AFL Draft

 by Lisa Albergo reporting for AFANA from Chicago

The National Draft was held on November 24. For this draft, the AFL developed a system and software to place points value on each draft pick. This allowed other clubs to use their allocated "selection points" to bid on designated academy and father-son players. The club for which that player was designated would then have to review their draft points and match the competing club's bid. The bidding and points system shuffled some draft selections. Recruiters used the software to help determine how many "points" they had to play with.

Below are the club by club selections. The number in front of the player's name is the draft selection. After the player's name is the club/league of origin, age, height, weight and position.The letters in parentheses note Academy or Father-Son selections.

Adelaide
11. Wayne Milera, Central Districts, SANFL, 18, 6', 172, wing/forward. Speedy and dangerous forward who can also play in the midfield, played 11 senior games with Central in 2015 and increased his work rate through the midfield.

17. Tom Doedee, Geelong Falcons, TAC, 18, 6'1", 183, defender. A standout basketballer before switching to footy, is a strong marking (catch of the ball) defender who can take on small and tall forwards.Excellent recovery at ground level and excellent athletic ability.

Adelaide used their final selection to elevate second-year rookie Jake Kelly to the senior list. The tall defender played 10 senior games in 2015.

Brisbane Lions
2. Josh Schache, Murray Bushrangers, TAC, 18, 6'5", 220, key forward. Talented by hand and foot, constantly working to improve, reads the game well, an excellent decision maker, won the Larke Medal as best player in the Under-18 tournament. His late father Laurence played 29 games for the Brisbane Bears 1991-92.

14. Eric Hipwood, Aspley, NEAFL, 18, 6'6", 183, key forward/defender (A). Brisbane matched Richmond's bid under the new bidding system. Very strong in the air, has great speed and agility for his size.

24. Ben Keays, Brisbane Lions Reserves, 18, 6', 176, midfielder (A). Brisbane matched the Western Bulldogs bid. Prolific ball winner who can push forward to kick goals. Strong work rate and often lifts to help his team. Can play forward and wing.Two-time junior All-Australian, team captain, excellent leadership skills.

39. Rhys Mathieson, Geelong Falcons, 18, 6', 178, midfielder. Strong competitor who can win the ball, has plenty of improvement to come.

47. Sam Skinner, Gippsland Power, TAC, 18, 6'4", 207, defender. Versatile player who can play forward and ruck. Missed most of the season due to a knee reconstruction early in the year, but showed great leadership around his teammates during his rehab. Recently began running and jumping again.

Carlton
1. Jacob Weitering, Dandenong Stingrays, 17, 6'3", 207, defender. Described by Dandenog talent manager Mark Wheeler as the "complete package" who can do anything. A fine athlete who performed extremely well at the draft combine, also has great leadership skills.Very mature and professional.

10. Harry McKay, Gippsland Power, 17, 6'5", 207, key forward. Athletic and speedy with a great workrate, good with his hands, can take a mark (catch of the ball) and can take a turn in the ruck.Twin brother of Ben McKay (see North Melbourne).

12. Charlie Curnow, Geelong Falcons,18, 6'2", 209, key forward. Brother of Carlton's Ed, injury curtailed his season but he can take a strong mark, is athletic and has good vision.

23. David Cuningham, Oakleigh Chargers, TAC, 18, 6', 176, midfielder. Skilled smooth mover through the midfield who can find his way through packs and disposes the ball well at speed, very good at stoppages.

53. Jack Silvagni, Oakleigh Chargers, 17, 6'2', 176, forward (FS). Carlton matched Essendon's bid.The third generation Silvagni to don the navy blue, following in the footsteps of grandfather Sergie and dad Stephen (currently Carlton's list manager after a stint with GWS). Young Jack has good hands and footy smarts, can play in defense as well and spent time in the coaches' box while out injured and, according to Oakleigh's talent manager, had some very good insights.

Collingwood
32. Brayden Sier, Northern Knights, TAC, 17, 6'2', 200, midfielder. Big-bodied with good hands, good vision and is a good kick of the ball, won his school club best and fairest.

