With this year's draft being compromised by:

1. Academies
2. Father-Sons, and
3. Disruptions to competitions

What does next year's crop look like? 

Is it enticing enough to warrant the likes of Preuss, ANB, Macs O&T, Bedford being traded for future picks?

Really tough to gauge what is ahead for 2021.

There’s 5-8 top youngsters who are standing out in the WA Colts and SA under 18s.

But given no Vic under 18s in 2020, best indicator is 2019 under 16 championships.  

I’m still happy to trade out our MFC 2021 2nd pick for Tom Phillips as he brings a desperately needed fix straight away. 

Thanks @spirit of norm smith,

Beyond that, I'm interested in any insights into the quality and depth of the 2021 draft. Can add into the equation the RFA and pre-RFA's that may become part of the picture - is it worth building a bank of picks so that we're positioned to be major players?

I know the Lions have earmarked another few youngsters for the 2021 draft as very strong performers and will continue to get an arm chair ride to pick up quality local kids out of QLD. 

Pies have Youseph Dib in their NGA program and is highly rated as a potential top 25 player. Of course they also get access to Nick Daicos in 2021 draft and he is top 10 quality. 

 Unfortunately Dees will not get such benefits on the near horizon. 

A look ahead: The 21 top prospects for 2021

AFL Draft Central nominates the top 21 draft prospects for 2021 including its top contender:

Jason Horne (South Adelaide/South Australia)

21/06/2003 | 182cm/75kg
Inside Midfielder/Forward

The remaining top 20 contenders (alphabetical order)

Braden Andrews (Oakleigh Chargers/Vic Metro)
21/02/2003 | 189cm/83kg
Midfielder/Utility

Samuel Banks (Clarence/Tasmania)
2/04/2003 | 186cm/72kg
Midfielder/Half-Back

Rhett Bazzo (Swan Districts/Western Australia)
17/10/2003 | 194cm/74kg
Tall Defender

Cooper Beecken (Glenelg/South Australia)
24/02/2003 | 188cm/72kg
Defender

Lachlan Brooks (Sandringham Dragons/Vic Metro)
1/02/2003 | 179cm/75kg
Inside Midfielder

Campbell Chesser (Sandringham Dragons/Vic Country)
27/04/2003 | 185cm/79kg
Half-Back/Wing

Nick Daicos (Oakleigh Chargers/Vic Metro)
01/03/2003 | 183cm/72kg
Balanced Midfielder

Arlo Draper (South Adelaide/South Australia)
30/01/2003 | 185cm/71kg
Midfielder/Forward

Joshua Fahey (Gold Coast Academy/NSW/ACT)
11/11/2003 | 186cm/76kg
Half-Back/Outside Midfielder

Ben Hobbs (GWV Rebels/Vic Country)
15/09/2003 | 182cm/76kg
Inside Midfielder

Matthew Johnson (Subiaco/Western Australia)
16/03/2003 | 192cm/80kg
Inside Midfielder

Alex Lukic (Oakleigh Chargers/Vic Metro)
7/01/2003 | 195cm/86kg
Key Forward

Charlie Molan (GWV Rebels/Vic Country)
23/01/2003 | 186cm/78kg
Midfielder/Utility

Cooper Murley (Norwood/South Australia)
20/06/2003 | 177cm/66kg
Small Midfielder/Forward

Joshua Rachele (Murray Bushranger/Vic Country)
11/04/2003 | 179cm/77kg
Small Midfielder/Forward

Lewis Rayson (Glenelg/South Australia)
14/01/2003 | 181cm/64kg
Half-Back

Matthew Roberts (South Adelaide/South Australia)
31/07/2003 | 183cm/76kg
Midfielder/Forward

Josh Sinn (Sandringham Dragons/Vic Metro)
28/01/03 | 186cm/72kg
Half-Back/Midfielder

Tyler Sonsie (Eastern Ranges/Vic Metro)
27/01/2003 | 181cm/74kg
Midfielder/Forward

Jacob Van Rooyen (Claremont/Western Australia)
16/04/2003 | 194cm/88kg
Key Forward

Some others included in the mix are a couple of South Australian father-son prospects with famous names (Wanganeen and Burgoyne) and a cousin of  were others to show Kysaiah Pickett who has links to a club in Adelaide. It comes as no surprise that he’s described as “small”.

Thanks for that @Leopold Bloom.

Clicked on this thread this morning and wondered what [censored] started this thread so early...oh [censored].

