AFL
3 hours ago
SEN's Final 2024 AFL Phantom Draft
By Nathan Sepe
Draft night is finally upon us!
More than 60 prospects will finally see their dreams realised, with Richmond set to be the star of the night, holding a handful of picks.
Ahead of the draft tonight, we’ve put together our final phantom draft of the first round, excluding live trading, but including Father-son and NGA bids.
This phantom draft is a follow-up from the first edition, with this a reflection of what clubs are thinking, mixed in with our personal rankings. Anything is possible on draft night, after all.
Catch all the action live tonight via the SEN App, with coverage starting from 7PM.
Pick 1. (Richmond) – Sam Lalor
GWV Rebels/Vic Country – MID/FWD, 188cm
Likely to be presented his jumper by his player-comparison, Lalor is a Dustin Martin prototype, packaged with explosiveness and power in the front half that can swing games and create big moments.
Lalor’s question marks surround his injury troubles in the past two years which would deter Richmond from taking him at 1, however, his X-Factor propels him above most others on the ground with his scoreboard impact and cleanliness around the stoppage.
Pick 2. (North Melbourne) – Finn O’Sullivan
Oakligh Chargers/Vic Metro - MID, 182cm
North have shown a lot of interest in Alix Tauru, but whether the flying defender is worth pick two will be an interesting decision for the Kangaroos.
Doing things most others can’t on the field, O’Sullivan is next best on the list as an elusive forward of centre player that offers speed and versatility their midfield demands.
With an elite overhead ability and forward half impact, O’Sullivan may have a similar impact to his cousin, Sam Walsh, at AFL level.
Pick 3. (Carlton) – Sid Draper
South Adelaide/South Australia – MID, 182cm
The South Australian talent is dashing and daring with ball in hand, producing stellar performances at SANFL level for South Adelaide to match it with senior bodies, which arguably makes him the most senior-ready among the top five prospects.
Draper’s low centre of gravity is incredible, making his ground ball efforts and forward-half movements near impossible to restrict.
Pick 4. (Brisbane) – Levi Ashcroft
Sandringham Dragons/Vic Metro – MID, 178cm
Picks Given: 27,34,42,43,58
The only player in Talent League history to win three consecutive premierships, Levi Ashcroft has proven himself in every aspect, an excitement machine with competitiveness at stoppage and forward half flare that captivates viewers.
Ashcroft’s running power and footy smarts around the ground have translated at every level this year, including a 35 disposal and one goal game for Brisbane’s VFL side.
Pick 5. (Adelaide) – Jagga Smith
Oakleigh Chargers/Vic Metro – MID, 182cm
Undeniably the most consistent talent throughout 2024, Jagga Smith is a lock for a career filled with longevity and productivity, known for his consistency throughout 2024.
The smaller midfielder is a workhorse accumulator, with sharp ball skills, toughness, and evasiveness that makes him tough to defend and limit around the stoppage.
Pick 6. (Melbourne) – Harvey Langford
Dandenong Stingrays/Vic Country – MID/FWD, 191cm
Melbourne have shown great interest in Langford, a strong midfielder with an elite contested ability above his head inside 50.
The beauty with Langford is his versatility, with the options to plant him into every stoppage with a knack for moving the ball inside 50 or to move him inside 50 with the potential to kick
Pick 7. (Richmond) – Josh Smillie
Eastern Ranges/Vic Metro – MID, 195cm
Despite having a patchy season with questions surrounding his intensity, Smillie made it clear that his peak performance is damaging and AFL-ready.
The tall inside-midfielder is damaging with his stoppage craft, possessing a neat kick and creative mindset in the forward half, which often leads to a couple of scoring shots per game.
Pick 8. (St Kilda) – Harry Armstrong
Sandringham Dragons/Vic Metro – FWD, 195cm
Finding some help for Max King inside 50 will come no clearer than Armstrong, the contested marking forward who has proven clinical inside 50 in the back end of 2024.
