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AFL draft 2021: Chris Cavanagh ranks the top 20 Victorian prospects
A raft of Victorian talents will be at the pointy-end of this year’s AFL draft. Chris Cavanagh ranks the best 20 Vic prospects, featuring some bolters and sliders.
Chris Cavanagh
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With the NAB League season over and November’s AFL National Draft fast approaching, club recruiters’ draft boards are getting close to being locked in.
Here are the top 20 Victorian prospects ranked as things stand — and it’s no surprise who is at No.1.
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1. Nick Daicos (Oakleigh Chargers/Vic Metro)
Eyebrows will be raised by some clubs if North Melbourne does not place a bid on Daicos at pick one. As one experienced recruiter put it, “He’s the best player in this draft by that far it’s not funny”. A ball-winning midfielder with serious class, the Collingwood father-son prospect has been ultra-consistent at all levels this season including in the NAB League, with Vic Metro and playing VFL for the Magpies. Many believe he is already playing at AFL intensity.
Nick Daicos is expected to receive a pick one bid. Picture: Michael Klein
Nick Daicos is expected to receive a pick one bid. Picture: Michael Klein
He has been a ball-winning machine in the junior ranks. Picture: Michael Klein
He has been a ball-winning machine in the junior ranks. Picture: Michael Klein
2. Sam Darcy (Oakleigh Chargers/Vic Metro)
The Western Bulldogs are in search of some points, because they are likely going to need to match a bid on Darcy in the top-three selections at the draft. Other clubs have not bothered interviewing the father-son talent, who has long been destined to join the Kennel at Whitten Oval. The 204cm key position player is most comfortable in a forward-ruck role, but has proven his abilities across the field.
Sam Darcy celebrates a goal in a dominant trial match display for Vic Metro. Picture: Martin Keep/AFL Photos via Getty Images
Sam Darcy celebrates a goal in a dominant trial match display for Vic Metro. Picture: Martin Keep/AFL Photos via Getty Images
3. Finn Callaghan (Sandringham Dragons/Vic Metro)
A versatile talent of good size at 189cm, Callaghan has emerged as a clear top-four pick. Some clubs see him as potentially the second-best player in the draft behind Daicos. The view is that Callaghan could become a player like Mitch Duncan at AFL level. His outside run and ability to play different roles consistently well sets him apart.
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4. Josh Rachele (Murray Bushrangers/Vic Country)
A genuine X-Factor player, Rachele is viewed as much more than a small forward. Recruiters believe he is talented enough to play anywhere and will always find a way to impact the contest. Rachele has been compared to Greater Western Sydney star Toby Greene with the role he plays in attack, where he can be a matchwinner. But he also has an ability to rotate through the midfield and is a genuine competitor who wants to win.
Josh Rachele has drawn comparisons to Toby Greene. Picture: Michael Klein
Josh Rachele has drawn comparisons to Toby Greene. Picture: Michael Klein
5. Mac Andrew (Dandenong Stingrays/Vic Country)
The 200cm ruckman-forward has been dubbed this year’s draft “wildcard”. Andrew started the year as a potential top-20 bolter, but the consensus is he now sits somewhere in the top-10 given there are clubs queuing up to secure him. Andrew is raw and will need time and development, but what he can already do is extremely exciting. Andrew is a member of Melbourne’s Next Generation Academy, but under new rules this year the Demons are unable to match a bid on him inside the top-20.
Mac Andrew shows off his vertical leap against Sam Darcy. Picture: Michael Klein
Mac Andrew shows off his vertical leap against Sam Darcy. Picture: Michael Klein
He is tipped to be taken inside the top 10. Picture: Michael Klein
He is tipped to be taken inside the top 10. Picture: Michael Klein
6. Josh Gibcus (Greater Western Victoria Rebels/Vic Country)
The top-end of this year’s draft is stacked with midfielders, but Gibcus is one of the standout key position players alongside Sam Darcy. An elite intercept mark with a big leap, the 195cm key defender has had more exposed form than many Victorian draft prospects this year and recruiters have consistently loved what they have seen. With the ball, he also has good composure and foot skills.
7. Ben Hobbs (Greater Western Victoria Rebels/Vic Country)
A hard-at-it and big-bodied midfielder, Hobbs rounds out a group of eight players – which also includes South Australian midfielder Jason Horne-Francis – which many recruiters believe sit a rung above the rest of the draft pool. Hobbs had some injuries early in the year but gets it done on the inside and outside and was Vic Country’s best player in its Challenge Match against Vic Metro in July.
