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WHERE DO THEY COME FROM?

Whispering_Jack
Whispering_Jack
in Melbourne Demons

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A list of the 2024 draftees on a state by state basis shows that the majority of players drafted this year have come from Victoria. No surprise, but what should be of concern to the AFL is the fact that not a single player picked this year hails from Tasmania - an ominous sign given that the Tassie Devils are only a few seasons away.

ACT (1)

Cooper Bell (Pick 49) - Belconnen

NEW SOUTH WALES (6)

Jack Ough (Pick 36) - Wentworth 
Jobe Shanahan (Pick 30) - Moama 
Riley Bice (Pick 41) - Albury
Joel Cochran (Pick 47) - UNSW Eastern suburbs
Logan Smith (Pick 71) - Queanbeyan 
Josaia Delana (Cat B Rookie) - East Coast Eagles

NORTHERN TERRITORY (1)

Ricky Mentha (Cat B Rookie) - Palmerston

QUEENSLAND (4)

Leo Lombard (Pick 9) - Broadbeach 
Sam Marshall (Pick 25) - Kawana Park
Ty Gallop (Pick 42) - Maroochydore Lachlan Gulbin (Cat B Rookie) - Burleigh

SOUTH AUSTRALIA (13)

Sid Draper (Pick 4) - Willunga
Ned Bowman (Pick 26) - Orroroo 
Charlie Nicholls (Pick 34) - Mintaro Manoora
Angus Clarke (Pick 39) - East Gambier 
Ben Camporeale (Pick 43) - Brighton
Jay Polkinghorne (Pick 44) - Western United
Charlie West (Pick 50) - Henley
Jacob Molier (Pick 52) - Onkaparinga Valley 
Alex Dodson (Pick 53) - Payneham NU
Lucas Camporeale (Pick 54) - Brighton
Tyler Welsh (Pick 59) - Henley 
Tom Cochrane (Rookie Pick 13) - Port
District
Benny Barrett (Cat B Rookie) - Happy Valley

TASMANIA (0)

VICTORIA (51)

Sam Lalor (Pick 1) - Bacchus Marsh 
Finn O'Sullivan (Pick 2) - Koroit 
Jagga Smith (Pick 3) - Richmond 
Levi Ashcroft (Pick 5) - St Kilda City 
Harvey Langford (Pick 6) - Mount Martha
Josh Smillie (Pick 7) - Park Orchards 
Tobie Travaglia (Pick 8) - Sandhurst 
Alixzander Tauru (Pick 10) - Warragul 
Xavier Lindsay (Pick 11) - Leongatha 
Taj Hotton (Pick 12) - Hampton 
Isaac Kako (13) - Northern Saints 
Jonty Faull (Pick 14) - Redan
Joe Berry (Pick 15) - Wangaratta
Murphy Reid (Pick 17) - South Melbourne Districts
Oliver Hannaford (Pick 18) - Sandhurst
Harrison Oliver (Pick 19) - St Bedes 
Cooper Hynes (Pick 20) - Bonbeach 
Luke Trainor (Pick 21) - St Peters 
Jesse Dattoli (Pick 22) - Ivanhoe
Harry Armstrong (Pick 23) - Ormond 
Matt Whitlock (Pick 27) - Shepparton
Thomas Sims (Pick 28) - Montmorency
Lachie Jaques (Pick 29) - St Marys (Geelong)
Josh Dolan (Pick 31) - Beaumaris 
James Barrat (Pick 32) - Leitchville
Gunbower
Jack Whitlock (Pick 33) - Shepparton 
Noah Mraz (Pick 35) - Narre North 
Christian Moraes (Pick 38) - Knox
Harry O'Farrell (Pick 40) - Maribyrnong Park
Tom Gross (Pick 46) - Kew Rovers 
Lucca Grego (Pick 48) - Bacchus Marsh
Sam Davidson (Pick 51) - East Brighton 
Riak Andrew (Pick 55) - Berwick
Jasper Alger (Pick 58) Warragul
Patrick Said (Pick 60) - Sunbury
Rhys Unwin (Pick 61) - Cobden
Luke Kennedy (Pick 62) - Ormond 
Cody Anderson (Pick 64) - Healesville 
Lennox Hofmann (Pick 66) - Old Brighton 
River Stevens (Pick 67) - Newtown & Chilwell 
Aidan Johnson (Pick 68) - Yarraville Seddon 
Keighton Matofai-Forbes (Pick 69) - Keilor 
Zak Johnson (Pick 70) - St Marys (Greensborough)
Archer Day-Wicks (Rookie Pick 6) - Sandhurst
Harry Charleson (Rookie Pick 9) - East Point 
Xavier Ivisic (Rookie Pick 12) - Bell Park 
Blake Leidler (Rookie Pick 14) - Surrey Park 
Asher Eastham (Rookie Pick 17) - Heyfield 
Patrick Retschko (Rookie Pick 23) - St Kilda City
Joe Pike (Rookie Pick 31) - Barwon Heads 
Jayden Nguyen (Cat B Rookie) - Aberfeldie

