The 2024 AFL draft is true across the nook and guarantees to be one of the unpredictable in years.
There was a lot debate about this yr’s crop, and whereas the very prime finish is not fairly as sturdy as in recent times, it’s true there’s a improbable evenness and depth all through the primary spherical and past.
Right here is our rating of the most effective 30 gamers on this yr’s draft.
1. Levi Ashcroft
MID, Vic Metro/Sandringham Dragons
The reigning premiers are about to select up the most effective participant within the draft because of the father-son rule, with Levi Ashcroft prepared to affix brother Will on the Brisbane Lions.
Levi Ashcroft will be part of his brother at Brisbane, and is rated the most effective participant on this yr’s draft. (Getty Pictures: Michael Willson)
Ashcroft is a relentless, dependable and inventive midfielder. He is robust within the clinches, prolific on the surface and has expertise and imaginative and prescient that enable him to harm the opposition ahead of centre.
Sounds an terrible lot like his brother, would not it? There might be debates about which is the higher of the 2 Ashcroft boys for a decade — that truth alone proves Levi’s value as the highest choose within the 2024 draft.
2. Sid Draper
MID, SA/South Adelaide
Draper is a bundle of frenetic power, a midfielder of supreme velocity and agility who is ready to get his fingers soiled earlier than spinning and stepping his manner into the clear.
An prolonged run within the SANFL, enjoying with and towards males for South Adelaide, noticed Draper elevate his recreation even additional and show he’s as much as the problem bodily.
Draper’s zip and livid assault on the ball separate him from different midfielders on the prime of this class.
3. Jagga Smith
MID, Vic Metro/Oakleigh Chargers
Smith spent his 2024 yr tallying up disposals at a charge unmatched by any of his contemporaries, and by the top of his yr he began so as to add actual harm issue to these touches.
Although he’s slight, Smith does his finest work within the clinches, utilizing his evasiveness and spatial consciousness to thrive among the many greater our bodies. His disposal has are available for criticism at occasions as it may be often rushed, however he has improved on this space and could be notably inventive by hand.
Smith stepped as much as VFL footy with Richmond and did not miss a beat. He is prepared to start out racking up possessions within the AFL.
4. Finn O’Sullivan
MID, Vic Nation/Oakleigh Chargers
O’Sullivan entered the 2024 season as the new favorite for the number-one choose, however his season by no means actually hit the heights he would have hoped for.
A sequence of niggly and irritating accidents had been in all probability accountable, however we had been handled solely to glimpses of O’Sullivan’s perfect soccer.
However recruiters will know what he’s able to — slick, skilful and damaging footy from a participant who’s improbable within the air and electrical at floor stage. O’Sullivan could be a game-breaker with solely 20 touches.
5. Harvey Langford
MID, Vic Nation/Dandenong Stingrays
Tall, sturdy and with elite midfield craft, Langford proved persistently in 2024 he has the instruments to make up for any of his perceived deficiencies.
Harvey Langford makes up for his lack of velocity with fast fingers and a fast thoughts. (Getty Pictures: Michael Willson)
The titties will level to his lack of top-end velocity, which is justified, however Langford has a fast thoughts and sharp fingers, and his left foot ranges between dependable and devastating.
Langford is coming off a stellar junior season and may discover himself at residence within the AFL faster than most different draftees.
6. Sam Lalor
MID/FWD, Vic Nation/GWV Rebels
With the draft approaching, there’s a rising sense that Lalor’s would be the first title referred to as out on the opening night time.
If that’s to be the case, the Tigers could be selecting a participant whose potential to affect video games is as excessive as any within the draft. Lalor is a stoppage bull with a contact of grace about his play, and could be thrown ahead to make use of his marking strengths nearer to aim.
Lalor is the prototype trendy game-breaker and, with a few pre-seasons within the tank, is prone to justify even the earliest of picks on this draft.
7. Murphy Reid
MID/FWD, Vic Metro/Sandringham Dragons
Opinions on Reid differ extensively however in case you select to deal with the issues he does properly slightly than the bodily attributes he could also be lacking, it is inconceivable to depart him out of the highest 10.
Reid is the purest footballer on this draft, a participant who’s at all times a step forward of the sport and may learn the play like no different. He is intelligent, inventive, clear and harmful within the ahead 50.
As a midfielder, he was prolific for each Vic Metro and the Dragons, and although some recruiters might be delay by a scarcity of measurement or velocity, Reid has the aggressive streak required to show them improper.
8. Tobie Travaglia
DEF/MID, Vic Nation/Bendigo Pioneers
Equal elements scrap and silk, Travaglia is a aggressive beast who will begin his profession off half-back as an interceptor and launcher of ahead strikes.
However Travaglia performed and excelled in all places this yr. He’s robust and slick sufficient to play as a midfielder, can use his tank to run up and down a wing all day, and he recurrently pushed ahead this yr for Bendigo to kick essential late objectives.
