51 minutes ago, samcantstandya said:

We'll miss out on Ricky Mentha (Melb NGA) if this list is the actual order of players picked. Mentha needs to fall outside the top 40 for us to grab him.

Big if. Unless he has an outstanding season, Mentha is likely to miss on top 40 because of his size. Look at Kynan Brown - he was one of Vic Metro’s best in the national championships and was very good in the Coates Boys League but nobody tried to draft him.

Wow. 

Redleg Ned Bowman’s huge hanger sets tongues wagging and puts AFL clubs on red alert

This brings back memories of Russell Robertson 👏👏

2 hours ago, spirit of norm smith said:

Wow. 

Redleg Ned Bowman’s huge hanger sets tongues wagging and puts AFL clubs on red alert

This brings back memories of Russell Robertson 👏👏

He can take a mark but can he play?

The squads have started coming in for the U18 National Championships and high-flyer Ned Bowman (see post above) has been selected.

2024 South Australian U18 squad finalised

 

 

Young Van Rooyen named in WA 16s squad 

2 hours ago, Pennant St Dee said:

Young Van Rooyen named in WA 16s squad 

I have heard he is the talented one out of the lot??

2 hours ago, Pennant St Dee said:

Young Van Rooyen named in WA 16s squad 

Is it time to push for the brother/brother rule?

22 hours ago, dazzledavey36 said:

I have heard he is the talented one out of the lot??

He’s very talented, although the big growth spurt in the last two years has seen him virtually miss 2 seasons and he has just played 3 in the WAFL Futures(u/16). With time out and growing rapidly lost mobility but reckon he’ll grow into the body now. Both older brothers mobile for their size.

This is him #86 at the beginning of the clip

https://www.facebook.com/stories/104966548301236/UzpfSVNDOjExMjI4Mjc3MzIyOTcxNDk=/?view_single=1&source=shared_permalink&mibextid=W9rl1R 

This is usually a big game on the draft calendar - one in which reputations can often be made.

PREVIEW | AFL U18 Australian Academy vs. Coburg VFL

Squads named for Victorian Under 18 trials

https://www.afl.com.au/news/1107363/academy-midfield-guns-and-father-sons-on-display-in-loss-to-lions/amp
 

There is seriously good talent in this years draft pool. Lots of mids and Dees should look at adding one with our first available pick.  Whilst we hope it’s a late first round pick, the depth available means I think there will be still a good quality midfielder youngster in the 15-18 range this year.  

WA just named their state 18s, Dan Curtin’s younger brother Cody named, raw but one to watch for 2025

 

A versatile player to look out for in this year’s draft.

Scouting Notes: AFL Academy vs. Coburg VFL

 

                                     

Changes afoot to the bidding process:

AFL clubs will be forced to pay a higher price for star academy and father-son players as part of an overhaul of the draft points system.

And the league is open to pick purchasing where clubs can effectively buy draft picks with salary cap space and trading more than one year in advance.

AFL’s big move to unlock trade period stalemates.

15 hours ago, whatwhat say what said:

Changes afoot to the bidding process:

AFL clubs will be forced to pay a higher price for star academy and father-son players as part of an overhaul of the draft points system.

And the league is open to pick purchasing where clubs can effectively buy draft picks with salary cap space and trading more than one year in advance.

AFL’s big move to unlock trade period stalemates. 

 

Conveniently after Suns have filled the treasure chest with multiple academy players; Lions with multiple F/S in the top 20. 

It is definitely needed. The simple rule of having a pick in the round where the nomination is made avoids a club getting away with a stack of talent (ala Suns). That was an absolute steal for them last year.

14 minutes ago, Gawndy the Great said:

Conveniently after Suns have filled the treasure chest with multiple academy players; Lions with multiple F/S in the top 20. 

It is definitely needed. The simple rule of having a pick in the round where the nomination is made avoids a club getting away with a stack of talent (ala Suns). That was an absolute steal for them last year.

not to mention having to have enough list spaces to use with the amount of picks that you have

when gc17 have 7 picks and only 3 list spaces, with 3 first-round academy picks to come in that they can conveniently cover with the 'value' of their plethora of 2nd and 3rd round picks, it's an absolute farce

First lot of 2024 draft rankings.

