Matt Balmer’s 2017 AFL Draft June Power Rankings
IN an AFL Draft Central feature, AFL Draft analyst Matt Balmer will rank and update his Power Rankings on the first Monday of every month. You can read Matt Balmer‘s May edition of his Power Rankings here: June is crunch time for AFL club recruiters. They will be analysing every move of the players in the National Under 18 […]
Victorian school football update May edition
WE ARE a month into the APS and AGSV school boy Victorian football competitions and Matt Balmer delves deeper into which prospects have started well in the school season. The old saying that “If you’re good enough, recruiters will find you, no matter where you play” rings true in the Victoria school football competition where players […]
Allies announce strong under 18s squad
FOLLOWING the conclusion of the AFL National Under 18s Division Two Championships, the Allies have announced their squad for the upcoming division one championships. Greater Western Sydney’s academy has the most members of any division two side, with 12 players included, followed by Gold Coast Academy (10) and Sydney Academy (nine). Northern Territory (seven), Tasmania […]
Matt Balmer’s 2017 AFL Draft May Power Rankings
IN an AFL Draft Central feature, AFL Draft analyst Matt Balmer will rank and update his Power Rankings on the first Monday of every month. In May 2016, Sam Petrevski-Seton sat at number one, before going on to be selected by Carlton at Pick 6. #1 Jarrod Brander Key Position Forward/Defender (Bendigo Pioneers/GWS Academy*) 11/02/1999 […]
Looking Ahead TAC Cup Round 4
Bendigo Pioneers (10th, 1-2) vs. Oakleigh Chargers (4th, 2-1) Both Bendigo and Oakleigh contain some of their top-end talent despite the likes of Lochie O’Brien, Paddy Dow and Jarrod Brander missing due to school football for the Pioneers. The Pioneers’ strength in my opinion lies across the half-back line with all those players – Kane […]
Who are the contenders for the number one pick?
WE’RE a month into the season and yet we are no closer to having a clear best player in the 2017 draft pool. This time last year Andrew McGrath wasn’t on the radar as a possible number one draft pick, however with a thinner draft pool this year it would be unlikely to see someone bolt as high […]
Scouting notes: AFL Academy 20th anniversary match
THE countries best Under 17 and Under 18 players took part in the NAB AFL Academy’s 20th anniversary match at the MCG on Sunday. In appalling conditions, Team Daniher won by 46-points. Rayner wreaks havoc in MCG curtain-raiser Matt Balmer’s scouting notes: Team Weitering: #1 Charlie Spargo – Finished with 19 disposals and five clearances in […]
Top talent on show in MCG curtain raiser
THE top 2017 & 2018 draft prospects will be on show at the MCG on Sunday, playing as a curtain raiser to the Carlton and Essendon clash. The match features selected Level One and Level Two AFL Academy players, who have been split up into two teams. The two teams have been named after previous […]
Division Two Round 2 Wrap
The newly formatted Under 18 Academy Series continued over the weekend with two of the three games going ahead, after the Brisbane Lions vs. Tasmania game was cancelled after the poor weather in Queensland. In the opening game of the weekend, Gold Coast academy pulled off a surprise 17-point victory against Greater Western Sydney academy at Blacktown on Saturday. […]
GWS Academy zone changes
GREATER Western Sydney have lost access to one of their most controversial recruiting zones from their academy pool after the AFL commission met yesterday and are believed to have removed part of the Giants southern NSW zone, which includes Albury. Possible top ten prospects Jarrod Brander and Charlie Spargo both hail from southern NSW and thus […]
