House of Footy looks at who your club could draft in the 2023 AFL Rookie Draft.
A host of delisted and former AFL players will be hoping to receive lifelines on Wednesday, with Brodie McLaughlin and Brynn Teakle at the front of the pack of those receiving interest.
VAFA star Sam Sofronidis has been considered by as many as four clubs throughout the year, and could be considered as a train on candidate for the summer as he pushes for a Supplemental Selection Period spot, with clubs recently trending towards leaving a list spot open for the SSP and Mid-Season Draft.
Irish quartet James McLaughlin, Eoin McElholm, Odhran Murdock and Conor Corbett all tested at the AFL Draft Combine, and can be added by clubs as Category B Rookies.
The Crows could potentially look to make a selection at Wednesday’s Rookie Draft, though they could opt to hold onto a list spot over summer. South Australian captain and AFL Academy member Will Patton was overlooked at the National Draft, while Kobe Ryan, Henry Maerschel and Logan Evans are other locals the club could consider. Irishman Karl Gallagher will train with the club as he looks to win a Category B Rookie spot, while James Borlase and Will Hamill will both be re-rookied by club if available after being delisted in the lead up to the National Draft. Could Tasmanian and AFL Academy forward Jack Callinan earn a rookie lifeline with Crows just like his dad Ian who played 32 games for the club.
The Lions have a full senior list and one rookie spot remaining with overlooked small forward Koen Sanchez on their radar during the National Draft. VIC Metro and Sandringham Dragons skipper Will Brown has ties to Queensland, while Brisbane has shown some interest in Sam van Rooyen, though recent additions to their tall stocks could push them in a different direction.
Carlton will make one selection on Wednesday with overlooked Sandringham Dragons product Matt Carroll sure to be of interest if he is available. The Blues will consider Michael Rudd and Kade De La Rue, while they have reportedly expressed interest in Oskar Smartt and Riley Wills.
The reigning premiers still have a few empty spots on their list for 2024, including both Category B Rookie spots, though they received a verbal commitment from WA tall turned basketballer Alex Condon. A number of overlooked draft hopefuls could come into consideration including AFL Academy pair Jack Callinan and Nathan Philactides, while Kade De La Rue, Matt Carroll and Geordie Payne have reportedly been on their radar. Kobe Shipp is another who could be in the mix for Collingwood, the same for Eastern ranges duo Cam Nyko and Brayden LaPlanche. Delisted midfielder Will Kelly and VFL member Josh Eyre will train with the club over summer as they push for lifelines through the Supplemental Selection Period, while Sam Sofronidis has been in their thinking.
The Bombers will head into 2024 with a full senior list of 38 and could be set to make a single selection on Wednesday, with WA ruckman Odin Jones reportedly on their radar. Eastern Ranges duo Riley Weatherill and Cooper Trembath have been of interest to the club, while NGA pair Mahmoud Taha and Amin Naim were both overlooked and could be considered as Category B Rookies, with Essendon having two empty slots in that area.
The Dockers secured Jack Delean late in the National Draft but will they pounce on WA small forward Koen Sanchez? Local talls Odin Jones, Evan Smith, Xavier Walsh and Sam van Rooyen have been linked to the club, as has Luke Kelly and Loch Rawlinson. Former Gold Coast midfielder Jeremy Sharp will join the club as a SSP signing, while delisted Bomber Pat Voss is on their radar for a potential train on stint over summer.
A pick on Wednesday remains in play for Geelong after securing five recruits on Tuesday night and six in total across the National Draft. Local Geelong Falcons prospects Michael Rudd and Patrick Hughes are both on their radar, as is Sam Clohesy, with the former St Joseph’s defender a possibility to join his brother Ted and Werribee teammate Shaun Mannagh at the Cats. Geelong VFL defender Bailey van De Heuvel received a State Draft Combine invite and could be worth a like, while Tasmanian Jack Callinan could also have some appeal to the club. Geelong interviewed ruckman Joe Pike, though its seems unlikely they take him after securing Mitch Edwards. Sam Sofronidis has received some attention from Geelong.
The Suns could look to add to their quartet of Academy pickups this offseason with Nick Williams and Will Rowlands set to come into consideration for the club. One could make their way to the Suns through the Rookie Draft, though the pair could just as easily fight it out for a Category B Rookie spot. Inaugural Sun Sam Day will remain at the club as a Rookie Draft selection on Wednesday, while delisted duo Jack Peris (St Kilda) and Aidan Bonar (North Melbourne) have received invitations to train with the club over summer as they push for a SSP lifeline. Sam Sofronidis is also in their sights.