58. Tom Phillips, Oakleigh Chargers, 19, 6', 165, midfielder. Speedy and versatile, he can play defense, wing and forward, a good ball winner and tackles well. Played one senior game for Port Adelaide in the VFL and was second best on ground.

63. Rupert Wills, Collingwood VFL, 22, 6'2', 196, utility. Played six senior games in the VFL, can play forward and midfield, played senior football for Old Scotch in the Victorian amateurs in 2013 and 2014 before joining the VFL. Was a dominant player in the amateurs.

65. Ben Crocker, Oakleigh Chargers, 18, 6', 185, defender/forward. Extremely talented and a fierce competitor, Very strong in the air and is a leading type forward, can go into the midfield as well, captained Oakleigh and played two VFL games with Port Melbourne.

Essendon
5. Darcy Parish, Geelong Falcons, 18, 5'9", 163, midfielder. Best player at the Falcons who learned how to play defense and through the midfield in 2015, wins the contested ball and is damaging when in space. Very competitive and soaks up everything he is taught.

6. Aaron Francis, West Adelaide, SANFL, 18, 6'2", 202, defender. Excellent work rate and mark, has developed ability to go forward and into the midfield.

29. Alex Morgan, Oakleigh Chargers, 19, 5'9", 174, defender. Has speed and a great leap, reads the play well and is an excellent kick.

30. Mason Redman, Glenelg, SANFL, 18, 6', 170, small forward. Strong ball winner who likes to "run and carry" and take the game on, can play defense and midfield. Played Under-18s, some reserves games and even had several senior games with Gelnelg.

54. Mitch Brown, Sandringham VFL, 19, 6'4", 205, utility. Extremely fit, he played every game for Sandringham and was a standout in the finals. Started in defense against Box Hill before moving forward and kicking five goals.

64. Yestin Eades, North Ballarat Rebels, TAC, 18, 6', 178, forward. Excellent ball user and has plenty of speed. Moved from WA to join the Rebels through the help of an AFL program after spending time in jail, but has turned it all around.

68. Michael Hartley, Coburg, VFL, 22, 6'5', 220, key defender. Gets another chance after two seasons (2012-2013) on Collingwood's rookie list, shoulder injury prevented him from playing any senior games. Well over the injury concerns now, he was co-winner of Coburg's best and fairest and named half back in the VFL team of the year.

Fremantle
27. Darcy Tucker, North Ballarat Rebels, 18, 6', 174, defender. A running defender who was thrown into the midfield to develop his skills there as well. Excellent leadership qualities and also did opposition analysis for the Rebels so has a fine football brain. Keen to get the best out of himself.

38. Harley Balic, Sandringham Dragons, TAC, 18 6'1', 178, midfielder. Athletic and uses the ball very well, can play forward and defense and has good evasive skills. Comes from a basketball background and played against fellow draftee Sam Collins while growing up and played footy alongside Collins at the AIS/AFL Academy.

55. Sam Collins, Box Hill Hawks, VFL, 21, 6'3', 191, defender. Primarily a defender, but can take a turn forward. Was with Box Hill for two seasons, named best clubman and was a member of the leadership group.

61. Shane Yarran, Subiaco, WAFL, 26, 6', 174, fforward. Mature age recruit who has turned his life around after being released from jail two years ago on a burglary charge. The Dockers did their homework and spent time with Yarran, a cousin of Adeaide's Chris Yarran. Has starred with WAFL team Subiaco which has won two Premierships and was the WAFL leading goal kicker in 2015. Determined to make it at AFL level.

Geelong
59. Ryan Gardner, Burnie Dockers TFL Tasmania, 18, 6'4', 196, defender. Missed the first half of the season due to a foot stress fracture, but finished the year strongly playing for the Allies at the U-18 tournament. Also did very well in the sprint test at the draft combine.

66. Sam Menegola, Subiaco, 23, 6'2', 194, midfielder. Was on Hawthorn's rookie list in 2011 and then Fremantle's for two seasons, but managed only a handful of preseason games with both clubs. Signed with Subiaco after being delisted by Freo at the end of 2014. Hard running athlete who played forward when rookie listed by the Hawks and Dockers.

