North Melbourne added four players to their list, including a forward in the style of Jack Higgins, while AFL dreams for two Tassie prospects came true when 27 players were taken in the rookie draft .
Eleven players recently delisted from the AFL were on Wednesday redone to the rookie lists of the same clubs that had cut them in recent months.
Other crushed players found new football homes, with Gold Coast signing the ex-Docker Connor Blakely and ex-giant Jake Steinwhile the former Falcon Daniel Howe was picked by the Kangaroos where he will meet coach Alastair Clarkson.
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But several prospects who were overlooked during the national draft earlier this week ended up signing as rookies on Wednesday.
In addition to taking Howe and re-clearing Kayne TurnerNorth Melbourne took on the Oakleigh Chargers Blake Drury with the first pick in the rookie draft. Drury has been compared to Saint Jack Higgins for his ability to win the ball on the ground and his sense of goal inside 50.
The Kangaroos then added the mature-aged South Fremantle ruck Hamish free on the roster to take a league-high four players during the rookie draft.
Two Tasmanian players were selected, with Richmond selecting a wily goal kicker Seth Campbell (182cm, 73kg) and mobile ruck Cameron Owen (203 cm, 94 kg) landing at the Swans. It means four 2022 Tassie prospects will be on AFL lists next year after Carlton snapped up Lachie Cowan and Port Adelaide signed Tom McCallum in the national draft.
Sydney during the rookie draft also selected an exciting SA forward midfielder Jaiden Maigor (185 cm, 79 kg), who the Swans had considered selecting in the national draft.
Geelong added another local product to its roster, with defender Oscar Murdoch (190cm, 91kg) joining Geelong Falcons teammate Jhye Clark at the Cats. Murdoch is known for his penetrating kick and excellent interception ability.
BEST PLAYERS AVAILABLE FOR Rookie DRACH
Just under 60 players had their AFL wishes granted throughout the national draft on Monday and Tuesday, with the Giants taking Aaron Cadman with the No.1 pick.
Teams’ attention has now turned to Wednesday’s rookie draft before club training invites are handed out to players ahead of the Supplementary Pre-Season Selection (SSP) period, which offers another avenue for players to join a rookie list.
According to the Fox Footy/Champion Data rankings, middle back Claremont Sam Gilbey (188 cm, 71 kg) is the best player in the draft class still in the game. The stylish distributor had a poor run in 2022 due to injury and illness, with many clubs believing he would have been higher on draft boards had he played a full season. Gilbey has been linked with both West Coast and Fremantle in recent weeks.
Mitch Szybkowski from the Country of Vic. Image: Albert PerezSource: Getty Images
Strong inside midfielders Mitch Quickwski (186 cm, 86 kg) and Adam D’Aloia (186 cm, 83 kg) would also be worthy of consideration. D’Aloia won SA’s MVP award for his consistent national championship campaign, while Szybkowski was among Victoria Country’s top players averaging 24 disposals and four tackles.
and Liam Baker-like utility Jed Hagan (175 cm, 73 kg) were also overlooked in the national draft, as was the 191 cm prospect Jason Gillbee (191cm, 77kg), who can play in any third of the pitch. Forward midfielder for Glenelg Archie Lovelock (178cm, 72kg), who won the best on ground medal in this year’s SANFL Under 18 grand final, is also one to watch.
Luke Teal (190 cm, 81 kg)
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he also has interest from AFL clubs because of his . Midfielder Sturt Nick Sadler (180cm, 74kg), who showed his lovely kick, clean hands and awareness at national under-18 and SANFL league level this year, would also be in the mix for the clubs.
From mature age prospects, the Port Melbourne VFL star Ethan Phillips (196 cm, 94 kg) would be one of the best still on the board. A tall defender who is strong one-on-one and an excellent interceptor, Phillips this year won the Fothergill-Round-Mitchell Medal, which is awarded to the most promising under-23 talent in the VFL. The last 15 winners of the medal have reached an AFL list, including Collingwood’s Charlie Dean via the 2021 rookie draft.