WESTERN AUSTRALIA (10)

Bo Allan (Pick 16) - Halls Head 
Cody Angove (Pick 24) - Scarborough 
Kayle Gerreyn (Pick 37) - Joondalup 
Kinross 
Hugh Boxshall (Pick 45) - Swanbourne
Will Hayes (Pick 56) - Subiaco 
Luke Urquhart (Pick 57) - Melville 
Jaren Carr (Pick 63) - Winnacott 
Hamish Davis (Pick 65) - Subiaco
Aiden Riddle (Rookie Pick 7) - North Beach Malakai Champion (Cat B Rookie) - Mines Rovers

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    • Author

    A few random notes:

    • I was surprised that Sandringham Dragons player Nathan Sulzberger who comes from Tasmania and was a handy midfielder in their premiership side, didn’t make it. Then again, he might not have been classified as a Tasmanian anyway given that father/son draftee Levi Ashcroft is down as a Victorian. 

    • Melbourne’s Aidan Johnson originally came from Lavington which makes him a. New South Welshman.

    • Our Northern Territorian Ricky Mentha is the first (and only?) Demon drafted by the club from Alice Springs since Liam Jurrah.

  • Quote
    • Thanks 3
     

    Only 6 from NSW, with one from Queanbeyan and one each from Moama from Albury, is an absolute stinker of a result too. Between that and the 4 from Queensland it means the AFL recruited just 7 players from above the Barassi line.

    That's $200m well spent.

    Also wondering if there might be a few Tassie kids who crossed to Victoria for exposure in their final pre-draft season to boost exposure, and that might mask their origins?

  • Quote
    • Like 4

      On 23/11/2024 at 21:42, binman said:

    And once their career ends we all be like:

    https://youtu.be/L8XQZYIiNgo?si=00s7OWb9cA0zF-VR

    When he'd finished with that music genre, he went to the Blues.

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    • Haha 2
      On 23/11/2024 at 23:13, Demonstone said:

    I sincerely hope that his surname doesn't rhyme with "cough".

    Much closer to Jackie O according to Cal and Riley.

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    • Haha 1
     
      On 23/11/2024 at 23:28, Tarax Club said:

    Much closer to Jackie O according to Cal and Riley.

    Just goes to show how effective our development programs at our schools, U16’s & U18’s in Victoria are. NSW & QLD are still a bit alien but surprised that WA, SA & TAS are so far off the pace given their  strong AFL heritage.

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      On 24/11/2024 at 00:21, DeeZone said:

    Just goes to show how effective our development programs at our schools, U16’s & U18’s in Victoria are. NSW & QLD are still a bit alien but surprised that WA, SA & TAS are so far off the pace given their  strong AFL heritage.

    As you say you have to overlay the talent paths with the private school AFL programmes operated by Hailebury and the like. These don't exist north of the Vic border. Not sure they exist in Tasmania either to the extent of Vic.

    Your point on SA and WA is interesting. In both of those States the potential draftees are playing in the senior WAFL and SANFL comps. Perhaps they are the school equivalent? Would be great to hear from those living in WA and SA.

    One idea which I like is increasing the draft age by three months each year until we reach 20 as the minimum age. This allows kids to have a life outside football post school and puts less emphasis on the 16 year old "finishing schools" that we now seem to have

    Edited by Diamond_Jim

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    • Like 3

      On 23/11/2024 at 22:25, Little Goffy said:

    Only 6 from NSW, with one from Queanbeyan and one each from Moama from Albury, is an absolute stinker of a result too. Between that and the 4 from Queensland it means the AFL recruited just 7 players from above the Barassi line.

