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Opinion
We all love the draft to see which talent is stepping into our club, and while the 2022 AFL draft is still months away, it’s never too early to see what kind of talent teams could have, right?
This draft will feature North Melbourne having Pick 19 as a priority pick and will preference what clubs need, not necessarily the best talent available.
1. North Melbourne Kangaroos
Jedd Busslinger, East Perth
If Jason Horne-Francis is at the club in 2023, North cannot have another midfielder alongside him, Luke Davies-Uniacke, Will Phillips, Jy Simpkin, Tarryn Thomas and Jed Anderson. Busslinger, alongside Ben McKay down back, is a huge tick, and he won’t need to play on monsters early in his career. He’s the best key back in the draft and is of great need to the Roos.
2. Brisbane Lions
Will Ashcroft, Sandringham Dragons (father-son)
When you’ve got a kid who’s averaging more SuperCoach points than Nick Daicos did in the NAB League, you’ve got someone special. He has a special two-way ability to find the ball on the inside and spread to the outside of the contest. He’s had 51 touches in a game, but his consistency is what stands out.
3. West Coast Eagles
Elijah Hewett, Swan Districts
Local talent is uber important to interstate teams, but Hewett is the real deal. He’s another two-way gun with a love of the bull-ness style of the inside. Along with an ability to win the ball on the outside and his ability to play well in all levels of WAFL footy, they’ve got a winner. He’s a good leader too, as proven when he gave a spray to some WA teammates after Vic Metro kicked eight straight in a quarter.
4. Essendon Bombers
Harry Sheezel, Sandringham Dragons
On raw talent, there mightn’t be any better. A genuine midfielder/forward with X factor, Sheezel has had 70 disposals in his last two games as a permanent midfielder. Up forward he oozes class and can win games off his own boot, and he would fit in really well at the Hangar.
5. Adelaide Crows
George Wardlaw, Oakleigh Chargers
The Crows could be getting the best talent in the draft at Pick 5, which is exciting, but he has what the Adelaide midfield is lacking severely: weapons. His overhead marking and foot skills for his age are exceptional, and he has no qualms about putting his head over the ball. If the Roos take Wardlaw, which they absolutely could, the Crows would take Busslinger.
6. Hawthorn Hawks
Elijah Tsatas, Oakleigh Chargers
Speaking of adding something to a boring midfield, Tsatas provides the Hawks with some outside class they lack so badly. He has had some injury concerns this year, which is far from ideal, but with a tank and disposal rate as elite as his, the Hawks would be silly to pass him up if he’s on the board.
7. Greater Western Sydney Giants
Aaron Cadman, Greater Western Victoria Rebels
The Giants could be saying goodbye to Jacob Hopper and Tim Taranto in the off-season, but they’ve still got good midfield depth. Here they go for a tall forward to help Harry Himmelberg be a full-time defender and help Jesse Hogan. With comparisons to Jye Amiss, Cadman has elite hands, is great on the lead and can fill a much-needed spot, as the Giants can attack midfield depth in the later rounds.
(Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
8. Port Adelaide Power
Mattaes Phillipou, Woodville-West Torrens
The Power need some quality in the midfield, and the 191-centimetre local lad with huge upside looks the smart pick here. With Josh Sinn attacking the halfback and wing positions in the future, a big-bodied Phillipou joining Ollie Wines, Connor Rozee and Zak Butters is a tantalising prospect. He hits the scoreboard as well, so he can accompany Mitch Georgiades and Todd Marshall as forward threats too.
9. Gold Coast Suns
Jhye Clark, Geelong Falcons
Gold Coast will get a jack-of-all-trades midfielder who runs all day, has good overhead marking for his size (181 centimetres) and kicks off both feet really well. With Noah Anderson becoming a full-time midfielder with Matt Rowell and Touk Miller, Clark can be an ultra-consistent winger and serve his apprenticeship before being in the midfield mix.
(Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Media/Getty Images)
10. Western Bulldogs
Brayden George, Murray Bushrangers
Dear Footscray list management team: do not send Aaron Naughton back. Leave him forward with Josh Bruce and develop Jamarra Ugle-Hagan. Don’t go after Rory Lobb. and give Sam Darcy some games down back. The draft isn’t going to solve your key position problems, so go get some real X factor who can be alongside Cody Weightman and give some headaches to opposition coaches.
