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The same article then goes on to provide pen pictures of the leading draft prospects from the NAB Boys League. WILL ASHCROFT (SANDRINGHAM DRAGONS) Midfielder, 180cm, 76kg Recruiters see Ashcroft as the “pick of the midfielders” in this year’s draft and an early frontrunner for the No. 1 pick if he was on the open market. A player without many deficiencies, Ashcroft is the son of three-time Brisbane premiership player Marcus and is father-son eligible to the Lions. However, he is now settled in Melbourne after spending his younger years on the Gold Coast and has so far made no decision on whether he will nominate for the Lions. Described as “a jet”, Ashcroft spent a month training with Brisbane during pre-season. Now studying at university, he will focus his efforts on playing for Sandringham Dragons in the NAB League this year. He looks up to Carlton’s Sam Walsh and is a player who can similarly have an impact on the inside and outside of the contest. Ashcroft starred with 33 disposals, 12 clearances and two goals for Vic Metro in its under-17s clash with Vic Country last year. HARRY SHEEZEL (SANDRINGHAM DRAGONS) Forward, 184cm, 77kg A talented midfielder-forward who is athletic and possesses great footy smarts, recruiters are excited about what Sheezel can produce this year. He spent his whole junior career playing as an inside midfielder for AJAX and hoping to be the next Scott Pendlebury, but was moved forward in under-15s interleague to great effect and stayed there. Sheezel now looks up to Toby Greene and Josh Rachele and is a similarly damaging medium-sized forward who is a good mark, has great goal sense can hit the scoreboard. Sheezel kicked three goals and had two score assists from 13 disposals for Vic Metro in its under-17s clash with Vic Country last year and caught the eye with four goals in a pre-season NAB League practice match against Dandenong Stingrays. He also performed well in the Yo Yo test at the NAB League testing day in March, racking up a level 21.7 which ranked him equal-ninth overall. GEORGE WARDLAW (OAKLEIGH CHARGERS) Midfielder, 182cm, 81kg An inside-bull, Wardlaw has no shortage of admirers among recruiters and is tipped to be a high draft pick this year. A co-captain of Oakleigh last year, Wardlaw is a competitive beast who thrives on the contest and has clean hands in tight. He also has great workrate and loves to lay a tackle. Wardlaw logged 22 disposals, six clearances and seven tackles for Vic Metro in its under-17s clash with Vic Country last year to be the second-ranked player on the ground behind Will Ashcroft. The St Kevin’s College student tries to model his game on Melbourne’s Clayton Oliver, but is an Essendon fan who trained with Collingwood for a week in January as part of the AFL Academy program. He is a remarkably good jumper, having placed second in both the vertical jump and the running vertical jump at the NAB League testing day in March.

A recent Herald Sun article covers preseason testing of 2022 AFL Draft Prospects as follows:- Yo Yo Test 22.3 Dillon Goss (Tasmania) 22.1 Mitchell Rowe (Sandringham Dragons) Brodie Hicks (Western Jets) 21.8 Hugh Bond (GWV Rebels) Josh Hamilton (Northern Knights) Jonathan Tomasiello (Northern Knights) Jaxon Binns (Dandenong Stingrays) Oliver Hollands (Murray Bushrangers) 21.7 Harry Sheezel (Sandringham Dragons) Josh Weddle (Dandenong Stingrays) 20m Sprint 2.83 Rye Penny (Calder Cannons) 2.85 Coby Burgiel (Gippsland Power) 2.87 Caleb Windsor (Eastern Ranges) Brodie Hicks (Western Jets) 2.88 Cooper Vickery (Gippsland Power) 2.89 Olli Hotton (Sandringham Dragons) 2.90 Matthew Payne (Western Jets) Levi Young (Murray Bushrangers) 2.91 Tyler Norton (Murray Bushrangers) Cam McKenzie (Sandringham Dragons) Vertical Jump 89 Rye Penny (Calder Cannons) 83 George Wardlaw (Sandringham Dragons) 81 Harvey Gallagher (Bendigo Pioneers) 78 Levi Young (Murray Bushrangers) Harrison Hewitt (Murray Bushrangers) 77 Max Dow (Bendigo Pioneers) Shane Clough (Calder Cannons) 76 Brayden George (Murray Bushrangers) Michael Ktona (Calder Cannons) 75 Olli Hotton (Sandringham Dragons) Running Vertical Jump 109 Rye Penny (Calder Cannons) 101 George Wardlaw (Sandringham Dragons) Levi Young (Murray Bushrangers) Sam Houghton (Gippsland Power) 97 Rhys Galvin (Gippsland Power) 96 Max Dow (Bendigo Pioneers) Thomas Hamilton (Gippsland Power) Nicholas Watson (Eastern Ranges) Agility 7.84 Cameron Kizan (Western Jets) 7.87 Hugo Nosiara (Dandenong Stingrays) 7.90 Matthew Payne (Western Jets) 7.91 Max Dow (Bendigo Pioneers) 7.95 Connor Byrne (GWV Rebels) 7.96 Callum Verell (Eastern Ranges) 8.02 Vinnie Caia (Gippsland Power) Mason Helleran (Eastern Ranges) 8.04 Beau Tedcastie (GWV Rebels) 8.05 Caleb Windsor (Eastern Ranges)

