Queensland Academy Watch | Lions learn, Suns caught in COVID chaos
DESPITE losing in Thursday night footy in the seniors to the Brisbane Lions, Geelong’s reserves have given their club some consolation with a cracking 118-point away win on Friday. As was to be expected in a contest between mostly AFL listed players, the early going was willing and scores remained close into the second quarter, […]
Academy Watch | Lions prospects endure tough loss, Suns earn late call-ups
THE Brisbane Lions reserves returned to the scene of their 2019 NEAFL Grand Final victory at Fankhauser Oval to face their opponents from that day, 2018 NEAFL premiers, the Southport Sharks. However, the 2021 version of the Lions, unlike the undefeated side of two years ago, is injury depleted with 10 Lions Academy players topping […]
REVIEW | 2021 AFL mid-season draft: Club-by-club
THE 2021 AFL mid-season draft saw 22 of a possible 27 players enter the elite level, with previously overlooked talent, mature-agers, and genuine bolters all among those who earned their chance on Wednesday evening. The half-hour virtual event saw picks come in thick and fast, with a few surprises along the way and plenty of […]
Pick-by-pick: 2021 AFL mid-season draft
THE 2021 AFL mid-season draft has been run and done, with the half-hour long virtual event seeing 22 of a possible 27 selections made and plenty of fresh faces enter the elite level. As expected, Sandringham Dragons ruck/forward Jacob Edwards was selected with pick one, among seven top-age players taken straight out of the NAB […]
Overlooked – The prospects hoping for a Rookie Draft lifeline
AS was predicted come the end of the 2020 AFL Draft, there are plenty of hard luck stories to go with all the feel-good aspects of such an event. But plenty more opportunities lie ahead for overlooked prospects to scrape into the elite grade and make their dreams a reality. Fresh off a National Draft […]
From the clouds: This year’s biggest AFL Draft bolters
EACH year a great deal of AFL Draft intrigue surrounds the prospects who seemingly come from the clouds to land on clubs’ radars. Labelled the bolters, these players are the ones who enjoy steep rises as top-agers to trade obscurity for potential stardom. Last year we saw Will Day, Mitch Georgiades, and Sam Philp taken […]
In Contention | AFL Draft smokies to consider: 19-year-olds
COME the end of a year like no other, there is likely to be a greater amount of hard luck stories and near misses than ever before, especially after the recent cuts to AFL list sizes. But for all that doom and gloom, the 2020 AFL Draft intake is also poised to provide some of […]
2020 AFL Draft Preview: Carlton Blues
WITH the 2020 trade period done and dusted, it is now time for clubs and fans alike to turn their attention to the draft. Between now and draft day (December 9), clubs will have the opportunity to exchange picks until the final order is formed a couple of days out. While the chaos ensues, Draft Central […]
Draft Central Power Rankings: November 2020
THE PENULTIMATE edition of Draft Central’s 2020 Power Rankings is in, as AFL Draft combines, All-Star fixtures, and state league finals from around the country have all now been wrapped up. Victorian talents finally got to show their wares, albeit only for combine tests, but gave a glimpse into how they have grown and developed […]
Scouting Notes: 2020 Western Australia Under 18 All-Stars – Game Two
THE 2020 Western Australia Under 18 All-Stars went head-to-head for a second time on Saturday, serving as the final chance for budding WA draft prospects to impress AFL recruiters. Potential top five selection Denver Grainger-Barras was ultra-impressive, leading Team Gold to a mighty turnaround from game one in his side’s 55-point victory. Claremont prospect Max […]