69. Wylie Buzza, Mt Gravatt, NEAFL, 19, 6'4', 218, key forward. Has speed and is strong contested mark, also good at ground level and can play ruck.

70. Matthew Hayball, West Adelaide, SANFL, 18, 6'3", 187, utility. Versatile player who can play midfield and forward, player mostly U-18 but did manage several senior reserves game at West Adelaide.

Gold Coast Suns
8. Callum Ah Chee, South Fremantle, WAFL, 18, 5'9', 158, small forward. Good mover with clean hands, can take a big grab and play midfield. Played senior games with South Fremantle. Younger brother of Port's Brendon.

20. Brayden Fiorini, Northern Knights, TAC, 18, , 6'1', 167, midfielder. Skilled ballwinner with durability, can play on a wing.

34. Joshua Schoenfeld, Peel Thunder, TAC, 18, 6'1', 165, midfielder. Elite endurance and speed, broke the time trial record finishing 30 seconds ahead of his nearest rival. Also set a second place record in the beep test (Hawk speedster Billy Hartung holds the record).

52. Mackenzie Willis, Kingborough, Tasmania, 20, 6', 180, utility. A good kick with good endurance, can play midfield and defense with occasional stints forward.

GWS Giants
7. Jacob Hopper, North Ballarat Rebels, 18, 6', 183, midfielder (A). GWS matched the bid from Gold Coast. Big-bodied midfielder who has been likened to Michael Voss and Dustin Martin. A well-rounded player with excellent ball winning and disposal skills, can take a mark and push forward to kick goals. Very competitive and professional.

13. Matthew Kennedy, Collingullie Ashmont Kapooka, Riverina NSW, 18, 6'1", 194, midfielder (A). Ball winner who can take a strong mark when pushing forward, can also play defense in a pinch. Played alongside his three brothers in Collingullie's Premiership win.

16. Harrison Himmelberg, Eastlake, NEAFL, 19, 6'3', 191, forward (A). GWS matched Adelaide's bid. Athletic forward who went to another level playing in the NEAFL after the TAC Cup, was named best on ground for the Allies vs the NAB Academy at the MCG on Grand Final Day.

41. Matthew Flynn, Narrandera, NSW Riverina Football League, 18, 6'5', 222, ruckman (A). GWS matched Melbourne's bid. Aggressive competitor who can be another dangerous marking option in the forward line. The NSW/ACT talent manager said he could be a Shane Mumford type in a few years.

Hawthorn
19. Ryan Burton, North Adelaide, SANFL, 18, 6'2', 198, key forward. Did not play in 2014 after a horrendous knee injury late in 2014. A reliable kick for goal, he is also strong on the lead and can take a strong mark. Has footy smarts and willing to step up when the game is in the balance.

22. Kieran Lovell, Kingborough, , 18, 5'7", 174, midfielder. Has it all: speed, agility, endurance, a good kick, good with his hands, strong in the air, very good in traffic, footy smarts, can also play as a small forward. Won the agility test at the draft combine and finished top ten in the goal kicking and beep contests. Won U-18 All-Australian honors.

44. Blake Hardwick, Eastern Ranges, TAC, 18, 5'9", 174, midsize forward. A strong leading forward who is difficult to match up on due to his power and speed. Can push into the midfield, win the ball and is super fast on the burst to race away from contests and into space.

Melbourne
4. Clayton Oliver, Murray Bushrangers, 18, 6'1", 187, midfielder. Well-balanced and very strong so can hold is feet and is not easily knocked off the ball, a good decision maker when it comes to getting into the right positions.

9. Sam Weideman, Eastern Ranges, TAC, 18, 6'4', 207, key forward. Grandson of Collingwood great Wayne Weideman, but a Richmond supporter growing up. Courageous, good in the air, clean hands and can play defense.

42. Mitch King, Murray Bushrangers, 18, 6'5", 200, ruckman. Excellent tap ruckman who finished fourth in the TAC for hit outs to advantage.