Tobie Travaglia is a rangy however robust half-back flanker. (Getty Pictures: Michael Willson)
Travaglia is a pacesetter, units excessive requirements for himself and hates being crushed. No membership could be disenchanted together with his choice.
9. Josh Smillie
MID, Vic Metro/Japanese Rangers
An imposing measurement for a midfielder, it is Smillie’s craft and ability that almost all catch the attention.
He glides across the floor out and in of stoppage and has a kicking type that, when refined, will make him an actual attacking weapon.
If something, Smillie would not use his body and energy sufficient. If he can unlock these powers he may very well be a drive.
10. Leo Lombard
MID, Allies/Gold Coast Suns
The Suns will gladly scoop up one more robust, dependable midfielder in Lombard, who has been enjoying VFL soccer for the Suns for 2 years now.
Lombard is an aesthetic extractor with a bodily edge that defies his measurement. He’ll probably see AFL motion early in his first season with the Suns.
11. Alix Tauru
DEF, Vic Nation/Gippsland Energy
Tauru has come like a rocket within the again finish of this season to now sit because the draft’s finest tall defender and certain the primary large man picked on night time one.
Although not true key-position peak, Tauru is improbable within the air and an elite intercept marker. His ball use could be a bit untidy however he takes aggressive choices. And as one of many youngest gamers within the draft, he nonetheless has room for loads of pure enchancment.
12. Harry Armstrong
FWD, Vic Metro/Sandringham Dragons
Armstrong looms as the highest key ahead prospect within the draft and matches very neatly within the Jeremy Cameron-Aaron Cadman mould as a cellular left-footer.
Harry Armstrong is prone to be the primary key ahead taken on this yr’s draft. (Getty Pictures: Martin Hold)
He’ll take a while to develop an AFL-ready physique, as most younger key forwards do, however Armstrong’s bravery, foot expertise and aerial prowess might be interesting to groups with picks inside the highest 10.
13. Isaac Kako
FWD, Vic Metro/Calder Cannons
Kako is ready for a stress-free draft night time, as he’s destined to finish up at Essendon as a next-generation academy member and might be referred to as inside the first dozen or so picks on the primary night time.
Bombers followers will love Kako, essentially the most thrilling, versatile and explosive small ahead within the draft. He’ll deliver the ahead stress and craft across the aim, and his justifiable share of highlights as properly.
14. Xavier Lindsay
MID/DEF, Vic Nation/Gippsland Energy
Lindsay is a no-frills, dependable midfielder who will discover himself equally at residence as a rebounding choice off half-back early in his profession.
A artful left-footer, Lindsay’s finest attribute may be his clear fingers in visitors. He could not have the scale or velocity of another midfielders on this draft, however he’s a one-touch participant who can discover the footy and fill quite a lot of roles.
15. Bo Allan
MID/DEF, WA/Peel
There isn’t a doubting Allan has the athletic makings of a improbable participant. His mixture of peak, velocity, agility and vertical leap make him an interesting prospect as both a rebounding defender or, ultimately, an explosive midfielder.
Bo Allan is a stellar athlete and leads the way in which for the West Australian crop. (Getty Pictures: Will Russell)
Allan nonetheless must spherical out elements of his recreation, together with his disposal and composure with the ball, and he in all probability would not but take advantage of his athletic items on the sector. However there’s a world wherein the hyper-competitive Allan, having pulled all of it collectively in just a few years, stands as one of many perfect gamers from this draft.
16. Joe Berry
FWD, Vic Nation/Murray Bushrangers
We have reached an attention-grabbing level within the rankings the place a trio of small forwards land, every prone to be rated otherwise by draft watchers.
Berry is essentially the most dependable and constant of the three, a extremely skilled younger participant with all of the ahead craft, stress and ability required for the AFL stage. A really protected wager.
17. Ollie Hannaford
FWD, Vic Nation/GWV Rebels
Hannaford has been a late bolter into first-round rivalry, however in a league that values velocity, evasiveness, ability and repeat stress acts above most different issues, he appears to be like a possible star within the making.
There have been some considerations within the background at a few of his cardio testing, however you would not comprehend it to observe him play. Hannaford is a strive, strive once more type of participant with clear fingers, nous in entrance of aim and a will to win. He’ll be a success with followers of whichever crew takes the punt on him.
18. Taj Hotton
FWD/MID, Vic Metro, Sandringham Dragons
If not for an premature ACL harm halfway by means of the yr, Hotton would probably be sitting increased in these rankings and can probably go sooner than this on draft night time.
Within the early rounds of the yr, he proved to be a high-volume, high-impact participant as both a small ahead or nippy midfielder. If he will get by means of his restoration with out shedding any of his velocity or agility, he’ll shortly present why he was as soon as in prime 10 calculation — the groups with quite a lot of first-round picks ought to be courageous sufficient to take that likelihood.
