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Essendon will bid on Port Adelaide NGA prospect Dougie Cochrane with the No.1 pick in next month's AFL draft, according to a top 30 ranking based on recruiters and junior coaches.
Essendon will bid on Port Adelaide next-generation academy prospect Dougie Cochrane at No.1 in next month's AFL draft, according to the latest top 30 ranking of prospects.
The ranking is not a mock draft. It is based on performance, potential, injury risk and intangibles, using discussions with recruiting staff at AFL clubs, junior coaches, and this masthead's own views. Among those considered but who missed out were Ethan Herbert, Billy Wigmore, Xavier Ladbrook, Wil Antrobus, Blake Justice, bolter Jake Soutar and fellow mature-agers Brady Wright, Keenan Boi and Zac Antonellos.
Cochrane and Drever Lead Essendon Targets
Cochrane remains the standout prospect despite patella tendonitis requiring surgery, which delayed his season until August and meant he missed the under-18 championships. He can play almost anywhere, is a great athlete, reads the play well, and has sticky hands and sublime skills. After returning in the SANFL as a forward and being starved of the ball in a 70-point loss to Norwood, he was swung into defence for his last three games with great effect.
His penetrating kick was used for kick-in duties. The do-it-all midfielder, who carried a heavy load at the Rebels, is firming to be Essendon's first live selection once they place a bid on Cochrane. If so, the chatter about the Bombers' once-small onball brigade will be no more. Drever would join Sullivan Robey and Dyson Sharp.
Drever is big and powerful, puts his body on the line to win the Sherrin, and bursts away from stoppages before driving long kicks inside 50. There are questions about his ball drop, but Drever is universally liked as a prospect. Arki Butler is believed to be in the mix at Richmond's selection. He is exquisitely talented, executes kicks others would not dare, has huge upside, and is as footy smart as anyone in the draft class.
Butler needs to improve his running to realise his potential, while there are behavioural concerns, but they are not expected to impact his standing. He will mostly make his AFL living as a forward, but could at least pinch-hit at centre bounces. Butler missed time with a collarbone injury but returned early to captain Brighton Grammar's premiership. Gus Teixeira isn't the big personality that his Sandy teammate Butler is, but his football speaks loudly.
Teixeira and Mellody Rise Among Top Prospects
He rocketed into top-five contention with eye-catching performances at the under-18 championships. Some recruiters think Teixeira has more upside than any player other than Cochrane. Teixeira has power and speed, which he uses to escape from stoppages, while his creativity and vision make him dangerous with his kicking. He hasn't put up numbers as big as others, but there are few doubts he can make it as a midfielder.
Mellody is one of the year's big risers. He won the Larke Medal at the under-18 championships before seamlessly transitioning to playing against the WAFL's best. He was once viewed as a half-back or wing, but proving his onball wares has heightened his reputation. Mellody is a beautiful kick who creates scoring opportunities, is clean at ground level and accelerates out of stoppages.
The Tigers could consider him, and most think West Coast would be mad not to snap up the local boy, particularly after he starred against their reserves. Some scouts still rate Cody Walker as the second-best prospect, raving about his ball-winning ability, toughness and power, whereas others have him further down, largely based on at-times scratchy kicking and decision-making.
Walker and Van Hattum Shape Draft Selections
Either way, Carlton won't hesitate to bring Andrew Walker's son in, and he will have the chance to prove people right or wrong. The new draft rules could work in the Blues' favour, given the bottom-five clubs will all score a start-of-second-round pick if Essendon bid on Dougie Cochrane. In that scenario, Walker fits a need for both Essendon and Richmond, but where he is selected is one of this draft's mysteries. Van Hattum has fans as a top-three prospect.
He is a giant of a man, and very athletic and agile for his size, which he makes good use of on the field. Van Hattum won a few scouts over late in the year with his aggression and competitiveness, while his kicking skills are exceptional for a big man. He can impact the game aerially, but could do more of that.
Matthews Ruck Prospects Face Top Ten Challenge
Not many ruckmen are taken in the top 10, so it will be interesting to see who pulls the trigger. Matthews' limited exposure this year due to a stress reaction in one of his feet is probably the only reason he is this low. There are recruiters who rate him a better prospect than Drever, and rival clubs will want to get a bid in before the Giants' first pick, currently No.7, to prevent them double-dipping.
Matthews has not played since the injury cut his under-18 championships short, but his dazzling form before that has not been forgotten. He wins his own ball and lots of it, finds space, is a relentless runner, and is creative with his trusty left boot. Every recruiter who spoke to this masthead ranks Mitch Harris as the best key defender in this draft.
The jungle drums suggest North Melbourne are considering him at their first selection, while Melbourne could also consider him. He had 24 disposals, 5 rebound 50s and 5.5 contested possessions. Harris reads the ball superbly in the air and his marking in general is a strength, on top of being a strong one-on-one defender who knows when to spoil instead. He performed well in the SANFL seniors late in the season to enhance his draft stock.
Harris and Murray Set High Draft Stock
Harris needs to develop physically, but looks a great prospect with big scope to improve. There is enough love for Murray that he looks a surefire top-10 selection, with some recruiters believing he could attract a bid just outside the top five, which would be a disaster for the Lions.
New draft rules make it much harder for a high-performing club such as Brisbane, who must pay a 20 per cent loading after making the grand final and use no more than two selections to match a bid. Murray will likely start as an attacking half-back flanker in the AFL, but can fill various roles with his speed, endurance, evasiveness, neat skills and smarts.
Gayfer has established himself as the top key forward available, with both St Kilda and other clubs tracking him closely as the draft approaches.
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theage:Exquisitely talented, daring, smart: This Brighton Grammar footy captain is shaking up the draftThis story was compiled and edited by the HeadTopics newsroom and HT AI from the reports above.
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