his opponents, with strong goal sense that makes him tough to defend around forward 50 stoppages.
Pick 63. (GWS) – Luke Kennedy
Sandringham Dragons/Vic Metro – MID, 181cm
Having a defensive-minded midfielder is often more crucial than it seems and Kennedy is well equipped for the role with his hard running and clean ball use to aid his side forward in transition, whilst understanding when to stay back and offer support.
Pick 64. (Geelong) – Patrick Retschko
Oakleigh Chargers/Vic Metro – WING, 186cm
Known for running 2km before every game, Retschko’s outside run would compete at the Olympics, known for his two-way running and consistency at holding width with his ball movement to break forward in transition, still needs to improve his ball-use by foot.
Pick 65. (Hawthorn) – Blake Leidler
Oakleigh Chargers/Vic Metro – DEF, 181cm
Leidler has shown that his explosive nature off half back can likely stack up at AFL level, along with a well-rounded one-on-one ability emphasised with lockdown roles against big names in the Talent League Finals.
12 Likes
To summarise EFC:
Pick 17. (Essendon) – Isaac Kako
Calder Cannons/Vic Metro – FWD, 176cm
Picks Given: 30,33
Excitement comes in many forms in this draft, but Kako is a different type that the Bombers have lucked out on, acquiring an elite forward-half ball user who kicks goals, sets up goals, and dazzles with speed.
Kako has elevated his game throughout the year with his ability to create opportunities higher up the ground in transition, clean around loose ball scrimmages to generate forward movement, however, still lacks defensive pressure at times.
Pick 39. (Essendon) – Hamish Davis
Claremont/Western Australia – FWD, 190cm
Davis has a lot of scope as a half-forward/midfield combination at the next level, possessing size, toughness, and footy smarts that make him a crafty target in the forward half, but also an asset around the contest.
Pick 43. (Essendon) – Nathaniel Sulzberger
Sandringham Dragons/Vic Metro – MID/FWD, 187cm
Sulzberger’s potential is largely untapped, with great glimpses of his peak potential this season, possessing clean hands in transition and running power through the corridor.
Pick 48. (Essendon) – Archer Day-Wicks
Bendigo Pioneers/Vic Country – FWD, 186cm
Day-Wicks has as much x-factor as anyone in this draft class and has a lot of room for growth, best known for his creative forward half movements to hit the scoreboard from stoppage at ground level or his marking ability which makes him excitingly unpredictable.
Pick 49. (Essendon) – Zak Johnson
Northern Knights/Vic Metro – MID, 185cm
Clean and composed, Johnson has a great understanding of his midfield craft, impacting out of stoppage with his clean kicking and distribution around the ground, a reliable accumulator with hurt factor.
Pick 57. (Essendon) – Jayden Nguyen
Calder Cannons/Vic Metro – DEF, 178cm
The Essendon NGA prospect possesses speed and dare off halfback, playing as a wingman in 2023, Nguyen is a strong field kick to move the ball offensively and has a good tank to keep him on his toes in crucial moments.
7 Likes
Untapped potential?
Flanker with midfield aspirations?
I’ll give SEN one thing. They know their Essington well.
20 Likes
I’m shocked by this. I saw him play in the state league game last year and he was dominant for SA. Looked like a top 10 pick. I wonder whether the Crows asked him to cool his jets.
4 Likes
AFL Draft news: Essendon ponder play to get back into the 2024 draft after Isaac Kako bid
The scenario that would most likely see Essendon trade back into the top 20 of this year’s draft can be revealed. Plus the reason for the club’s inactive trade period.
2 min read
November 11, 2024 - 3:40PM
News Sport Network
We asked this year’s AFL draft prospects to show us their screen time, with some… interesting results!
Essendon’s list team will spend a full day this week war-gaming the draft prospects they would be prepared to hand over a future first-rounder to secure as they ponder trading back into the 2024 draft.