Armstrong’s understanding of forward craft makes his decisions effective, and he capitalises on each opportunity, with a proven track record of great set shot kicking and standing up in big moments.
Pick 9. (St Kilda) – Tobie Travaglia
Bendigo Pioneers/Vic Country – DEF, 187cm
Dash and dare, Travaglia has established himself as the best offensive connector out of the defensive 50, with his speed and competitiveness around the contest.
Travaglia’s intercepting makes him a threat both in the air and at ground level, often used well in offensive chains by hand and feet, and a productive two-way runner.
Pick 10. (Gold Coast) – Leo Lombard
Gold Coast Suns Academy/Queensland – MID/FWD, 179cm
Picks Given: 38,40,48,58,67,73,76
The Suns have nurtured Lombard to perfection through their Academy and VFL system, producing the most competitive midfielder in the crop, known for his tenacity around stoppage and forward half ability.
VFL Premiership winner at 16 years of age, Lombard is a playmaker in transition, taking charge with his power and strength to hit the scoreboard or create opportunities for others inside 50.
Pick 11. (Melbourne) – Alixzander Tauru
Gippsland Power/Vic Country – DEF, 193cm
If North don’t pursue Tauru early up the order, the Dees have shown an interest in the draft bolter who is well known for his ability to crash packs and take an incredible intercept mark.
Played across each third of the ground this year, Tauru has showcased strong versatility, opportunistic in every role, made effective by his athleticism and quick thinking, although there is scope for improvement in efficiency with his kicking.
Pick 12. (Richmond) – Jobe Shanahan
Bendigo Pioneers/New South Wales/ACT – FWD, 195cm
Shanahan alongside Armstrong has proven himself as one of the best key forwards of the draft, but more so damaging for his contested marking and scoreboard impact through his efforts higher up the ground.
Versed in all thirds of the ground throughout his career, Shanahan has a strong ability to work through one-on-one contests, with a game that stacks up at ground level as well where he’s clean and sharp to keep the ball moving.
Pick 13. (Richmond) – Xavier Lindsay
Gippsland Power/Vic Country – MID/DEF, 183cm
The smartest footballer in the draft, Lindsay’s creativity and poised understanding of how to move the footy makes him a major steal outside the top 10.
Playing his footy off half-back and as an inside midfielder throughout his juniors, Lindsay is damaging per possession, a hard worker in transition, an elite kick, and was often the backbone of Gippsland’s midfield to set up offensive patterns.
Pick 14. (West Coast) – Bo Allan
Peel Thunder/Western Australia – MID/DEF, 191cm
The Western Australian product elevated his game midway through 2024, possessing speed and explosiveness that was seen at the National Championships.
Allan possesses elite agility and poise by foot, applying pressure around the ground through his contested capability, still with a lot of potential to develop his end product.
Pick 15. (Port Adelaide) – Murphy Reid
Sandringham Dragons/Vic Metro – MID, 181cm
Reid dropping to 15 would be an exciting prospect for Port Adelaide, who would benefit from his silky creativity with ball in hand, which makes time slow down, especially with his offensive movement.
Reid’s poise with ball in hand makes him a unique midfielder who utilises forward craft instincts to aid his game, he roves well around stoppages to find quick outlets and make great decisions.
Pick 16. (Fremantle) – Joe Berry
Murray Bushrangers/Vic Country – FWD, 181cm
Berry rose to the scene early this year with his dynamic running capacity high up the ground and back inside 50, damaging with his scoreboard impact with bags of four or more goals on multiple occasions.
The small-forward is damaging at ground level and smart with his leading patterns to create space and separation to often get quite easy looks at goal.
Pick 17. (Essendon) – Isaac Kako
Calder Cannons/Vic Metro – FWD, 176cm
Picks Given: 30,33
Excitement comes in many forms this draft, but Kako is a different type that the Bombers have lucked out on, acquiring an elite forward-half ball user who kicks goals, sets up goals, and dazzles with speed.
