AFL Draft Special: The top 75 draft prospects from across Australia
Will Ashcroft
Club: Sandringham Dragons/Old Brighton VAFA
Height: 183cm
Weight: 79kg
DOB: 08/04/04
A medium midfielder who is an elite ball winner with clean hands, Ashcroft is just as good whether playing inside or outside. He’s a fine emerging leader who handles pressure well. Ashcroft has been the dominant player at underage level over the past two years and has carried that form into some stunning football at VFL level for the Brisbane Lions this year. He also captained the Australian under-18 team in its match against Collingwood’s VFL side in May and logged 24 disposals. Ashcroft’s 36 disposals (20 contested) in the opening match for Vic Metro in the under 18 national championships confirmed his dominance of underage football this year, backed up by 25 disposals in Vic Metro's second match. He is eligible as a father-son to the Lions, where his father Marcus played over 300 games.
Aaron Cadman
Club: GWV Rebels/Darley FC/Emmanuel College
Height: 194cm
Weight: 88kg
DOB: 03/03/04
A left-footed tall forward with a vice-like grip overhead, Cadman is also incredibly clean below the knees for a big man. He presents well as a target forward with his repeat leading and an aggressive approach to the ball is a feature of his game. Cadman has progressed in his development after showing potential in representing Victoria Country at Under 17s level. He was a late call up to the Australian Under 18 team after a promising start to the NAB League season with the Rebels, which has seen him average 14.4 disposals, five marks and 2.6 goals across seven matches.
Jhye Clark
Club: Geelong Falcons/Queenscliff FC
Height: 180cm
Weight: 77kg
DOB: 23/07/04
Clark is a small midfielder who attacks the ball aggressively and distributes it neatly by both hand and foot on either side of his body. He is an aggressive tackler who runs hard both ways and has performed consistently at a high level. In May, he played in the Australian under 18 team against Collingwood’s VFL side and was one of his country’s best as he gathered 19 possessions. He has been ultra consistent for the Falcons, averaging 24 disposals (12 contested) across six matches. Clark was outstanding in Victoria Country’s two-point win over South Australia in the first match of the under 18 national championships as he had 24 disposals at 79% efficiency in a best on ground performance. He backed up that match with 27 disposals and a goal in Vic Country's second match of the championships against the Allies.
Alwyn Davey jnr
Club: Oakleigh Chargers/Palmerston Magpies FC/Xavier College
Height: 181cm
Weight: 74 kg
DOB: 26/02/04
A small forward or midfielder, Davey was a late inclusion into the Australian under 18s team in May after some promising early season NAB League form with the Chargers. He then really shone for Vic Metro in a trial match in June, recording 25 disposals and five clearances. Davey possesses one-touch hands, is crafty around goals and has great pace and elusiveness. He is the son of former Essendon forward Alwyn Davey Snr and, alongside his twin brother Jayden, who is recovering from an ACL injury and is equally talented, are eligible as father-son selections for Essendon this year. Davey logged 19 disposals and kicked two goals in Vic Metro's second match of the under 18 national championships.
Jacob Konstanty
Club: Gippsland Power/Drouin FNC/Lowanna College
Height: 176cm
Weight: 70kg
DOB: 09/11/04
A small forward who was first spotted playing for Drouin Reserves early last year, Konstanty switched codes from soccer which he had played for the four years prior. He has since made rapid progress through the talent pathway, representing Vic Country at Under 17s level and kicking three goals and laying four tackles in a match against Vic Metro in Bendigo. Konstanty has great pace and evasiveness and his pressure game is a real weapon. He has continued to develop this year and produced an eye-catching performance for Vic Country in an under 18s trial match against Vic Metro in June, booting four goals from 19 disposals. Konstanty missed the opening under 18 national championships match due to health and safety protocols, but booted three goals in Vic Country's second outing against the Allies.
Oliver Hollands
Club: Murray Bushrangers/Wodonga FC/Geelong Grammar
Height: 183cm
Weight: 73kg
DOB: 16/01/04
A medium midfielder, Hollands uses his elite aerobic running ability to win the ball both on the inside and outside. He is a prolific ball winner who impressed in two games at Under 17s level for Vic Country last year. Hollands is composed with the ball in hand and makes good decisions. A boarder at Geelong Grammar, he is the brother to Gold Coast Suns’ Elijah, who was Drafted at pick 7 in 2020. Hollands is a member of the NAB AFL Academy and was prominent for Vic Country in the opening match of the national championships, having 19 disposals.