Essendon will match a bid for Next Generation Academy small-forward Isaac Kako in next week’s draft, but are open to using Melbourne’s future first-rounder to get back into the draft after they secure the son of a former Iraqi army officer.
Yet the Dons will likely only offer up that future first-rounder if a player in their top eight on their draft board tumbles down the order, where the Dons could strike to secure a second player in the top 20 of the draft.
Essendon traded away its No.9 draft pick for the Demons’ future first-rounder and more 2024 points for Kako, aware that rival clubs would likely make the Dons use that pick to match a bid for Kako.
CHECK BACK TOMORROW MORNING FOR JON RALPH’S TAKE ON ESSENDON’S FULL DRAFT STRATEGY, LIST HOLES AND PREDICTIONS FOR 2025.
Isaac Kako will get to Essendon in this month’s draft. Picture: Getty Images
The club was aware of the example of Gold Coast academy player Jack Bowes, who Sydney bid on at pick 10 to ensure the Suns used an early pick.
The Dons believe they have made the right call, even if Kako slides down the order into the teens now that they do not have to make Essendon use that early selection.
Essendon plans to take four selections in the national draft and will have room for a rookie pick and two summer rookie slots, likely to trial an experienced player and a young player who misses the national draft.
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The Dons traded out Jake Stringer to GWS for pick 53, aware he was unlikely to play in the club’s next premiership and aware of his lack professionalism with his body.
The Herald Sun understands Essendon will not pay any of his new two-year deal going forward despite the Giants pushing hard during trade talks for the Dons to top up his salary.
While fans were dismayed Essendon was so quiet during the trade period, the club believes bringing in B- or C-graders would only have lessened opportunities for exciting kids like Archie Roberts, Ben Hobbs, Elijah Tsatas, Zach Reid and Saad El-Hawli.
The Dons took El-Hawli – a 23-year-old mid-season pick last year – and he will get chances to play early after being injured almost as soon as he got to the Hangar last year.
While the Dons are excited about their draft plans, free-agency ruckman Sam Draper is likely to want to prove he can become one of footy’s elite ruckmen next year before signing a new deal. He told the Herald Sun in July he was “definitely” staying at Essendon, pledging his future to the club.
Sam Draper at Essendon pre-season training on Monday. Picture: Essendon FC
But he has played only 30 games in the past two seasons given injury issues.
With Adelaide circling and Draper sure to want to maximise his value, he will want to get the season underway with excellent form before giving away his free agency rights.
The club will speak to his manager Matthew Doughty again post-draft but the early indications are he will not sign an early deal.
“I love this club. They took a chance on me when no one else did,” Draper said in July.
“I was just some soccer player from Adelaide; they took a chance on me in the rookie draft, they put their faith in me at the time. I didn’t play my first game until about four years into my career. I love this club, I love the boys.”
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I’ve only heard noise from the Crows and supposition from Cal. Nothing from Draper at all.
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So the scenario is, if there is one of our top 8 rated players available to select they will trade out the Melbourne F1.
Probably not very surprising.
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As if the Camporeale boys go that cheap after this years performances 
I just don’t think that kind of stuff happens in reality. These kids are too competitive to deliberately play worse in order help out a team that they’re not even guaranteed to end up at. Every kid in the draft wants the bragging rights of being picked higher than their mates and peers.
Welsh has slid down the order because he hasn’t played well this year in the SANFL or at the Champs. On top of that he has significant limitations to his game. He’s undersized for a key position role, and not good enough at ground level (at this stage) to play a more medium/third tall role. He’s has good intensity when applying pressure, but also lacks composure and makes dumb mistakes.
He’ll still be picked and has a chance to make it, but he’ll need to improve in a lot of areas and there are a lot of good players in this draft that will be taken before him. I feel there’s even a decent chance that he’ll slip into the rookie draft.
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This makes absolutely no sense.
We had pick 9! This guide says kako is going at 17!
Why did we give it up to just try trade back in??
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The reason is he will definitely go later than nine is now because we traded to ensure that would happen, had we kept nine there’s a fair chance a club bids before
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