    That's $200m well spent.

    Also wondering if there might be a few Tassie kids who crossed to Victoria for exposure in their final pre-draft season to boost exposure, and that might mask their origins?

    Wentworth too is just about Victoria - so 3 of the 6 NSW are borderline Vics. 

    Zero Tasmanians is a huge anomaly historically - if repeated the 19th team will be filled with “go home soon” players.  

  • Quote
    • Thanks 2
      On 23/11/2024 at 21:38, Whispering_Jack said:

    A random note:

    • Our Northern Territorian Ricky Mentha is the first (and only?) Demon drafted by the club from Alice Springs since Liam Jurrah

    Occasionally in my wanderings, I visit Karama shopping centre here in Darwin. On the wall opposite the Karama Tavern where you enter the shopping centre. Is a Sunday NT News pictorial display.  Amongst the usual crocodile stories and page 3 bikini clad girls. Is an image of Liam Jarrah on a long scything run into the forward line with Colin Sylvia in the background. Back page headline says 'Sizzling Demons Too Hot'. I remember that cameo very well as I was in attendance the night before at Marrara Stadium. TMM that is one of the best displays of indigenous sporting prowess. It remains there well over a decade after the events portrayed.

    His recruitment was rather fortuitous given a number of clubs interest, but having the number 1 pick in the 2009 pre-season draft certainly helped.

    Edited by Tarax Club

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    • Like 4
    • Thanks 3
      On 23/11/2024 at 23:28, Tarax Club said:

    Much closer to Jackie O according to Cal and Riley.

    When his name was called out it was pronounced Ow, but I wouldn't have a clue and probably neither did Laura K

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    • Like 2

    Local football in Tassie has been in decline for decades as the AFL has sent millions into NSW and Queensland. At the same time there has been zero investment in Tassie grass roots football. It has been well known here in Tassie for a while now that the best way to get recruited is to head to a Victorian boarding school.

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    • Like 1
    • Thanks 1
      On 25/11/2024 at 21:05, Roger Mellie said:

    When his name was called out it was pronounced Ow

    That's correct.  I know a family with that surname and that is how they pronounce it.   

    Commentators will be tongue-tied if he ever lines up on Owies.

  • Quote
    • Like 1
    • Haha 1

      On 23/11/2024 at 22:25, Little Goffy said:

    Only 6 from NSW, with one from Queanbeyan and one each from Moama from Albury, is an absolute stinker of a result too. Between that and the 4 from Queensland it means the AFL recruited just 7 players from above the Barassi line.

    That's $200m well spent.

    Also wondering if there might be a few Tassie kids who crossed to Victoria for exposure in their final pre-draft season to boost exposure, and that might mask their origins?

    The trajectory for nsw and qld is getting better however slow. I can see that in the next decade their number will match SA and WA

    Edited by Oxdee

  • Quote
    • Like 2
      On 23/11/2024 at 21:26, Whispering_Jack said:

    A list of the 2024 draftees on a state by state basis shows that the majority of players drafted this year have come from Victoria. No surprise, but what should be of concern to the AFL is the fact that not a single player picked this year hails from Tasmania - an ominous sign given that the Tassie Devils are only a few seasons away.

    ACT (1)

    Cooper Bell (Pick 49) - Belconnen

    NEW SOUTH WALES (6)

    Jack Ough (Pick 36) - Wentworth 
    Jobe Shanahan (Pick 30) - Moama 
    Riley Bice (Pick 41) - Albury
    Joel Cochran (Pick 47) - UNSW Eastern suburbs
    Logan Smith (Pick 71) - Queanbeyan 
    Josaia Delana (Cat B Rookie) - East Coast Eagles

    NORTHERN TERRITORY (1)

    Ricky Mentha (Cat B Rookie) - Palmerston

    QUEENSLAND (4)

    Leo Lombard (Pick 9) - Broadbeach 
    Sam Marshall (Pick 25) - Kawana Park
    Ty Gallop (Pick 42) - Maroochydore Lachlan Gulbin (Cat B Rookie) - Burleigh

    SOUTH AUSTRALIA (13)

