NATIONAL Championships season has allowed the cream to rise to the top of the AFL Draft pool, but what about the other prospects who may be flying under the radar? After highlighting players on the up in our Rising Stocks piece, we take a look at some of the players who perhaps fall into the underrated category, or boast high-end potential they haven’t quite been able to showcase this year.

>> RISING STOCKS: AFL Draft prospects on the up

Jaxon Binns (Dandenong Stingrays/Vic Country)
29/10/2004 | 182cm | 73kg | Wing/Forward

What he does well:

Having amassed an eye-watering 39 disposals against the Allies just a few weeks back, it is clear Binns has little trouble finding the footy. What sets him apart is his work rate, with the Dandenong Stingrays product a high capacity runner on the outside. He puts in a mountain of work jetting up and back between the arcs, which suits the wing role to a t. Even as a high half-forward, Binns is effective and has shown he is capable of hitting the scoreboard.

The knock:

Accumulating so much of the ball means your disposal and decision making will come under more scrutiny that others. Binns is usually a neat user in the short range, but sometimes blazes away when launching into attack. He tends to pick viable options, but works so hard that perhaps the kicks on the end of his running suffer. With a touch more polish, he has potential to be a super damaging player given the areas he carries the ball into.

Charlie Clarke (Sandringham Dragons/Vic Metro)
4/01/2004 | 182cm | 75kg | Forward/Midfielder

What he does well:

There’s a lot that Clarke does well. Not only is he a tough, uncompromising kind of competitor, but he also offers a great deal of flair in possession. Particularly as a forward, his ability to take the game on with weaving runs, powerfully stepping past opponents is great to watch. His style of play generates plenty of scoring opportunities and makes in a constant threat for opposition defenders to monitor.

The knock:

End product. Clarke tends to do plenty at speed and that can sometimes compromise his disposal. With a touch more length and accuracy on his kicks when moving at full tilt, he could well have bagged nearly double the goals he already kicked this NAB League season. His current tally of 14.14 is nothing to scoff at though, and Clarke clearly has it in him to find the big sticks when on song.

Blake Drury (Oakleigh Chargers/Vic Metro)
11/01/2004 | 177cm | 73kg | Midfielder/Forward

What he does well:

Another midfielder-forward type who generates plenty of scoring influence, Drury has truly pressed his claims as a top 25 candidate during the National Championships. With largely irresistible form at school football level, Drury’s energy and speed have seen him mix it with some of the best in Vic Metro’s engine room. He looks most comfortable as a high half-forward though, where he can work up the ground and create opportunities on the way back.

The knock:

Much like Binns and Clarke, refining that finishing touch is what may elevate Drury to the next level. His eyes light up when in range of goal, though his return of 6.12 across five NAB League games shows there’s room for improvement. Given he has little trouble finding the ball and possesses it in dangerous areas, becoming a more polished and composed kicker is what will elevate Drury. He is a touch small for a genuine midfielder too, so will likely start his career as that small forward who works up the ground.

Finn Emile-Brennan (Dandenong Stingrays/Vic Country)
7/05/2004 | 181cm | 62kg | Defender

What he does well:

A silky smooth and skilful rebound defender, Emile-Brennan is the first and only club-tied talent on this list. The Melbourne Next Generation Academy (NGA) member will make the Demons sweat, given he could well be considered a top 40 talent, making him unavailable via bidding rules. He can play above his 181cm listing, but looks most potent when surging the ball out of defensive 50 and utilising his booming boot in transition.

The knock:

While certainly capable of impacting in an aerial sense with his notable athleticism, size works against Emile-Brennan in another sense. He is still quite lean at 62kg and, suffice to say, has some filling out to do. He may well remain that skinner defender, akin to the likes of Kade Simpson, but could encounter some difficulties against bigger bodies at senior level. Sustaining his impact throughout games is another area the young gun can work on.

Sam Gilbey (Claremont/Western Australia)
14/05/2004 | 188cm | 71kg | Defender

What he does well:

One of Western Australia’s most highly touted talents coming into the year, Gilbey earned AFL Academy honours and looks primed to prove his credentials. Glandular fever has held him back as a top-ager, though he has begun to show glimpses of his best form. The classy left-footed defender is a lovely kick of the ball and tends to make good decisions on the rebound, with potential to move into midfield or impact out on a wing. He fits the high upside mould with those desirable traits.

The knock:

Durability and consistency. Gilbey’s early-season diagnosis has hampered his quest for more consistency and production in 2022, and being ruled out of his state’s latest outing was another setback on his road to the draft. Though he has certainly shown potential, including in a promising outing against the Allies, Gilbey is yet to quite string a strong run of games together and truly break through to where he was headed as a bottom-ager.