19. Luke Trainor
DEF, Vic Metro/Sandringham Dragons
As soon as seemingly a top-10 lock, Trainor has slipped out of favour late within the season however nonetheless stands as a stable defensive choice.
Luke Trainor presents as an aggressive intercepting defender. (Getty Pictures: Michael Willson)
Trainor is a powerful interceptor within the air, a great runner and aggressive rebounder however is a bit of undersized for a key defender. His stints ahead have typically been fruitful, making for an interesting package deal for any facet he ought to slip to.
20. Cooper Hynes
FWD/MID, Vic Nation/Dandenong Stingrays
Cooper Hynes is one other explosive, big-bodied hybrid mid-forward who will probably be an affect participant within the ahead half on the subsequent stage.
Hynes could be a little untidy however that is all a part of his allure. He is a tough and tumble competitor worthy of first-round conversations.
21. Jonty Faull
FWD, Vic Nation/ GWV Rebels
Splitting the talls on this draft could be robust, so we’re in search of factors of distinction. In Faull’s case, his unimaginable competitiveness, physicality and stress make him a powerful choice.
He is acquired some work to do in filling out his body and tidying up his aim kicking, however the belongings Faull brings to the desk means he’s extra prone to be successful than not.
22. Jobe Shanahan
FWD, Allies/Bendigo Pioneers
Shanahan’s factors of distinction are his marking capability and endurance, to not point out his imposing body contained in the ahead 50.
Jobe Shanahan’s measurement, working energy and powerful fingers make him a first-round key ahead prospect. (Getty Pictures: Darrian Traynor)
He performed VFL video games for Essendon by means of the yr and rose to the event, kicking 11 objectives in three outings. He can harm you on the lead and he can clunk them within the packs, and although he could be a little bit of a lumbering presence at occasions, there is no such thing as a substitute for objectives at any stage.
23. Jesse Dattoli
FWD/MID, Vic Metro/Northern Knights
A supremely assured small midfielder and ahead, Dattoli holds the excellence of being essentially the most dual-sided participant within the draft, equally adept on each his left and proper foot.
That ability alone helps make him a fast, elusive and artful participant who additionally has a little bit of a imply streak to him. Lots to love.
24. Jack Whitlock
FWD, Vic Nation/Murray Bushrangers
At 200 centimetres tall, Whitlock’s worth as a cellular tall ahead and pinch-hitting ruck is clear, however his clear fingers within the air and at floor stage add one other string to his bow.
Jack would be the first of the Whitlock twins to be chosen and will conceivably sneak into the primary spherical.
25. Alex Dodson
RUCK, SA/Sturt
The most effective real ruck choice within the draft, Dodson selected to forego a promising basketball profession in favour of a crack on the AFL.
His measurement and working capability will attraction to recruiters, as will his still-developing ruck craft. He’ll take some years of improvement, however the seeds of promise are there with Dodson.
26. Sam Marshall
MID, Allies/Sandringham Dragons
One other gun midfielder headed to the Lions, this time by way of their academy, Marshall saved his finest recreation for final this yr within the Coates League grand closing.
Sam Marshall was finest afield for Sandringham within the Coates League grand closing. (Getty Pictures: Martin Hold)
That recreation confirmed every part Marshall is sweet at — he was composed, prolific, tidy by hand and foot, and a relentless runner.
27. Tom Gross
MID, Vic Metro/Oakleigh Chargers
A pure dirty-work midfielder, you may discover Gross on the backside of any pack outworking his opponents and meting out handballs from within the clinches.
His kicking is stable however unspectacular, and you will not discover him bursting away from too many packs, however he’ll do the robust stuff all day and he’ll do it higher than most.
28. Christian Moraes
MID/FWD, Vic Metro/Japanese Rangers
If Moraes was only a contact faster, or only a barely higher kick, he could be up among the many prime echelon of mids on this draft.
He’s although among the best runners on supply, and in consequence is ready to discover the ball with ease whereas proving himself as a aim kicker all through the season. Slippery on the ball and with a late-year birthday, there’s a lot room for progress with Moraes.
29. Angus Clarke
DEF, SA/Glenelg
As a rebounding defender, Clarke got here on in leaps and bounds all through the 2024 season and was notably spectacular with SA within the nationwide carnival.
He is an effective peak, sturdy within the air as an interceptor, has loads of sprint off the half-back line and is a exact and damaging kick. He ought to blossom in a extra skilled setting.
30. Harrison Oliver
DEF, Vic Metro/Sandringham Dragons
One other rebounding defender, Oliver will win over loads of followers together with his toughness on the man and the ball.
He is greater than only a exhausting nut although, and his neat kicking and run out of defence might be an asset at AFL stage.