Northern Academy tall Charlie McCormack could join the club as a Category B Rookie, while inaugural Giant Adam Kennedy will be selected by the club on Wednesday. Could Koen Sanchez or Heath Ollington make their way to the Giants? Delisted Bomber Pat Voss could be another the club considers over summer after missing out on Elliott Himmelberg during the Trade Period.
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The Hawks will likely swoop on delisted forward Chad Wingard with the third pick in the Rookie Draft, ahead of a late play from Collingwood. Cooper Stephens will also be selected by the club on Wednesday, while it remains unlikely they make a third selection.
The Demons will welcome Father-Son midfielder Kynan Brown to the club after a stellar campaign for VIC Metro this season. Jake Melksham will remain at Melbourne after being delisted, while Marty Hore is set to return to his former club as a SSP signing after back to back stellar seasons for Williamstown in the VFL. NGA and AFL Academy forward Orlando Turner is unlikely to be drafted.
North Melbourne will benefit from being granted an additional two rookie spots as part of the AFL’s assistance package, and look set to take at least one pick in the Rookie Draft after trading their final selection on Tuesday. The Roos could look to a number of Tasmanian prospects to pair with Colby McKercher in AFL Academy member Jack Callinan, Geordie Payne, Heath Ollington and Thomas Beaumont, while Werribee coach Michael Barlow could be a good referee for Sam Clohesy who is searching for an AFL opportunity. The Kangaroos have been after a small forward with Koen Sanchez firming as the best available alongside Callinan, while Kade De La Rue and Kristian Ferronato have been linked to the club. The Roos have both Category B Rookie spots vacant.
The Power were active in the National Draft, making two trades to move up the order and secure a pair of small forwards ahead of their third pick. South Australian captain and AFL Academy member Will Patton remains available after being overlooked, while the club could look at Kobe Ryan, Matt Carroll or Jack Callinan. The club has been linked to Loch Rawlinson and Liam Walters, and could make multiple selections at the Rookie Draft. The Power have both Category B Rookie spots vacant.
Mate Colina will be selected by Richmond as he re-joins their list after three years as a Category B Rookie. The Tigers could call stumps after that, though they have done some work on AFL Academy defender Nathan Philactides and SA boy Henry Maerschel. The prospect of Koen Sanchez being available could prompt the club to pick him, while Mutaz El Nour and Riley Weatherill would also be good fits as talls. NGA defender Pala Kuma will likely be overlooked.
The Saints are unlikely to make a selection at the Rookie Draft, with their final list spot set to come down to a battle between delisted midfielder Daniel McKenzie and ex Bomber James Stewart over summer. A host of Sandringham Dragons products had previously been linked to the club including Tarkyn O’Leary, Will Brown, Matt Carroll, Vigo Visentini and Charlie Harrop.
Sydney could be another club to watch on later in the Rookie Draft unfolds, with Sam Reid to be picked by the club with its only selection. Father-Son and Academy prospect Indhi Kirk will join the Swans as a Category B Rookie, with AFL Academy member Lachlan Cabor among a group of Swans Academy graduates including Max Rider, Caleb May and Tye Gander likely to be overlooked. The club had previously done work on Vigo Visentini and Sam Sofronidis.
The Eagles will take as many as two picks in the Rookie Draft with NGA tall Coen Livingstone set to be prioritised over Oscar Hine-Baston. West Coast could consider local small forward Koen Sanchez and has previously been strongly considering Tarkyn O’Leary. The club sounded out former ruckman Scott Lycett about reversing his decision to retire, while Kade De La Rue could be in the mix for the first pick.
The Bulldogs could be busy on Wednesday, with two or three selections expected to be made by the club. Lachlan McNeil and Taylor Duryea will both be selected after being delisted. The club has done work on Oscar Hine-Baston and Michael Rudd, while Nathan Philactides, Kobe Shipp and Lachlan McArthur could come into consideration down back. Could a small forward in Jack Callinan or Koen Sanchez fall to the Dogs? Former NGA member Mutaz El Nour and Footscray VFL pair Josh Chatfield and Lachie Sullivan could be in their planning.