    Sid Draper (Pick 4) - Willunga
    Ned Bowman (Pick 26) - Orroroo 
    Charlie Nicholls (Pick 34) - Mintaro Manoora
    Angus Clarke (Pick 39) - East Gambier 
    Ben Camporeale (Pick 43) - Brighton
    Jay Polkinghorne (Pick 44) - Western United
    Charlie West (Pick 50) - Henley
    Jacob Molier (Pick 52) - Onkaparinga Valley 
    Alex Dodson (Pick 53) - Payneham NU
    Lucas Camporeale (Pick 54) - Brighton
    Tyler Welsh (Pick 59) - Henley 
    Tom Cochrane (Rookie Pick 13) - Port
    District
    Benny Barrett (Cat B Rookie) - Happy Valley

    TASMANIA (0)

    VICTORIA (51)

    Sam Lalor (Pick 1) - Bacchus Marsh 
    Finn O'Sullivan (Pick 2) - Koroit 
    Jagga Smith (Pick 3) - Richmond 
    Levi Ashcroft (Pick 5) - St Kilda City 
    Harvey Langford (Pick 6) - Mount Martha
    Josh Smillie (Pick 7) - Park Orchards 
    Tobie Travaglia (Pick 8) - Sandhurst 
    Alixzander Tauru (Pick 10) - Warragul 
    Xavier Lindsay (Pick 11) - Leongatha 
    Taj Hotton (Pick 12) - Hampton 
    Isaac Kako (13) - Northern Saints 
    Jonty Faull (Pick 14) - Redan
    Joe Berry (Pick 15) - Wangaratta
    Murphy Reid (Pick 17) - South Melbourne Districts
    Oliver Hannaford (Pick 18) - Sandhurst
    Harrison Oliver (Pick 19) - St Bedes 
    Cooper Hynes (Pick 20) - Bonbeach 
    Luke Trainor (Pick 21) - St Peters 
    Jesse Dattoli (Pick 22) - Ivanhoe
    Harry Armstrong (Pick 23) - Ormond 
    Matt Whitlock (Pick 27) - Shepparton
    Thomas Sims (Pick 28) - Montmorency
    Lachie Jaques (Pick 29) - St Marys (Geelong)
    Josh Dolan (Pick 31) - Beaumaris 
    James Barrat (Pick 32) - Leitchville
    Gunbower
    Jack Whitlock (Pick 33) - Shepparton 
    Noah Mraz (Pick 35) - Narre North 
    Christian Moraes (Pick 38) - Knox
    Harry O'Farrell (Pick 40) - Maribyrnong Park
    Tom Gross (Pick 46) - Kew Rovers 
    Lucca Grego (Pick 48) - Bacchus Marsh
    Sam Davidson (Pick 51) - East Brighton 
    Riak Andrew (Pick 55) - Berwick
    Jasper Alger (Pick 58) Warragul
    Patrick Said (Pick 60) - Sunbury
    Rhys Unwin (Pick 61) - Cobden
    Luke Kennedy (Pick 62) - Ormond 
    Cody Anderson (Pick 64) - Healesville 
    Lennox Hofmann (Pick 66) - Old Brighton 
    River Stevens (Pick 67) - Newtown & Chilwell 
    Aidan Johnson (Pick 68) - Yarraville Seddon 
    Keighton Matofai-Forbes (Pick 69) - Keilor 
    Zak Johnson (Pick 70) - St Marys (Greensborough)
    Archer Day-Wicks (Rookie Pick 6) - Sandhurst
    Harry Charleson (Rookie Pick 9) - East Point 
    Xavier Ivisic (Rookie Pick 12) - Bell Park 
    Blake Leidler (Rookie Pick 14) - Surrey Park 
    Asher Eastham (Rookie Pick 17) - Heyfield 
    Patrick Retschko (Rookie Pick 23) - St Kilda City
    Joe Pike (Rookie Pick 31) - Barwon Heads 
    Jayden Nguyen (Cat B Rookie) - Aberfeldie

    WESTERN AUSTRALIA (10)

    Bo Allan (Pick 16) - Halls Head 
    Cody Angove (Pick 24) - Scarborough 
    Kayle Gerreyn (Pick 37) - Joondalup 
    Kinross 
    Hugh Boxshall (Pick 45) - Swanbourne
    Will Hayes (Pick 56) - Subiaco 
    Luke Urquhart (Pick 57) - Melville 
    Jaren Carr (Pick 63) - Winnacott 
    Hamish Davis (Pick 65) - Subiaco
    Aiden Riddle (Rookie Pick 7) - North Beach Malakai Champion (Cat B Rookie) - Mines Rovers

    Great work, great listing, quite revealing when interpreted. 

