A strong group of prospects have separated themselves at the top of next month’s AFL draft.
asserted
group → separate → draft
Port Adelaide list boss Jason Cripps revealed this week that Essendon will bid on the Power’s next-generation academy prospect Dougie Cochrane at No.1, but there is plenty of other intrigue in how the top 10 might shake out.
uncertain
10 → reveal → intrigue
This is our latest top 30 – but it is not a mock draft – based on performance, potential, injury risk and intangibles, based on discussions with recruiting staff at AFL clubs, junior coaches, and this masthead’s own views.
asserted
it → base → clubs
Among those considered but missed out were Ethan Herbert, Billy Wigmore, Xavier Ladbrook, Wil Antrobus, Blake Justice, bolter Jake Soutar and fellow mature-ager Brady Wright, Keenan Boi and Zac Antonellos.
asserted
Herbert → consider → those
Dougie Cochrane (Port Adelaide NGA)
Patella tendonitis, which required surgery, delayed the No.1 pick-elect’s season until August, meaning Cochrane missed the under-18 championships.
asserted
Cochrane → require → championships
But he remains the standout prospect.
asserted
he → remain → ?
Cochrane can play almost anywhere, is a great athlete, reads the play well, and has sticky hands and sublime skills.
asserted
Cochrane → play → hands
After returning in the SANFL as a forward – and being starved of the ball in a 70-point loss to Norwood – he was swung into defence for his last three games with great effect.
asserted
he → return → effect
Cochrane’s penetrating kick was put to use for kick-in duties.
asserted
kick → put → duties
The do-it-all midfielder, who carried a heavy load at the Rebels, is firming to be Essendon’s first live selection once they place a bid on Port Adelaide’s NGA sensation Cochrane.
asserted
they → carry → Cochrane
Drever would join Sullivan Robey and Dyson Sharp.
asserted
Drever → join → Robey
Drever is big and powerful, puts his body on the line to win the Sherrin, and bursts away from stoppages before driving long kicks inside 50.
asserted
Drever → put → 50
There are questions about his ball drop, but Drever is universally liked as a prospect.
asserted
Drever → be → prospect
Butler is believed to be in the mix at Richmond’s selection.
asserted
Butler → believe → selection
He is exquisitely talented, executes kicks others would not dare, has huge upside, and is as footy smart as anyone in the draft class.
asserted
others → execute → class
Butler needs to improve his running to realise his potential, while there are behavioural concerns – but they are not expected to impact his standing.
asserted
they → need → standing
He will mostly make his AFL living as a forward, but could at least pinch-hit at centre bounces.
uncertain
He → make → bounces
Butler missed time with a collarbone injury, but returned early to captain Brighton Grammar’s premiership.
asserted
Butler → miss → premiership
Teixeira isn’t the big personality that his Sandy teammate Butler is, but his football speaks loudly.
asserted
football → speak → ?
He rocketed into top-five contention with some eye-catching performances at the under-18 championships.
asserted
He → rocket → championships
Some recruiters think Teixeira has more upside than any player other than Cochrane.
asserted
Teixeira → think → Cochrane
He has power and speed, which he puts to use to escape from stoppages, while his creativity and vision make him dangerous with his kicking.
asserted
him → have → kicking
Teixeira hasn’t put up numbers as big as others, but there are few doubts he can make it as a midfielder.
asserted
he → put → midfielder
He won the Larke Medal at the under-18 championships before seamlessly transitioning to playing against the WAFL’s best.
asserted
He → win → best
Mellody was once viewed as a half-back or wing, but proving his onball wares has heightened his reputation.
asserted
proving → view → reputation
Mellody is a beautiful kick who creates scoring opportunities, is clean at ground level and accelerates out of stoppages.
asserted
who → create → stoppages
The Tigers could consider him, and most think West Coast would be mad not to snap the local boy up, particularly after he starred against their reserves.
uncertain
he → consider → reserves
Cody Walker (Carlton father-son)
Some scouts still rate him as the second-best prospect – raving about his ball-winning ability, toughness and power – whereas others have him further down, largely based on his at-times scratchy kicking and decision-making.
asserted
others → rate → kicking
Either way, Carlton won’t hesitate to bring Andrew Walker’s son in, and will have the chance to prove people right or wrong.
asserted
people → hesitate → chance
The new draft rules could work in the Blues’ favour, given the bottom-five clubs will all score a start-of-second-round pick if Essendon bid on Dougie Cochrane.
uncertain
Essendon → work → Cochrane
In that scenario, Walker could slide a bit.
uncertain
Walker → slide → scenario
Van Hattum has fans as a top-three prospect, and fits a need for both Essendon and Richmond, but where he is selected is one of this draft’s mysteries.
asserted
selected → have → mysteries
He is a giant of a man, and very athletic and agile for his size, which he makes good use of on the field.
asserted
he → make → field
Van Hattum won a few scouts over late in the year with his aggression and competitiveness, while his kicking skills are exceptional for a big man.
asserted
skills → win → man
He can impact the game aerially, but could do more of that.
uncertain
He → impact → that
Not many ruckmen are taken in the top 10, so it will be interesting to see who pulls the trigger.
asserted
who → take → trigger
There are recruiters who rate him a better prospect than Drever, and rival clubs will want to get a bid in before the Giants’ first pick (currently No.7) to prevent them double-dipping.
asserted
them → be → dipping
Matthews has not played since the injury cut his under-18 championships short, but his dazzling form before that has not been forgotten.
asserted
form → play → that
He wins his own ball – and lots of it – finds space, is a relentless runner, and is creative with his trusty left boot.
9.
asserted
He → win → boot
Every recruiter who spoke to this masthead ranks Harris as the best key defender in this draft.
asserted
who → speak → draft
…and 79 more, not listed.
The Aporia