Ben Hobbs is a contested ball-winner. Picture: Michael Klein
Ben Hobbs is a contested ball-winner. Picture: Michael Klein
8. Josh Ward (Northern Knights/Vic Metro)
It would not surprise if Ward was selected as high as pick six, but he looks more likely to land somewhere around pick 10 to 15. A consistent performer throughout the year, recruiters know what they are going to get from him, describing Ward as “bankable”. The midfielder runs hard all day and is good with ball in hand. Being the second-ranked player on the ground behind Nick Daicos in Vic Metro’s Challenge Match against Vic Country in July also helps.
Josh Ward has been as consistent as they come. Pic: Michael Klein
Josh Ward has been as consistent as they come. Pic: Michael Klein
9. Josh Sinn (Sandringham Dragons/Vic Metro)
Touted as a potential top-three pick at the start of the year, Sinn has dropped back in the pecking order a little but is still considered a first-round selection who is some chance to squeeze into the top-10. Hamstring and ankle injuries have not helped Sinn’s cause this year and his lack of continuity of games has concerned some clubs that he hasn’t been able to bed down a specific role. Sinn has been used across halfback, on a wing and through the midfield this year.
Josh Sinn has had an injury interrupted top-age season. Picture: Michael Klein
Josh Sinn has had an injury interrupted top-age season. Picture: Michael Klein
10. Josh Goater (Calder Cannons/Vic Metro)
Highly rated, Goater could come into top-10 calculations, sitting not far behind the Awesome Eight at the top of the order. At 190cm, he is a good size and is an explosive wingman or halfback who also has an enormous leap which makes him a weapon in the air. Goater was also exposed to one game of VFL football with Essendon this year, which is expected to help his development.
11. Tyler Sonsie (Eastern Ranges/Vic Metro)
The smooth-moving midfielder is another player who could sneak into the top-10, but most believe he sits just outside that largely due to a lack of exposure. A knee injury mid-year meant Sonsie missed Vic Metro’s Challenge Match against Vic Country in July. However, he did catch the eye of recruiters in a very nice VFL debut for Box Hill where he logged 24 disposals and two goals.
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12. Darcy Wilmot (Northern Knights/Vic Metro)
The youngest player in this year’s draft pool, Wilmot only turns 18 on New Year’s Eve. But his year has been very strong despite being one of the young ones. Clubs think Wilmot sits in the 15 to 25 draft range, viewing him as a highly talented halfback or wingman with great agility and leadership. Some clubs would like to see him play a bit more around the ball, but believe he has plenty of AFL traits.
Darcy Wilmot is expected to be snapped up in the 15-25 range. Picture: Michael Klein
Darcy Wilmot is expected to be snapped up in the 15-25 range. Picture: Michael Klein
13. Campbell Chesser (Sandringham Dragons/Vic Country)
Don’t expect to see Chesser picked in the top-10 on draft night, but he should find himself an AFL home later in the first round. Like others, injuries have meant Chesser has had limited exposed form this year. He only played three NAB League games for the Dragons which meant he was unable to play a specific role and own it. However, he’s viewed as a hard worker who is self-motivated and has some serious wheels coming from an athletics background.
14. Zac Taylor (Calder Cannons/Vic Metro)
Clubs with picks later in the first round are taking a very close look at Taylor, who is a reliable onballer with great abilities around stoppages. Taylor averaged 5.7 clearances among 26 disposals in the NAB League this year, works hard to get from contest-to-contest and is composed under pressure. Clubs have also had a look at him at VFL level in one game for Essendon, while he also played senior football for his local club Oak Park this year.
Toby Conway is the standout ruckman besides Mac Andrew. Picture: Michael Klein
Toby Conway is the standout ruckman besides Mac Andrew. Picture: Michael Klein
Conway takes a mark against Geelong’s VFL side for the AFL Academy. Picture: Michael Klein
Conway takes a mark against Geelong’s VFL side for the AFL Academy. Picture: Michael Klein
15. Toby Conway (Geelong Falcons/Vic Country)
Outside of Mac Andrew, Conway is one of very few other ruckman in this year’s draft pool and is clearly the best of the rest. Conway has done an exhaustive amount of interviews with clubs who are keen to secure his services. The only question is which club will get to him first. Ruckman traditionally don’t command high draft picks, but clubs desperate for a big man might have little choice other than to part with a top-20 pick for him.