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    • Like 1
      On 24/11/2024 at 02:22, Diamond_Jim said:

    As you say you have to overlay the talent paths with the private school AFL programmes operated by Hailebury and the like. These don't exist north of the Vic border. Not sure they exist in Tasmania either to the extent of Vic.

    Your point on SA and WA is interesting. In both of those States the potential draftees are playing in the senior WAFL and SANFL comps. Perhaps they are the school equivalent? Would be great to hear from those living in WA and SA.

    One idea which I like is increasing the draft age by three months each year until we reach 20 as the minimum age. This allows kids to have a life outside football post school and puts less emphasis on the 16 year old "finishing schools" that we now seem to have

    Historically the private school system in SA does not have the depth of talent to sufficiently develop the talent they collect. The competition pretends to be like the APS, but there are only 1-3 potential AFL players in each side. The focus is always on winning the premiership, which is only really a possibility for 2–3 teams each year. The good players stand out but are never really tested.

    The SANFL u18– league pathway is probably better, but players from the private schools are only available to their  SANFL sides during school breaks and end of season. There is too much competition between the two systems where they should be cooperating.

  • Quote
    • Thanks 1
      On 23/11/2024 at 22:25, Little Goffy said:

    Only 6 from NSW, with one from Queanbeyan and one each from Moama from Albury, is an absolute stinker of a result too. Between that and the 4 from Queensland it means the AFL recruited just 7 players from above the Barassi line.

    That's $200m well spent.

    Also wondering if there might be a few Tassie kids who crossed to Victoria for exposure in their final pre-draft season to boost exposure, and that might mask their origins?

    I dare say Victoria's dominance also relates to a lot of AFL recruiters reluctance to travel interstate. That's certainly a complaint here in QLD; that there's an inherent laziness of scouts/recruiters when they can just turn up to weekly Coates and private school games rather than look far and wide and assess talent elsewhere.

    I attended the National U15s this year and WA thrashed Victoria in the final and even QLD led Vic late in the third quarter in their pool game. But I bet most of that Victorian side ends up getting drafted whereas only a few from WA will. You could see it with the Player Agents too. A lot of the well known ones turning up for the Vic games but no others.

    No doubt Vic is the main footy nursery in the country and it will always have most of the draftees. But there's a bit more to it than pure talent if you ask me.

     

  • Quote
    • Like 3

      On 25/11/2024 at 21:59, MaccaR said:

    Local football in Tassie has been in decline for decades as the AFL has sent millions into NSW and Queensland. At the same time there has been zero investment in Tassie grass roots football. It has been well known here in Tassie for a while now that the best way to get recruited is to head to a Victorian boarding school.

    I remember picking a sport when I started primary school down there. AFL was the 3rd option for most kids. Soccer and Hockey were the choice of 95% of kids. Not all schools were like that though.

    That will change down there when they get their own team.

  • Quote
      On 28/11/2024 at 12:55, BAMF said:

    I remember picking a sport when I started primary school down there. AFL was the 3rd option for most kids. Soccer and Hockey were the choice of 95% of kids. Not all schools were like that though.

    That will change down there when they get their own team.

    How could you choose to play AFL for a Tasmanian PS when they dont even have a team yet??? Did most kids choose to play EPL??

    Edited by BangBnagBang

  • Quote
      On 25/11/2024 at 23:31, DiscoStu17 said:

    Historically the private school system in SA does not have the depth of talent to sufficiently develop the talent they collect. The competition pretends to be like the APS, but there are only 1-3 potential AFL players in each side. The focus is always on winning the premiership, which is only really a possibility for 2–3 teams each year. The good players stand out but are never really tested.

    The SANFL u18– league pathway is probably better, but players from the private schools are only available to their  SANFL sides during school breaks and end of season. There is too much competition between the two systems where they should be cooperating.

    Very similar to what happens in WA

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