I wonder how much scope there is of playing those top up players every week of the season? The rules seem a bit vague.

Probably been asked and answered but where was Luke Dunstan today?

I must say the current round has produced some disappointing contests. With four extra teams coming in next year, the AFL needs to look at the disparity in strength between the top half dozen clubs and the rest and even consider a two division competition for a couple of years until things stabilize.

Careful, let’s stay humble.

No. Jackson had been on the elite WA junior scene since Under 16s and had played in interstate carnivals representing his state during the years 2017-19. When drafted he weighed 94kg which is 20kg more than Andrew and there wasn’t much doubt at the time that he was going to be good to go early.

He wasn’t very popular the day he kicked the wrong way against the Bulldogs at Waverley.

What makes him unique from my point of view is that he’s probably the only player to make top five in the draft not on the strength of what he’s achieved so far but what he is projected to achieve starting a couple of years down the track which is always going to be a risky strategy from a recruiting point of view. If it pays off, the dividends are high but if not then the blokes who recruited him are in a bit of strife.

Hawthorn starting to accumulate a lot of egg on face.

Looks like both West Coast and Freo are interested and would beat us to him before pick 17. Question is if we could trade up further? Freo have a swag of high picks.

With the news that Taj Woewodin has missed out on an invitation to the National Draft Combine, it seems that we might be able to pick him up late in the draft. Could be a handy situation for us if we happen to need the draft points.

Mac Andrew’s going to the National Combine as well.

In a normal season, I would be with you 100% but this year is different. The compacted draw, the fact that we’re playing our next two games in the heat and humidity of Cairns and having a few players looking as though they need a rest commands that at least 3 or 4 changes will be needed.

Every footy fan knows there’s only one day in September

Noticed someone in the Port Adelaide crowd last night who looks like Saty. Has he jumped ship?

So it’s TMac’s big test today. He’s good enough to prove the doubters wrong.

Will be a good player. I’m impressed.

And what happens to all those prospects for the Under 18s competition who might be a year or two away from making the squads?

Jeremy Cameron for mine.

Now, there’s an omen for you! It’s no different from 1964 this year as we’ve been given a week’s break to rest up for the run home.

Mark Stevens on 7 News has tweeted:- “Steven May on track to play this week in Tassie. Dees fully expect him to make trip, setting up Round 1 appearance.“

Clickbait. The story about Bennell is almost a week old. It talks about Friday’s practice match v North Melbourne in the future tense. The original story wasn’t exactly what you would describe as “Bad News For Bennell” but rather, as bad news for those who want to rush a player when he’s not ready. That’s something completely different.

As late as 4.40pm yesterday, some Saints fans were trying to tell me that they didn’t regret the fact that their recruiters picked Patrick McCartin as the number one ahead of Tracc. They even had a thread going on Saintsational about it. Here’s a quote from poster “Linton Lodger”:- “No thanks. Fat and overrated”. Another from “Saynta”:- “In a word. NO”. ?

I agree.