Port Melbourne’s Ethan Phillips won the 2022 Fothergill-Round-Mitchell Medal. Image: Dylan BurnsSource: Getty Images
Some Tasmanian prospects could also be considered – a consistent small advance Brandon Leary (177 cm, 72 kg),
The rookie draft also gives clubs the opportunity to officially sign the Academy and some father-son prospects to their roster.
Essendon snapped up an exciting middle forward from the NGA Antoni’s work (187cm, 81kg), while Geelong pounced on their own NGA graduate Ted Clohesy (184 cm, 76 kg), whose shots on the field have seen him compared to Josh Dunkley. The Cats are also recruiting a father-son prospect at midfielder Oscar Riccardi (177cm, 65kg) — whose father Peter played 288 games for Geelong — as a B-grade rookie.
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Fremantle added a couple of their Academy prospects, with athletics Josh Draper (194 cm, 93 kg) and Conrad Williams (182cm, 63kg) entering the club. West Coast also added two NGA graduates at small forward Tyrell Dewar (183cm, 67kg), who impressed for WA during the national championships, and Jordyn Baker.
Three Northern Academy prospects still on the board are big Nick Madden (204cm, 112kg) and half forward Shadeau Brain (186 cm, 80 kg). The Giants have already committed to taking Madden as a Class B starter, while the Lions are expected to do the same with Brain.
The preseason draft was not held, and all clubs with draft picks indicated their intention not to use any selections.
AFL ROOKIE DRAFT TRACKER 2022
Squad 1 — North Melbourne: Blake Drury (Oakleigh Chargers/Vic Metro, small forward/midfielder)
Pick 2: West Coast Eagles: Isiah Winder (redrafted)
Pick 3: GWS Giants: Phil Davis (Redrafted)
Selection 4 — Essendon: Rhett Montgomerie (Central Districts, defender)
Pick 5: Adelaide Crows: Andrew McPherson (re-deleted)
Pick 6 — Hawthorn: Seamus Mitchell (redrafted)
Pick 7: Gold Coast Suns: Connor Blakely (ex-Fremantle AFL)
Pick 8: Port Adelaide: Dylan Williams (re-deleted)
Pick 9 — St Kilda: Pass
Pick 10 – Carlton: Ed Curnow (redrafted)
Selection 11 – Western Bulldogs: Pass
Squad 12: Richmond: Seth Campbell (Tasmania Devils/Tasmania, forward/midfielder)
Squad 13 – Fremantle: Liam Reidy (Frankston VFL, ruck/forward)
Selection 14: Melbourne: Will Verrall (South Adelaide, ruck)
Pick 15: Brisbane Lions: Ryan Lester (redrafted)
Pick 16: Collingwood: Cooper Murley (redrafted)
Squad 17: Sydney Swans: Cameron Owen (Tasmania, ruck)
Pick 18: Geelong Cats: Oscar Murdoch (Geelong Falcons/Vic Metro, centre-back)
Pick 19 — North Melbourne: Hamish Free (South Fremantle, ruck)
Pick 20 – West Coast Eagles: Zane Trew (redrafted)
Pick 21: Adelaide Crows: Paul Seedsman (redrafted)
Peak 22 — Hawthorn: Pass
Pick 23: Gold Coast Suns: Jake Stein (ex-GWS Giants AFL)
Pick 24 — St Kilda: Pass
Pick 25 — Western Bulldogs: Pass
Pick 26: Richmond: Tylar Young (Richmond VFL)
Pick 27 — Fremantle: Pass
Selection 28 – Melbourne: Oliver Sestan (Mansfield)
Pick 29: Brisbane Lions: Nakia Cockatoo (redrafted)
Pick 30 — Collingwood: Pass
Squad 31: Sydney Swans: Jaiden Magor (South Adelaide/SA, midfielder/forward)
Pick 32 — Geelong Cats: Huesca Riccardi
Pick 33 – North Melbourne: Daniel Howe (ex-Hawthorn AFL)
Pick 34 — Gold Coast Suns: Pass
Pick 35 — Richmond: Pass
Pick 36 — Melbourne: Pass
Pick 37 — Brisbane Lions: Pass
Pick 38 — Geelong Cats: Pass
Pick 39 — North Melbourne: Kayne Turner (deleted)
Pick 40 — Gold Coast Suns: Pass
Pick 41 — Gold Coast Suns: Pass
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