Henry Hustwaite
Club: Dandenong Stingrays/ Rosebud FC
Height: 194cm
Weight: 84kg
DOB: 20/07/04
A left-footed tall defender or midfielder who is extremely composed with the ball in hand, Hustwaite is an efficient ball user by hand and foot. He has good vision and footy nous and was one of four players who were added to the Australian under 18 team that faced Collingwood’s VFL side in May, on the back of some strong early-season form. Hustwaite performed soundly in that match and has been a consistent ball-winner for the Stingrays in the NAB League, averaging 22 disposals across his first eight matches this year. Hustwaite had 28 disposals and six clearances in Vic Country's second match of the under 18 national championships against the Allies.
Matthew Jefferson
Club: Oakleigh Chargers/Ashburton FC/Wesley College
Height: 195cm
Weight: 78kg
DOB: 08/03/04
A tall forward whose marking both on the lead and in a contested situation is his weapon, Jefferson is quick off the mark and presents exceptionally well as a target up forward. He has a strong basketball background and won a Victorian Championship at under 16 level but has dedicated himself to football over the past two years. Jefferson is a member of the NAB AFL Academy under Tarkyn Lockyer and has averaged 7.5 marks and 1.5 goals per game with the Chargers and proved a strong marking target for Victoria Metro in the opening game of the championships.
Harry Sheezel
Club: Sandringham Dragons/Ajax FC
Height: 183cm
Weight: 74kg
DOB: 13/10/04
A medium forward, Sheezel has a special ability to make something out of nothing around the goals. He has the ability to read the cues ahead of others with his footy smarts, often crumbing and goaling in the one action. A strong one-on-one mark, he has averaged 23.7 disposals and 2.4 goals across seven NAB League matches for the Dragons this year. Sheezel has continued to progress this season being a shining light for Vic Metro with his 4 goals against the Allies superb.
Blake Drury
Club: Oakleigh Chargers/ Vermont FC/Caulfield Grammar
Height: 178cm
Weight: 74kg
DOB: 11/01/04
Prolific ball winning small midfielder with that wonderful combination of speed and endurance which together with his game sense and composure has him in the centre of the action at all times. A star for Victoria Metro at Under 17s level last year has continued that level of performance into Under 18s level this year having 26 disposals including 8 inside 50s in its match against the Allies.
Mitch Szybkowski
Club: Dandenong Stingrays/Beaconsfield FC
Height: 186cm
Weight: 84kg
DOB: 09/01/04
A medium midfielder with a sharp competitive edge, Szybkowski attacks the ball aggressively and lays strong tackles on the opposition. A good ball-winner with clean hands and great vision, he creates for his team with smart ball use. Szybkowski averaged 25 disposals in his first four NAB League games for the Stingrays and is also a member of the NAB AFL Academy in 2022.Opened championships in excellent form having 25 disposals and 4 clearances to be among his team’s best in the tough win over South Australia.
Luke Teal
Club: Oakleigh Chargers/Glen Iris FC/Trinity Gr
Height: 191cm
Weight: 81kg
DOB: 25/05/04
An athletic defender who runs and creates off half back, Teal can also play on the wing. He is strong overhead and a good player in one-on-one battles. Teal missed the early part of the year after having a bout of appendicitis but returned to represent Australia’s under 18s in a match against Collingwood’s VFL side in May. However, he has since gone on to injure his collarbone in a school football match for Trinity, which is expected to sideline the Vic Metro squad member for the majority of the under-18 national championships.
Elijah Tsatas
Club: Oakleigh Chargers/Surrey Hills FC/Wesley College
Height: 188cm
Weight: 80kg
DOB: 18/11/04
A medium midfielder with elite ball winning ability and line-breaking speed, Tsatas started the NAB League season on fire as he averaged 32 disposals across the opening four rounds for the Chargers. However, a persistent foot injury required rehabilitation after the Australian under 18s match in May and it will sideline the Vic Metro member until after the under-18 national championships matches in July. Tsatas was, however, a standout player for Vic Metro at under-17s level last year.