46. Liam Hulett, Dandenong,Stingrays, TAC, 18, 6'3", 198, forward. Good hands, good in the air, and can lead out the goal square. Played only one game in 2015 due to injury.

North Melbourne
21. Ben McKay, Gippsland Power, 17, 6'5", 209, key defender. Big, powerful and strong, loves to crash packs and was dominant across half back, but has the ability to play forward, also began learning ruck skills. Athletic, has good endurance and is a strong mark.

31. Ryan Clarke, Eastern Ranges, 18, 6', 185, midfielder. Gut-running and prolific ball winner who knows how to find the goal, nearly dragged his team to a premiership win against Oakleigh.

33. Mitchell Hibberd, Clarence, Tasmania, 19, 6'2", defender. Was eligible for last year's draft, but missed 18 months of football due to knee and shoulder reconstructions. Came back strongly this year finishing second in the agility test and also finished high in the time trials at the draft combine. Strong in the air and a has a long kick, can play on talls and smalls and push into the midfield.

43. Corey Wagner, Aspley, 21, 5'9", 163, midfielder (A). Strong running ballwinner who doesn't slow down, smart, good decision maker, good with his hands and can find his way out of congestion and uses the ball well. Can also play on a wing.

60. Declan Mountford, Claremont, WAFL, 18, 5'9", 158, midfielder. Endurance, speed, hard and tough at the contest, team oriented, excellent awareness, can kick left or right. Tested very well at the draft combine: was the fastest West Australian in the agility run (beat fellow draftee and West Australian Callum Ah Chee), placed third in the 20 meter (appx 22 yards) sprint, was fourth in the 3km (1.86 miles), scored 21 out of 30 in the kicking test showing an ability to hit targets and 26 out of 30 in the handball testing. Very professional and committed, spending six days a week at the club to hone his skills.

Port Adelaide
37. Riley Bonner, West Adelaide, SANFL, 18, 6'2", 187, defender. Athletic, long kicking running, can provide plenty of run out of defense, has speed and endurance and had a few stints up forward. Won U-18 All-Australian honors.

45. Aidyn Johnson, Bendigo Pioneers, TAC, 18, 6', 165, forward. Super competitive, skilled, speedy and agile, can play on a wing.

Richmond
15. Daniel Rioli, North Ballarat Rebels, TAC, 18, 5'8", 152, small forward. Great-nephew of Richmond star Maurice and cousin of Hawk Cyril. Shows all the traits which have made Cyril a star: speed, goal sense and agility, wins the ball well. Tested very well at the draft combine: second in the 20 meter (appx 22 yards) sprint, won the 30 meter (appx 33 yards) repeat sprints, finished top 10 in the vertical jump and clean hands test, and did well in the agility beep test. Performed well in the U-18 tournament as well as the Allies vs NAB Academy game on Grand Final day. Fans are looking forward to seeing him go head to head against his cousin Cyril!

50. Oleg Markov, North Adelaide, SANFL, 6'1", 165, forward. The son of world champion pole vaulter Dimitri whose former Australian Athletics' teammate is Richmond's high performance manager. Possesses explosive speed and great vertical leap, finished fifth at the combine for repeat speed and effort.

67. Nathan Broad, Swan Districts, WAFL, 22, 6'2", 183, defender. Mature- age recruit who spent five years in the WAFL development program. Running defender with great endurance and one of the fastest players with Swan Districts. Shut down some of the best forwards in the WAFL and has massively improved areas of his game which needed improving. Was a stand out at the WAFL state screening, running the repeat sprints in 24.04 seconds which was better than anyone at the AFL draft combine, also finished third in the beep test.

St Kilda
18. Jade Gresham, Northern Knights, TAC, 18, 5'8", 167, small midfielder/forward. Has pace, speed, endurance, good evasive skills and makes good decisions by hand and foot. Great delivery to the forward line, can kick goals and can also play defense. Was a dominant player for the Knights and Vic Metro, winning Vic Metro's MVP award, U-18 Australian honors and the club best and fairest. His father played in the 1995-96 premierships with the Knights and was a teammate of Kangaroo Brent Harvey in 1995.

