AFL Draft 2021 |
||
|---|---|---|
| Pick | Club | Player |
| 1 | North Melbourne | Jason Horne-Francis |
| 2 | Western Bulldogs | Sam Darcy | 3 | Greater Western Sydney | Finn Callaghan |
| 4 | Collingwood | Nick Daicos |
| 5 | Gold Coast | Mac Andrew |
| 6 | Adelaide | Josh Rachele |
| 7 | Hawthorn | Joshua Ward |
| 8 | Fremantle | Jye Amiss |
| 9 | Richmond | Josh Gibcus |
| 10 | Fremantle | Neil Erasmus |
| 11 | St Kilda | Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera |
| 12 | Port Adelaide | Josh Sinn |
| 13 | Essendon | Ben Hobbs |
| 14 | West Coast | Campbell Chesser |
| 15 | Greater Western Sydney | Leek Alleer |
| 16 | Brisbane Lions | Darcy Wilmot |
| 17 | Richmond | Tom Brown |
| 18 | Sydney | Angus Sheldrick |
| 19 | Melbourne | Jacob Van Rooyen |
| 20 | Brisbane Lions | Kai Lohmann |
The next generation of AFL talent will begin their journey to the big time tonight, with the first night of the 2021 AFL Draft upon us. Join The Roar for a live blog of Day 1, starting from 12pm (AEDT) until the draft itself begins at 7:10pm.
The AFL has decided to once again split the AFL draft across two nights; the first will feature the first round only, while Thursday night will see every other pick lodged.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and border restrictions around the country, the draft will be held at three different venues across the three primary AFL states. Victoria’s best and brightest will gather at The London Tavern in Richmond, which also hosted last year’s event; while the South Australians will head to the Adelaide Oval and Western Australians to the RAC Arena in Perth.
All eyes will be on North Melbourne as the club unveils its first ever number one draft pick. It’s a foregone conclusion the Kangaroos will be drafting star South Australian junior Jason Horne-Francis, but there are a few other things for them to consider.
Two other contenders to be taken very high in the draft will be taken under the father-son rule: Nick Daicos to Collingwood and Sam Darcy to the Western Bulldogs. Neither the Magpies nor the Bulldogs have first-round draft selections, but the way the AFL system works is they can sacrifice points from later picks to match any bid on those players.
For example, should the Kangaroos bid on Daicos with pick one – as happened last year with Adelaide on Bulldogs’ Academy gun Jamarra Ugle-Hagan – the Pies will be forced to find 3000 draft points to match the value of that pick one, minus a 20 per cent father-son discount. They can do this by sacrificing some of their other picks, which currently sit at 36, 38, 40, 46, 48 and 58.
>> Check out the AFL’s full draft value index for more information
The Roos have a conundrum on their hand; do they follow the Crows’ lead and force the Pies and Dogs to pay a high premium for their father-son talents? Or do they give Horne-Francis the coveted number one pick gong and all the hype that comes with it… plus a $10,000 investment portfolio from draft sponsors NAB?
There are also a number of other talented youngsters to make this a strong draft crop. Silky wingman Finn Callaghan is expected to be taken in the top ten, and would suit a club needing outside run. Goalsneak Josh Rachele has the capacity to be as crafty – and as annoying – as St Kilda legend Stephen Milne around the big sticks; while man mountain Mac Andrew, who has South Sudanese heritage, is an Academy prospect with reigning premiers Melbourne, but won’t be eligible to head there should another team pounce on him in the first round.
It’s set to be a memorable night for nearly two dozen of the AFL’s best and brightest up and coming talents, so stay tuned to The Roar for every pick as it happens, with the first pick to be made at 7:10pm (AEDT).
Where: The London Tavern (VIC); Adelaide Oval (SA); RAC Arena (WA)
First pick: 7:10pm (AEDT); Wednesday, November 24
Watch: Fox Footy, Kayo Sports
Kick to Kick
Roar Rookie
I chuckle at immediate post draft analysis, especially something like the Foxsports (Ben Waterworth) column that actually grades clubs on their draft choices. In that analysis the top is A+ for clubs like Freo, the Eagles and Richmond. The lowest is C+ for the Swans. But it’s really at least three years before draft success or failure takes shape. No one can tell if promising young men actually will develop or which stars will come from a pick in the 40s or even the rookie list. The day after the draft is time to settle down and wait to see who delivers.
Heath Elliot Lamaro
Guest
Ex-AFL star in intensive care after booster jab https://www.news.com.au/sport/afl/exafl-star-in-intensive-care-after-reaction-to-covid-booster-shot/news-story/b80f494fdbb66d542186fb180facc699
Charlie Keegan
Roar Guru
Right I’m confident in saying that Essendon have lost the draft they’ve selected three weird money ball selections and I think it’s gonna hurt next year
Charlie Keegan
Roar Guru
Stuff happened
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
What he said
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
The draft I alwhave trouble understanding but 'kick-@-Vic'; l get that.
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
Can someone tell me what happened?
13th Man
Roar Rookie
Yeah I would've loved Motlop but it looked like we would've had to sacrifice Johnson to get him, and we just weren't prepared to do that. Wish he'd gone somewhere other than Carlton though... Our bogey side!
Chris M
Guest
These draftees may look good competing against other boys born in 2003, but there will only be a limited number of superstars and a few other genuine A-graders amongst them when they come to compete against the best in an open field.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
As a measure, he is not as good as Darcy Tucker, James Aish or Michael Frederick. He won't be selected ahead of Sam Sturt, Heath Chapman or Brandon Walker. Luke Valente is back and well. He'll be one of the stories of 2022. Rogers will need to leave WA. Adelaide could use him.
Kick to Kick
Roar Rookie
No GWS matched and secured Fahey
O M
Roar Rookie
Been a massive draft for the Tiges, Pablo! List refreshed and looking full of youth and talent. No dropping off the cliff at Tigerland like other recent 3 peaters!
ScottD
Roar Guru
He's the best player in the WAFL. We will find a use for him.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
That didn't make much sense. Try again.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
He'd be good...but almost play exclusively at Peel. Who would he displace?
Kane
Roar Rookie
But more like a Geelong captain
pablocruz
Roar Rookie
But . . . but what?
Yattuzzi
Roar Rookie
But like a Richmond captain?
Chanon
Roar Rookie
Another tall jockey :stoked:
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Jack Williams for me, then Dittmar and Browne. Clark, Rogers and Pegaroro are likely in tomorrow's rookie draft.