With the off-season now officially here for TAC Cup clubs, AFL Draft Central will go back and review what 2017 was like for each of the 12 clubs. We kick off the series with Bendigo Pioneers and will end with the Western Jets.

Oakleigh Chargers

Finished: 3rd
Wins: 16
Losses: 4
Draws: 0
Percentage: 164
Points: 64 (eliminated in preliminary final)

Players Drafted: (3)

• Ed Richards (Western Bulldogs)
• Jack Higgins (Richmond)
• Toby Wooller (Brisbane)

2017 Review:

Oakleigh Chargers’ three top standouts throughout the season made their way onto AFL lists, with Ed Richards the first name to be called out. The grandson of Magpie legend Ron Richards headed to the Western Bulldogs, while teammate and Morrish Medal winner Jack Higgins headed to the Tigers a pick later. Oakleigh captain Toby Wooller headed north to join the Brisbane Lions, also changing allegiances ala Richards, after his grandfather Fred Wooller was a Geelong premiership player.

Among those players unlucky to miss out were state combine invitees Noah Answerth, Bailey Griffiths, Riley Jones, Matthew King, Ethan Phillips and Charlie Thompson, while the two with the most interest having received a National Draft Combine invitation – Matthew Day and Ned Reeves – were also incredibly unlucky to not be drafted by an AFL club.

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2018 Preview:

Oakleigh Chargers will have a talented mosquito-fleet next season with a number of draftable players below 180cm. Xavier O’Neill and Charlie Whitehead are among the taller prospects that have shone in their bottom-age year for the Chargers at 183cm, while running defender Isaac Quaynor is attached to Collingwood’s Next Generation Academy.

Xavier O’Neill (Oakleigh Chargers) 183cm | 75kg | Outside Midfielder
2017 TAC Cup: (18) 17.7 disposals | 3.8 marks | 5.9 tackles | 2.3 clearances | 3.3 inside 50s | 60% KE | 69% DE | 36% CP

O’Neill is a well-balanced outside midfielder who spreads well and tackles hard. He had a promising bottom-age year showing off his composure and ability to get the ball moving forward, averaging 2.3 clearances and 3.3 inside 50s. With more midfield time expected in 2018, expect his disposal numbers to increase as well.

Isaac Quaynor (Oakleigh Chargers) 180cm | 77kg | Small Defender
2017 TAC Cup: (17) 11.7 disposals | 3.1 marks | 2.6 tackles | 2.4 rebounds | 78% KE | 76% DE | 38% CP

Tied to Collingwood’s Next Generation Academy, Quaynor is quick and loves to tuck the ball under his arm. He plays taller than his 180cm suggests and has played as a lockdown defender in the back half. He could play further up the ground in 2018, but he has great skills and agility.

Charlie Whitehead (Oakleigh Chargers) 183cm | 75kg | Outside Midfielder/Forward
2017 TAC Cup: (11) 13.2 disposals | 3.9 marks | 2.9 tackles | 1.9 inside 50s | 1.3 goals | 48% KE | 59% DE | 39% CP

Whitehead is not a huge ball winner or have an overly impressive stat sheet, but he is already a solid size and can play through the midfield or up forward in 2017, he averaged 1.3 goals per game from his 11 matches and like many of the other Chargers who have shown signs for next year, is expected to spend more time in the middle in 2018.

Others to keep an eye on:

Joseph Ayton-Delaney (Oakleigh Chargers) 181cm | 67kg | Small Defender
2017 TAC Cup: (10) 16.9 disposals | 2.7 marks | 2.8 tackles | 2.1 rebounds | 59% KE | 67% DE | 34% CP

Lachlan Bugeja (Oakleigh Chargers) 174cm | 72kg | Balanced Midfielder
2017 TAC Cup: (17) 16.6 disposals | 2.6 marks | 6.1 tackles | 2.5 clearances | 61% KE | 70% DE | 44% CP

Sam Harte (Oakleigh Chargers) 172cm | 66kg | Outside Midfielder
2017 TAC Cup: (19) 19.6 disposals | 4.1 marks | 4.6 tackles | 1.3 clearances | 4.2 inside 50s | 61% KE | 69% DE | 30% CP

Daniel Scala (Oakleigh Chargers) 174cm | 69kg | Small Forward
2017 TAC Cup: (11) 8.5 disposals | 1.2 marks | 2.6 tackles | 1.2 clearances | 2 goals | 66% KE | 71% DE | 59% CP

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Summary:

Oakleigh Chargers are prone to success and while they might be disappointed they fell in the penultimate match of the season, they were a dominant force throughout 2017. They once again look to be strong and will be thereabouts at the business end of the season. While many of their emerging top players are on the small side, they typically have a few talls hidden away playing school football that appear as the season goes on. Expect them to be dangerous at ground level in the new year.