Jason Gillbee (Bendigo Pioneers/Allies)
15/05/2004 | 190cm | 78kg | Utility

What he does well:

Versatility is the name of Gillbee’s game, and you can add running power to it too. The New South Welshman also ticks the character box, as captain of his region this year having moved down to Bendigo. He can play on each line, tall and small, but looks best when racking up possessions across half-back where he can distribute the ball by foot and showcase his intercept game. He’s a prospect with a great spread of traits.

The knock:

Gillbee is an interesting talent to judge, given he does so much well. While versatility is a strength, he perhaps suffers from being that in-between size utility when trying to identify what he could be at the next level. His hurt factor, or impact per possession is also not as high as others who have cracked the top 30 range, as Gillbee is more of an accumulator of the ball. He has begun to pinpoint his role and best attributes since linking with the Allies, which will help him going forward.

Bailey Humphrey (Gippsland Power/Vic Country)
11/09/2004 | 184cm | 86kg | Midfielder/Forward

What he does well:

The Gippsland Power skipper is a powerful unit, able to bustle his way out of congestion in midfield and force his side onto the front foot. With a solid frame and strong appetite for the contest, Humphrey is a real tone-setter when utilised on-ball. He has also sought to impact forward of centre too, proving his value as a rotating forward with 11 goals in six NAB League matches. He’s the type of player who falls into the Caleb Serong mould.

The knock:

At risk of sounding like a broken record, ball use is an area Humphrey can improve. While able to gain plenty of metres with his penetrative power, he is prone to blazing away in rushes of blood under pressure, and that translates to some of his finishing in front of goal too. Adding finesse and composure to his game will make those 20 and two-goal efforts he produces all the more damaging. Unfortunately, injury has prevented him from showcasing such improvement during the National Championships.

Tom McCallum (Tasmania Devils/Allies)
15/05/2004 | 192cm | 78kg | Defender

What he does well:

McCallum is a raw athlete with massive potential. As partner-in-crime to state captain Lachlan Cowan, the Tasmanian has proven his value as an exciting intercept marker and rebounding weapon across half-back. Having cut his teeth as a tall forward last year, McCallum’s athleticism and running power have translated well to defence, where he reads the play well and certainly catches the eye on the way forward.

The knock:

As has proven somewhat of a theme with others on this list, ball use – particularly by foot – is a key factor holding McCallum back. At his best, he’s a damaging third tall defender who can hurt the opposition with ball in hand, but his kicking sometimes brings that work undone. He seems to have a ways to go technically, and given he often moves at full speed, maintaining his composure while executing fundamental skills is important. Certainly developable.

Jack O’Sullivan (Oakleigh Chargers/Vic Country)
22/10/2004 | 177cm | 70kg | Midfielder/Forward

What he does well:

A midfielder-forward who balances clean skills with toughness, O’Sullivan is another who could well be ranked higher if not for untimely injury woes. The Country-born Oakleigh Chargers prospect is evasive and tenacious at the coalface, with clean hands and agility to help him win his share of clearances. As a small forward, his pressure game holds up too, which will be important as he looks to step up the grades. Evidently, he’s a natural footballer whose skills and nous stack up well against his peers.

The knock:

Size and exposure. While clearly up to the rigours of representative football as a bottom-ager, O’Sullivan only managed four NAB League games at the start of this year, and a bit more school footy before being consigned to the sidelines. He hasn’t been able to feature in Vic Country’s Under 18 campaign, but would certainly have been a handy addition. In terms of his play style, whether O’Sullivan is slightly small to play full-time on-ball, so continuing to make that small forward role his own will be key to his development.

Luke Teal (Oakleigh Chargers/Vic Metro)
20/05/2004 | 188cm | 78kg | Defender

What he does well:

Teal is the prototype modern footballer. His athleticism is terrific and evident on-field, as the dynamic utility impacts both in the air and at ground level. He is a good size at 188cm, able to compete aerially while also covering the ground well in possession and proving fit to play multiple roles. His top traits and high ceiling saw him picked in this year’s AFL Academy, and touted as one of the many exciting Oakleigh Chargers products.

The knock:

It has been a tough top-age year for Teal, who was struck down with appendicitis and is now missing Vic Metro’s Under 18 carnival due to a collarbone injury. He managed to turn out for the AFL Academy and notched up two games for Oakleigh in between those setbacks, but has not yet had the opportunity to string together a strong set of performances. He remains on the radar, for upside more than exposed form in 2022.