Kako has elevated his game throughout the year with his ability to create opportunities higher up the ground in transition, clean around loose ball scrimmages to generate forward movement, however, still lacks defensive pressure at times.
Pick 18. (GWS) – Luke Trainor
Sandringham Dragons/Vic Metro – DEF, 194cm
Trainor has been projected as high as the top five throughout 2024 but has ultimately slid as a result of recurring concussions. He has been projected to slide.
His value as a player remains incredibly high, with one of the best defensive-half footy brains to come in and intercept off half-back and distribute efficiently by foot to spark transition.
Pick 19. (GWS) – Taj Hotton
Sandringham Dragons/Vic Metro – MID/FWD, 182cm
Much like Trainor, Hotton has slid down the list as a result of an ACL injury that may deter clubs, however, the talent is raw and he will be undeniably prosperous.
Hotton’s athleticism stacks up with the best in the draft class, known for his high-flying nature inside forward 50, agile bodywork, and speed inside the midfield which damages opponents in a matter of seconds.
Pick 20. (Western Bulldogs) – Cooper Hynes
Dandenong Stingrays/Vic Country – MID/FWD, 190cm
Known for his explosiveness out of stoppage and forward 50 power, Hynes produces energy with his touches, able to link up well with teammates in the forward half to create opportunities.
Hynes’ ability to hit the scoreboard from forward 50 stoppages is admirable, often snapping around his body for a trademark goal.
Pick 21. (Richmond) – Jesse Dattoli
Northern Knights/Vic Metro – MID/FWD, 179cm
Dattoli adds a crafty and elusive balance to each midfield he’s in, a smart runner in the forward half of the ground where he’s often able to lose his opponent and sneak into small pockets inside forward 50 to take uncontested marks.
Dattoli’s unafraid to make moments his own with his natural goal sense and can produce multiple eye-catching efforts in an outing.
Pick 22. (Sydney) – Matt Whitlock
Murray Bushrangers/Vic Country – RUCK/FWD, 200cm
Whilst still quite raw in his development, Whitlock’s size has made him an asset in both defensive and forward halves of the ground, starting in the backline before moving inside 50 to become a goal-scoring weapon.
Whitlock uses his body well to stay mobile in the air and at ground level, agile around the contest, but willing to get up in the air for a strong mark.
Pick 23. (Richmond) – Jack Whitlock
Murray Bushrangers/Vic Country – RUCK/FWD, 200cm
Jack possesses similar traits to his twin brother, playing predominantly as a key forward with regular shifts in the ruck.
Whitlock showcased a great contested marking ability and was often willing to push further up the ground and remain mobile at ground level to keep the ball moving forward, still very raw with a lot of upside for a tall.
Pick 24. (GWS) – Tom Gross
Oakleigh Chargers/Vic Metro – MID/FWD, 181cm
Full of hurt factor, Gross is a daring talent with power and explosiveness out of the centre stoppage into the forward half with a proven ability to impact on the scoreboard as well.
Gross’ workrate often allows him to drift inside 50 and act as a small forward with his opportunistic characteristics at ground level.
Pick 25. (Sydney) – Jonty Faull
GWV Rebels/Vic Country – FWD, 194cm
Faull has been a consistent hard worker this year, building his craft as a key forward to not only dominate inside 50 with his contested marking but also further up the ground where he’s become a valuable marking target in transition.
While he can have quiet periods, Faull is often proactive in his response to turn things around and get things back on his terms with direct matchups, capable of a big bag.
Pick 26. (Richmond) – Christian Moraes
Eastern Ranges/Vic Metro – MID/FWD, 183cm
Moraes enters this draft as one of the best outside players, explosive by nature and well-versed in his offensive running patterns.
A determined competitor with a consistent ability to hit the scoreboard, Moraes can be utilised as an inside midfielder also, with quick ball skills by hand and the ability to accumulate possessions across the ground.
