Top of the Tree: The Larke Medal production line
VOID of an Under 18 National Championships for the past two seasons and with fading hope of some competition next month, keen draft watchers have been itching to see the nation’s best prospects in one place. While interstate action is on the back burner for the time being, we can always reflect on what greatness […]
VFL weekly wrap: Top-of-the-table thriller at Punt Rd goes Richmond’s way
RICHMOND cemented their place at the top of the Victorian Football League (VFL) ladder following a three-point victory over the Bombers in Round 8, while Collingwood returned to the winners list for the first time since Round 1. Collingwood 12.7 (79) defeated Box Hill 9.11 (65) The Magpies overturned a one-point deficit at three-quarter-time to […]
Team Building 101: From Tiger Turmoil to Tiger Time
REIGNING premier Richmond has historically been poor at team-building and drafting. From the mid-2000s until the mid-2010s, Richmond’s record of drafting players was horrific. Richmond supporters who are “twenty-something” or older, will remember the constant “trolling” by opposition supporters through this period. The most infamous draft decision, being the selection of Richard Tambling at pick […]
Young stars Rising up to AFL challenge
EVERY club is excited with the young talent in their team and with round one approaching we have taken a look at which players could step up and progress from the under 18s – or their first season in the AFL – and be the standout young talent at the elite level. From an already […]
Matt Balmer’s 2016 Final AFL Draft Power Rankings Part 1
EVERY month since May, Matt Balmer has ranked his players from the 2016 AFL Draft pool. With less than three weeks until the November 25 National AFL Draft, he counts down the players ranked 50-1 over the next two weeks. Today will be 50-26, before next Monday’s final rankings from 25-1. Well what a year […]
Stars to shine bright at the National AFL Draft Combine
FOR the draft crop of 2016, the National AFL Draft Combine is the first sign that their AFL dreams are a step closer to fruition. An invitation to the AFL Draft Combine means that at least five AFL clubs have expressed interest in the player. The AFL Draft Combine is a way for clubs to […]
All-Stars picked for AFL Draft Central mock match
EVERY year as the AFL season comes to a close, potential future stars names are raised as to which players can help put clubs on the path to a premiership. But where do these players fit in a 22? Yesterday, the AFL announced that the very best Under 18s talent will play off against each […]
80 players invited to the 2016 AFL Draft Combine
FOR the draft crop of 2016, the AFL Draft Combine is the first sign that their AFL dreams are a step closer to fruition. An invitation to the AFL Draft Combine means that at least five AFL clubs have expressed interest in the player. The AFL Draft Combine is a way for clubs to determine […]
Player focus: Six players whose draft stocks increased during the U18 Championships
After the Division One Under 18 Championships saw the two teams widely thought to have been the most talented instead finish last, a number of outside prospects have suddenly shot into draft calculations. Vic Metro were undefeated through the carnival, whilst their home town rivals Vic Country were unable to win a game. Here are six […]
Matt Balmer’s July Power Rankings
In an AFL Draft Central feature, AFL Draft analyst Matt Balmer will update his Power Rankings on the first Monday of every month. The National Under 18s Championships concluded on Wednesday with many players putting their hand up for selection in late November. Some have improved their draft stocks, while others have slid down the order with average carnivals. You can read […]