Edited December 10, 20204 yr by TRIGON

4 hours ago, Leopold Bloom said:

A look ahead: The 21 top prospects for 2021

AFL Draft Central nominates the top 21 draft prospects for 2021 including its top contender:

Jason Horne (South Adelaide/South Australia)

21/06/2003 | 182cm/75kg
Inside Midfielder/Forward

The remaining top 20 contenders (alphabetical order)

Braden Andrews (Oakleigh Chargers/Vic Metro)
21/02/2003 | 189cm/83kg
Midfielder/Utility

Samuel Banks (Clarence/Tasmania)
2/04/2003 | 186cm/72kg
Midfielder/Half-Back

Rhett Bazzo (Swan Districts/Western Australia)
17/10/2003 | 194cm/74kg
Tall Defender

Cooper Beecken (Glenelg/South Australia)
24/02/2003 | 188cm/72kg
Defender

Lachlan Brooks (Sandringham Dragons/Vic Metro)
1/02/2003 | 179cm/75kg
Inside Midfielder

Campbell Chesser (Sandringham Dragons/Vic Country)
27/04/2003 | 185cm/79kg
Half-Back/Wing

Nick Daicos (Oakleigh Chargers/Vic Metro)
01/03/2003 | 183cm/72kg
Balanced Midfielder

Arlo Draper (South Adelaide/South Australia)
30/01/2003 | 185cm/71kg
Midfielder/Forward

Joshua Fahey (Gold Coast Academy/NSW/ACT)
11/11/2003 | 186cm/76kg
Half-Back/Outside Midfielder

Ben Hobbs (GWV Rebels/Vic Country)
15/09/2003 | 182cm/76kg
Inside Midfielder

Matthew Johnson (Subiaco/Western Australia)
16/03/2003 | 192cm/80kg
Inside Midfielder

Alex Lukic (Oakleigh Chargers/Vic Metro)
7/01/2003 | 195cm/86kg
Key Forward

Charlie Molan (GWV Rebels/Vic Country)
23/01/2003 | 186cm/78kg
Midfielder/Utility

Cooper Murley (Norwood/South Australia)
20/06/2003 | 177cm/66kg
Small Midfielder/Forward

Joshua Rachele (Murray Bushranger/Vic Country)
11/04/2003 | 179cm/77kg
Small Midfielder/Forward

Lewis Rayson (Glenelg/South Australia)
14/01/2003 | 181cm/64kg
Half-Back

Matthew Roberts (South Adelaide/South Australia)
31/07/2003 | 183cm/76kg
Midfielder/Forward

Josh Sinn (Sandringham Dragons/Vic Metro)
28/01/03 | 186cm/72kg
Half-Back/Midfielder

Tyler Sonsie (Eastern Ranges/Vic Metro)
27/01/2003 | 181cm/74kg
Midfielder/Forward

Jacob Van Rooyen (Claremont/Western Australia)
16/04/2003 | 194cm/88kg
Key Forward

Some others included in the mix are a couple of South Australian father-son prospects with famous names (Wanganeen and Burgoyne) and a cousin of  were others to show Kysaiah Pickett who has links to a club in Adelaide. It comes as no surprise that he’s described as “small”.

Great post, Horne, Daicos, Murley, Rachele, Roberts, Sinn and Sonsie all probably would be in top 10 plantoms, Burgoyne probably as well.  I think you refer to Gavin Wanganeen's son Tex Wanganeen.  There is another Wanganeen, as well, who should be in that list -  Nasiah Wanganeen - who incidentally is the son of former North Melbourne defender Eddie Sansbury but is an intriguing indigenous prospect - 187cm 64kg at the moment, loves to carry the ball from half-back.

Pretty exciting really to contemplate who we might get with our first pick at #40 or thereabouts in a strong draft. 

Or will we trade away first round picks for the next 10 years to get back into the first round?

1 hour ago, poita said:

Pretty exciting really to contemplate who we might get with our first pick at #40 or thereabouts in a strong draft. 

Or will we trade away first round picks for the next 10 years to get back into the first round?

 

This is the new skill of the recruitment team. I’m expected an actuarial department to be added. 

for anyone that actually thinks we won't have a round one pick next year... i don't know what to tell ya, but i am pretty sure we will have AT LEAST one.. once we get rid of t-mac, potentially brayshaw and a few others, we will be right to go again with youngsters/a rd 1 pick for trade.

The next couple of seasons are going to present a number of new challenges to recruiters.