George Wardlaw
Club: Oakleigh Chargers/St Peters FC/ St Kevin’s College
Height: 182cm
Weight: 82kg
DOB: 18/07/04
A medium midfielder who is a real competitive beast, Wardlaw is a point of difference with his attack on the ball in dispute, whether it be in the air or at ground level. He made a strong start to the NAB League season with the Chargers, averaging 20.7 disposals and 5.7 tackles from his first three games. Wardlaw was then outstanding for the Australia’s under 18s in May, being crowned his side’s best player against Collingwood’s VFL team. He recorded 18 disposals in that match, with his overhead marking and bursts from stoppages features of his game on the day. Wardlaw missed the first two games of the under 18 national championships due to injury.
Finn Emile-Brennan
Club: Dandenong Stingrays/Mt Eliza FC
Height: 181cm
Weight: 72kg
DOB: 07/05/04
A small defender who is lightly framed but very composed in defence, Emile-Brennan uses the ball very efficiently by hand and foot. He is a prolific ball winner with good speed who has averaged 23.6 disposals across his first eight games for the Stingrays in the NAB League. Emile-Brennan is part of Melbourne’s Next Generation Academy, with his mother coming from Mauritius.
Brayden George
Club: Murray Bushrangers/Wangaratta Rovers FC
Height: 185cm
Weight: 87kg
DOB: 13/01/04
A medium forward, George is a powerful player who creates and kicks goals in a similar fashion to Essendon’s Jake Stringer. He has speed to burn and has kicked multiple bags for the Bushrangers this season, including six majors against the Rebels and five against Gippsland Power. Across his first six matches for the Bushrangers, George kicked a total of 17 goals but is set to miss the championships due to injury.
Olivier Northam
Club: Geelong Falcons/St Joseph’s FC
Height: 195cm
Weight: 86kg
DOB: 28/07/04
A tall forward or ruckman, Northam possesses an impressive natural leap which allows him to compete at centre bounces against tall opponents. Mobile and agile, he follows up extremely well when the ball hits the ground and has clean hands below his knees. Northam is strong overhead around the ground and as a target up forward. He has been a consistent performer for the Falcons in the NAB League, averaging 15 disposals, 23 hit outs and a goal a game across eight matches this year. He has some similar traits to Melbourne’s 2021 Rising Star winner Luke Jackson.
Cameron Mackenzie
Club: Sandringham Dragons/Beaumaris FC/Brighton Grammar
Height: 187cm
Weight: 80kg
DOB: 21/01/04
A medium midfielder or defender who has started the season in terrific form for the Dragons, Mackenzie has averaged 24.4 disposals, 3.8 marks and 3.6 tackles across five matches in the NAB League while also playing some good school football. He is part of St Kilda’s Next Generation Academy and has great speed and composure, while also being a neat disposer of the ball. Mackenzie was one of the top performers in Vic Metro’s opening match against the Allies in the under-18 national championships, having 28 disposals (12 contested). He had a further 28 disposals and five clearances in Vic Metro's second match against Western Australia.
Hugh Bond
Club: GWV Rebels/North Ballarat FC
Height: 184cm
Weight: 82kg
DOB: 25/09/04
A medium midfielder who is a prolific ball winner and is as strong as an ox, Bond is a stoppage star who wins his own ball and finds space when there is little. He has an elite endurance base which helps him get from contest-to-contest and averaged 20 disposals (12 contested), 5.1 clearances and 11.1 tackles across his first seven matches for the Rebels in the NAB League this year.
Jaxon Binns
Club: Dandenong Stingrays/Berwick FC/Caulfield Grammar
Height: 182cm
Weight: 72kg
DOB: 29/10/04
A medium midfielder or forward, Binns is a running machine but also has excellent vision and awareness using the ball efficiently by hand and foot. A dangerous player around goals, he impressed at under 17 level for Vic Country last year in a two-match series against Vic Metro due to a Covid-modified championship schedule. Across four matches for the Stingrays this year, Binns has averaged 21 disposals. He also had a game-high 39 disposals and 14 inside-50s in Vic Country's under 18 national championships match against the Allies.