16. Blake Howes (Sandringham Dragons/Vic Metro)
A 190cm lead-up half-forward or wingman, Howes is expected to land somewhere late in the first round or early in the second round of the draft. He’s lightning quick, has impressive work rate and is a presence in the air. However, he was relatively quiet in both Vic Metro’s Challenge match against Vic Country in July and in the AFL Academy game against Geelong’s VFL side in April.
17. Connor MacDonald (Dandenong Stingrays/Vic Country)
Recruiters like players who perform in the big games and MacDonald stepped up when it counted for Vic Country in its Challenge Match against Vic Metro in July. The midfielder had 25 disposals and six clearances in that match to back up some impressive form in the NAB League where the Stingrays liked to have the ball in his hands.
Connor MacDonald performed strongly in the Victorian Challenge match. Picture: Michael Klein
Connor MacDonald performed strongly in the Victorian Challenge match. Picture: Michael Klein
He tallied 25 touches as one of Vic Country’s best. Picture: Michael Klein
He tallied 25 touches as one of Vic Country’s best. Picture: Michael Klein
18. Tom Brown (Murray Bushrangers/Vic Country)
The son of former Geelong hero Paul Brown, the rebounding defender has been right on the radar of clubs since churning out some impressive results with his jumping and agility during pre-season NAB League testing. Brown reads the play well behind the ball, is a good mark above head and makes good decisions by foot. He missed some football in the middle of the year with an ankle injury, but that won’t put clubs off.
19. Sam Butler (Greater Western Victoria Rebels/Vic Country)
The younger brother of St Kilda forward and Richmond premiership player Dan Butler has plenty of suitors given his versatility to play a variety of roles. His brother was a pick 67 in the 2014 draft, but Sam is considered much more developed at the same age and is set to go much higher than that in this year’s draft. He missed a chunk of football with a chest injury in the middle of the year still played more NAB League games than most, featuring in nine games for the Rebels.
20. Marcus Windhager (Sandringham Dragons/Vic Metro)
A knee reconstruction in 2019 meant Windhager only got back to full training in February, but he has shown plenty of AFL traits since getting back on the park. The half-forward shone brightly in front of a raft of recruiters in a Vic Metro trial match at Werribee in June and was solid in a Challenge Match against Vic Country in July. Hailing from a basketball background, Windhager is expected to fall outside the top-20 picks on draft night, which would mean St Kilda would be able to match a bid on him as a member of their Next Generation Academy.
Untried Vic talent still better than other states: recruiters
The bulk of the first 40 picks in this year’s AFL national draft are poised to be used on Victorian prospects in a sign that players from the state will not be disadvantaged despite a disastrous two years.
Data compiled by club recruiting departments shows that potential Victorian draftees have played an average of just 6.7 games of football across the past two seasons due to Covid-19 lockdowns.
Injuries to some highly-touted players this year, including the likes of Greater Western Victoria’s Ben Hobbs and Sandringham Dragons pair Josh Sinn and Campbell Chesser, have meant they have played fewer games than the average.
By contrast, most South Australian and West Australian counterparts have played between 20 and 35 matches over the same two-year period, having experienced largely uninterrupted seasons in the SANFL and WAFL.
Vic Country’s Ben Hobbs is one of the leading prospects in this year’s draft. Picture: Michael Klein
Vic Country’s Ben Hobbs is one of the leading prospects in this year’s draft. Picture: Michael Klein
Some Victorian draft prospects have become increasingly anxious that their limited appearances will see them overlooked for more exposed interstate talent on draft night.
However, multiple clubs spoken to by the Herald Sun said this would not be the case and confirmed Victorian players would feature very prominently in November’s draft.
About 15 of the top 20 picks are expected to come from Victoria, which is also poised to have strong representation in the second and third rounds of the draft.
“We still think their talent is better than what we’re seeing elsewhere,” one recruiter said.
Many Victorian draft prospects took part in Under-16 National Championships in 2019 in addition to the games they have played this year, giving recruiters a level of confidence to select them.
Clubs believe the main difficulty is ranking players on their draft boards.
The top 10 players in the draft are largely agreed upon, but ranking the next 30 picks is considered “messy” due to varying levels of exposure.
Only 59 players were selected in last year’s national draft and clubs expect a similar number of picks to be used this year, with list spots difficult to find.
However, there will be further opportunities for players in the rookie draft, as well as the mid-season draft next year.
Recruiters have been forced to interview Victorian draft prospects over Zoom but are hopeful of conducting more face-to-face meetings with players and parents before the draft as restrictions ease.
It is also hoped Vic Metro and Vic Country sides will compete in some more matches before the draft after the under-18 national championships were pushed back due to lockdowns and state border closures.