How to catch up with what's been lost during Covid19 in 2020?

If we take this year's Under 18s in Victoria, there would be numerous players who recruiters have not been able to keeps tabs on because they simply have been unseen unless invited to combines. This filters down to this year's bottom agers and younger players who have been developing in all aspects and many potential high level players would be virtually unknown to drafters.

I know of players in NAB Cup Under 17 squads for 2021 who are there basically because of what they did in 2019. There would be many among their peers who have in the interim grown and matured physically and mentally at the same time who might deserve recognition and inclusion into squads but might not get the opportunity for training and further improvement because they've become part of the Covid backlog.

2 hours ago, poita said:

Pretty exciting really to contemplate who we might get with our first pick at #40 or thereabouts in a strong draft. 

Or will we trade away first round picks for the next 10 years to get back into the first round?

Yes, in all seriousness I fully expect to trade the 2022 first round pick among other things to get back into the 21' draft. 

20 hours ago, Rocky said:

for anyone that actually thinks we won't have a round one pick next year... i don't know what to tell ya, but i am pretty sure we will have AT LEAST one.. once we get rid of t-mac, potentially brayshaw and a few others, we will be right to go again with youngsters/a rd 1 pick for trade.

Weiderman for the Pies first pick will do me!

29 minutes ago, Kent said:

Weiderman for the Pies first pick will do me!

Name is Weideman and the Pies first pick is a Round 2 selection. I’d rather that Sam has a great season in 2021 now that he’s second dibs behind Ben Brown in our key forward stakes, that he learns from Brown’s presence and they play in a successful side.

Horne looks like an absolute jet.

AFL’s 10 to watch:

https://www.afl.com.au/news/527650/eye-on-the-future-10-draft-prospects-to-watch-in-2021

The 21 best prospects have been selected in an elite academy squad ~

2021 AFL Academy Squad announced

Father-son pair among 21 players in elite AFL Academy squad

Here’s the Herald Sun’s compilation of top prospects for 2021:-

The top AFL draft prospects to watch in 2021

On 12/12/2020 at 8:10 AM, ChaserJ said:

Horne looks like an absolute jet.

AFL’s 10 to watch:

https://www.afl.com.au/news/527650/eye-on-the-future-10-draft-prospects-to-watch-in-2021

Neil Erasmus is one to watch Chaser, another Sorrento Duncraig boy who had an outstanding Colts grand final for Subi.

Won't play many games at Subi till late as he has PSA commitments at Hale

Time for Chelly’s 2021 Top 10 Draft Picks:- 

1. Jason Horne (Sth Adelaide, SA)

2. Nick Daicos (Oakleigh Chargers - Collingwood Father/Son) 

3. Josh Rachele (Murray Bushrangers) 

4. Josh Sinn (Sandringham Dragons) 

5. Ben Hobbs (GWV Rebels) 

6. Tyler Sonsie (Eastern Ranges) 

7. Lachlan Brooks (Sandringham Dragons) 

8. Jacob Van Rooyen (Claremont, WA) 

9. Joshua Browne (East Fremantle, WA) 

10. Campbell Chessar (Sandringham Dragons)

I thought GC Suns would look to preselect or draft Max Pescud.  Strong 2019 as a 17 year old and played in the 2020 Suns Academy v Lions Academy game up here this year.  Pace and skill. Too good not to be in recruiters sights.  Might get a call from Southport Sharks to be in the new expanded eastern league team. One kid who might be given 2nd look in next years draft.  

Jason Horne - pity our first pick is somewhere in Round 2 of the draft at the moment.

Potential No.1 draft pick with 'great highlights package' exciting recruiters

They usually do the testing at the Combines at the end of the season but this is something new.

Another Rising Star in the making? Docker's brother impresses in testing

Kobi George, one of our New Generation Academy players featured in the 20m sprints. 

Knightmare’s first power rankings for 2021 - April. No surprises there - Horne @ #1 and Daicos in the top 5.

As Horne is the step-son of Fabian Francis, is he eligible for anyone as a father-son? or did he not play enough games to qualify for us, the bears, or the power?

On 4/2/2021 at 4:33 PM, whatwhat say what said:

As Horne is the step-son of Fabian Francis, is he eligible for anyone as a father-son? or did he not play enough games to qualify for us, the bears, or the power?

Fabian Francis played one game for Melbourne. I think that might be a touch short of what’s needed to qualify even if he was the biological father.