George makes you respect him in the air, where he has a great ability, but he will make you look silly on the ground, as he is silky smooth and has some Josh Rachele about him.
Yours sincerely (and I’m happy to come on board as a full-time recruiter),
Daz
11. St Kilda Saints
Harry Lemmey, West Adelaide
Max King needs help, full stop. Tim Membrey has taken a step backwards, Paddy Ryder won’t play forever and Rowan Marshall needs to be the No. 1 man in the ruck. Lemmey has experience in the seniors, and while some are comparing him to Nick Riewoldt (no pressure), he is a roaming centre half-forward, and Max King can sit in the front 30 and dominate. The Saints don’t need smalls, and they are still liking Oscar Adams down back, even with him being a silly boy. Makes a lot of sense, this one.
12. Richmond Tigers
Matthew Jefferson, Oakleigh Chargers
The Tigers have got plenty of depth in their smalls, but if Noah Balta is going to be a defender, who do the Tigers have after Jack Riewoldt? How about a kid who’s kicked seven in a representative game and has some of the cleanest hands in this draft? He still needs to add to his frame, but he doesn’t need to play straight away, so it’s a win-win at Punt Road.
13. Essendon Bombers
Alwyn Davey Jr, Oakleigh Chargers (father/son)
Father/sons can be a lottery at times, but position for position, Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti for Davey Jr is absolutely beautiful. Averaging over 20 touches and a goal in both games of school footy, his skills and decision-making will be a sight to behold. He’ll don the sash with pride.
14. Sydney Swans
Cam MacKenzie, Sandringham Dragons
The Swans swung a surprise with Angus Sheldrick in the first round last year, but they should go a more conservative path with the Saints NGA member. A genuinely clean player who has speed post stoppage, MacKenzie will add to a throng of classy Swans in the next generation and can start his career on a flank and make his opponents look silly. He’s also elite with his disposal.
15. Collingwood Magpies
Isaac Keeler, North Adelaide
AFL marking contest. (Photo by Daniel Kalisz/Getty Images)
This pick is unlikely to be at Collingwood if they want Tim Taranto, but if they keep it, whether Brodie Grundy is there or not, Keeler is the correct decision. At 198 centimetres tall, he turns games with his ability as a tall forward, and his versatility, athleticism and natural gifts will be elite at the Holden Centre. He can play the ruck as well, so if Grundy goes, he can chop out Darcy Cameron as well.
16. Carlton Blues
Henry Hustwaite, Dandenong Stingrays
The Blues aren’t really lacking a lot, so to get a 194-centimetre hybrid midfield/defender looks a winner. He has a really nice left foot, oozes class and would add a dynamic edge to a side that’s already terrific to begin with. What else do the Blues even need?
17. Brisbane Lions
Mitch Szybkowski, Dandenong Stingrays
The Lions need midfield depth, as the current midfield looks like Lachie Neale or bust at the moment. Deven Robertson hasn’t proved anything yet, Jarryd Lyons has taken a step backwards and Rhys Mathieson and Ely Smith aren’t getting games at all. He has a balance to him in the midfield and will punish you if given space, but his strength is the inside of the contest. He can be a sidekick under Lachie Neale and learn from one of the best.
18. Fremantle Dockers
Lewis Hayes, Eastern Ranges
Alex Pearce has a bad injury history, Joel Hamling doesn’t look like he’ll be around in the long term, so Brennan Cox and Griffin Logue are the key backs now – and Logue is no guarantee to stick around either. Hayes mightn’t be the sexiest key back, but he stops his opponents first and foremost, which is more important than intercepting given the quality of tall forwards in the league.
(Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images)
19. Melbourne Demons
Kobe Ryan, West Adelaide
Andrew Gaff looks like a possible Demon trade target in the off-season, but to partner James Jordan and Ed Langdon on the wings is a pure wingman with plenty of tricks. Ryan is tearing it up at Colts level and does his best work on the outside of the contest, so he won’t get in the way of Clayton Oliver, Christian Petracca and Jack Viney.
20. Geelong Cats
Lachlan Cowan, Tasmania Devils
He’s got the mullet and a brilliant long boot and is as tough as nails. Geelong could use some more dash from halfback in a post-Joel Selwood/Patrick Dangerfield world as Brandan Parfitt, Tom Atkins, Mitch Knevitt and Cooper Stephens take over the middle. He’s a really good leader as well, which is never a bad thing.
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