April 2024 Draft Power Rankings: Mids, father-sons dominate the list

Highlights video of the AFL academy team vs Coburg.

Our NGA prospect Ricky Mentha in #10 makes a few cameos 

On 17/04/2024 at 13:52, Nascent said:

First lot of 2024 draft rankings.

April 2024 Draft Power Rankings: Mids, father-sons dominate the list

TOP 30 still early days prior to the under 18 National championships

1. Finn O'Sullivan - Oakleigh 

2. Levi Ashcroft - Sandringham (Bris FS) 

3. Josh Smillie - Eastern 

4. Jagga Smith - Oakleigh 

5. Luke Trainor - Sandringham 

6. Sid Draper - SA Sth Adel 

7. Tyler Welsh - SA Eagles (Adel FS)

8. Christian Moraes - Eastern  

9. Harry O'Farrell - Calder 

10. Jonty Faull - GWV 

11. Tom Gross - Oakleigh 

10. Leonardo Lombard - GCS Academy  

11. Ben Camporeale - Glenelg (Carl FS)

12. Zak Johnson - Northern 

13. Jobe Shanahan - Bendigo

14. Taj Hotton - Sandringham 

15. Sam Lalor - GWV 

16. Kade Herbert - SA Eagles

17. Xavier Lindsay - Gippsland 

18. Murphy Reid - Sandringham

19.  Lucas Camporeale - Glenelg (Carl FS)

20. Noah Mraz - Dandenong 

21. Harvey Langford - Dandenon

22. Jack Whitlock - Murray

23. Benny Barrett - SA Sth Adel (Port Academy)

24. Isaac Kako - Calder (Ess NGA)

25. Sam Marshall - Sandringham (Bris Academy)

26.Josh Murphy - Murray

27. Nathaniel Sulzberger - Sandringham/Tas 

28. Tobie Travaglia - Bendigo

29. Phoenix Hargrave - SA Sth Adelaide 

30. Bo Allan - WA Peel 

Scouting Notes: AFL Academy vs. Footscray

Melbourne’s NGA reviewed here - 

#10 Ricky Mentha (Gippsland Power)
Forward/Wing | 178cm | 04/09/2006

A small forward with great craft around goal, Mentha was again challenged in splitting his time between attack and the wing. The Alice Springs native struggled to get his hands on the ball consistently but got on the end of a couple of passes as the Academy broke from the centre bounce and defensive 50. He marked the ball relatively cleanly and looked to move it on quickly.

I’m going to come out and say that no Yze in the Top 30 should temper expectations on what the kid may or may not be able to do. 

Best of luck to the young fella as it’s not Yze making it to the AFL.

On 15/04/2024 at 10:01, Whispering_Jack said:

 

A versatile player to look out for in this year’s draft.

My Son played on him last year; he’s very good

Vic Metro squad has been released

2024 Vic Metro U18 Boys squad announced - https://www.afl.com.au/news/1119993

Yze not selected

Edited May 2, 20241 yr by Nascent

little paper sais that the talent coming out of wa this year is threadbare: https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/draft-wipeout-fears-talent-pathways-wont-cater-for-19-clubs-as-wa-could-prove-canary-in-coal-mine/news-story/73764be1b4e8b785efebf126e7444cfb

Western Australia is bracing for its worst ever national draft as fears escalate that the country’s talent pathways will not be capable of producing enough elite players for 19 AFL clubs.

Several clubs say there is currently not a single West Australian they would select while Tasmania struggles to consistently develop AFL talent. WA typically produces about 16 per cent of the draft pool and had 14 players selected last year.

But that is set for a dramatic fall in a year where Fremantle holds three first-round selections and West Coast is likely to have a top-four pick.

“There’s not enough draftable players for 19 clubs,” one recruiting expert said.

“I don’t think there will be a West Australian legitimately drafted this year – that’s how bad WA is at the moment. It’s the worst year for talent they’ve ever seen.

“There’s not enough kids for 18 clubs at the moment. Some of that could be because kids never got the games into them during Covid. But WA didn’t have lockdown like Victoria did.”