40. Brandon White, Dandenong Stingrays, 6'1", 174, medium midfielder/defender. Has speed, endurance, a long kick and is strong in the air. Can take on a lock down role on opponents or run through the middle to set up forward plays.

49. Bailey Rice, Dandenong Stingrays, 18, 6', 183, medium midfielder/defender (FS) St Kilda matched Richmond's bid. Versatile, speedy and powerful, he can play forward as well as defense and midfield. Uses his speed to burst away from stoppages or run the ball out of defense. Son of former Blue/Saint Dean Rice. Dean Rice played 116 games with the Saints before joining Carlton.

Sydney
3. Callum Mills, North Shore, Geelong Football League, 18, 6'1", 176, midfielder (A). Sydney matched Melbourne's bid. Diligent, committed and courageous in the contest. A prolific ball winner who uses the football well and is strong in the air. Missed most of the 2015 season due to injury. NSW/ACT talent manager Darren Denneman likened Mills to current Swan Issac Heeney.

51. Tyrone Leonardis, Northern Knights, 18, 5'9", 180, defender. Running defender with good evasive skills and balance and good at ground level. Needs to work on aerial skills. Swans see him and Dawson (see pick 56 below) as helping to fill the void left by the departed Adam Goodes, Nick Malceski, Ryce Shaw and Lewis Jetta.

56. Jordan Dawson, Sturt, SANFL, 18, 6'2", 187, forward. Although played forward for Sturt, the coaches didn't think he was right as an AFL forward so he was thrown into the midfield where he excelled at stoppages and showed clean hands at clearances and stoppages.

The Swans elevated ruckman Sam Naismith from the rookie list to the seniors.

West Coast
28. Luke Partington, Norwood, SANFL, 18, 5'9", 169, midfielder. Graduate of the AIS/AFL Academy, an excellent kick of the ball and very good at stoppages.

36. Tom Cole, Bendigo Pioneers, TAC, 18, 6', 176, defender. Shows great composure with the ball in hand, loves the contest and to take the game on. Played some senior football for Geelong in the VFL, can take a turn in the midfield.

57. Kurt Mutimer, Dandenong Stingrays, 18, 6', 178, midfielder. Speedy and elite, can kick the ball a country mile on either foot and is versatile enough to play pretty much anywhere on the ground.

62. Matthew Allen, Glenelg, SANFL, 18, 6'3", 158, forward. Speedy, long-kicking and a good mark. Played school football as well as under-18 and reserves for Glenelg.

Western Bulldogs
25. Josh Dunkley, Gippsland Power, TAC, 18, 6'2', 187, midfielder (FS). Courageous ball winner who uses the ball well and is a strong mark. Has good leadership skills. Was injured for part of the year, but did play in Gippsand's finals series as well as some games in the VFL. Can also play forward. The son of former Sydney defender Andrew Dunkley, the Swans opted not to match the Bulldogs' bid.

26. Kieran Collins, Dandenong Stingrays, 17, 6'3", 218, key defender. Powerful defender who can take on power forwards. Good in one on one contests, an excellent intercept of the ball and does not mind the physical stuff. Added a more attacking element to his game with Dandenong and won U-18 All-Australian honors.

35. Marcus Adams, West Perth, WAFL, 22, 6'3", 209, key defender. Big-bodied, powerful but has great speed for his size to intercept or spoil against forwards. Can play on tall or small forwards. Has good game sense and an aggressive streak.

48. Bailey Williams, Glenelg, 18, 6'1", 169, midfielder. Agile ballwinner with a strong work ethic ans good endurance. Ultra competitive, loves to tackle and tested well at the state screening. Had 56 possessions in a match against Woodville-West Torrens. Played some reserves games for Glenelg. Can also play forward and defense.

Source: afl.com.au, Inside Football; thewest.com.au, Club Media Releases - Denis Bicer (WB), Kevin Diggerson (Geelong), Leigh Meyrick (GWS), James Wakelin (PA), Jonathon Monasso (SYD)