AFL MOCK DRAFT 1.0: Pre-Finals Edition
As we mourn the traditional week off before finals, let us cast our minds to the AFL Draft and what’s happening in that landscape. For those not well versed in the draft, this 2024 draft crop is considered a lot deeper than 2023 and the upcoming 2025 draft so it’s going to be one a LOT of teams are going to be looking to move into.
Positional wise it’s also counter to 2023. 2023 was full of non-midfield talent (ironic given the intensity of the Harley Reid sweepstakes), but this year it’s precisely the opposite. If you want a midfielder, you’ll find it here.
Also unlike 2023, you can throw a blanket over four or five of the prospects and find someone that people would take with the No. 1 pick in this draft. This is especially true right now until the draft whispers come in that tell us which teams are interested in which players.
So let’s do a fun little mock draft. A few rules though before we start. No trades and any draft picks not already decided (the picks belonging to the finals teams) are based on current ladder position.
Also for simplicity, any matches father-son or academy pick forfeits the very next pick of that team. With that in mind, this is the first round draft order (first round only for this draft):
Pick No. 1: Richmond
Pick No. 2: North Melbourne
Pick No. 3: West Coast
Pick No. 4: Adelaide
Pick No. 5: Melbourne
Pick No. 6: Gold Coast
Pick No. 7: St Kilda
Pick No. 8: Essendon
Pick No. 9: Fremantle
Pick No. 10: Fremantle (via Collingwood)
Pick No. 11: Carlton
Pick No. 12: Hawthorn
Pick No. 13: Gold Coast (via Bulldogs)
Pick No. 14: Brisbane
Pick No. 15: GWS
Pick No. 16: Geelong
Pick No. 17: Fremantle (via Port Adelaide)
Pick No. 18: Sydney
Pick No. 19: Sydney (via North Melbourne, draft assistance pick)
Pick No. 20: Gold Coast (via North Melbourne, draft assistance pick)
Pick 1: Brisbane – Levi Ashcroft, Midfield, Sandringham, 179cm (F/S Selection)
ne definite in this draft is Levi Ashcroft will be a Lion, but where he’s selected is another matter. He lit up the VFL in his debut with a 35 possession game and is a big game player who loves the big moments. His consistency and his flash are a combination not often seen in kids coming into the draft, and Brisbane are going to reap a big windfall.
Ashcroft is a high intensity runner all over the field with the ability to move forward and slot goals. He isn’t quite as hyped as Harley Reid, but he can be a very special player in the AFL.
Pick 2: Richmond – Jagga Smith, Midfield, Oakleigh, 181cm
Richmond will be in a deep rebuild with as many as six first-round picks to be had for the Tigers if they get maximum results for their outgoing trade names. They need someone to build around and Jagga Smith has just put his nose in front of the other current names for the right to be the first practical No. 1 pick.
On his debut for Richmond’s VFL side he had 30 disposals and eight clearances, so he’s someone the Tigers already have a close eye on.
Smith has some Zak Butters about him as a player as he’s pretty slight in his physical build but plays an aggressive style of football backed with the foot speed to get to the outside. He would be an ideal starting point for Richmond’s new era.
Pick 3: North Melbourne – Josh Smillie, Eastern Ranges, Midfield, 194cm
Midfield isn’t big on North’s list of priorities, but Josh Smillie would bring something different to their engine room as a tall 194cm unicorn in the mold of Tom Green. This height has been somewhat of the selling point for Smillie, which makes him stand out in a stacked midfield class for this draft.
Smillie is already a powerful midfield who dwarves most other midfielders, but his ball use also sets him apart and makes him such an intriguing prospect. Don’t rule him out for the No. 1 pick.
Pick 4: West Coast – Luke Trainor, Defender, Sandringham, 194cm
West Coast’s defence is horrendous, and they’re inevitably going to lose Tom Barrass to someone like Hawthorn in the offseason. Jeremy McGovern had an ageless season that could see him become All-Australian again, but the Eagles desperately need a defender for the future and it should be their utmost priority.
Luke Trainor is more like McGovern than Barrass in the sense he excels more as an interceptor than a true one-on-one ddefender, an he’s an excellent user of the footy. He also has the capacity to swing forward as well, and won the U/18s for Vic Metro with a goal after the siren.
Pick 5: Adelaide – Finn O’Sullivan, Midfield, Oakleigh, 182cm
Sid Draper became a popular target for Crows fans all year when finals became unlikely, but I don’t think the Crows fans would have normally counted on Finn O’Sullivan to be here to potentially add some excitement to their midfield. A highly touted player that, this time last year ,was being talked about as the best prospect of this class, O’Sullivan hasn’t quite set himself apart but he still has a good chance to be that No. 1 selection.
A stronger runner with an excellent grab of the footy and a good head for the game, injuries somewhat blunted his 2024 but a fresh start in 2025 could see teams remembering why he was so highly touted in an already excellent class of midfielders.
Pick 6: Melbourne – Harry Armstrong, Forward, Sandringham, 195cm
Melbourne “dynasty” may or may not be over, but it’s definitely on life support after straight set exits in 2022 and 2023 and a disappointing 14th placed finish in 2024. Part of this is to do with their forward line, which has been below average and desperately needs new talent.
Harry Armstrong has leaped into top 10 contention and is exciting teams looking for their new spearhead. A superboot left footer who had 12 goals for Sandringham in four games, Armstrong can clunk contested marks with ease and can only grow at the next level.
Pick 7: Gold Coast – Harvey Langford, Midfield, Dandenong, 190cm
The Suns can pretty much take the best player available here before taking Leo Lombard later in the first round, and Harvey Langford is a highly touted midfielder currently No. 3 on Cal Twomey’s board. A player that’s been compared to Hayden Young, he would make a good addition to the midfield.
Langford is interesting, in that he could also start as a forward or halfback at the AFL level, which might be handy for the Suns if they lose Jack Lukosius. An excellent left footer who can let it rip, his four goal effort vs. Gippsland showed his potential traits as a goalkicking midfielder.
Pick 8: St Kilda – Sid Draper, Midfield, South Adelaide, 180cm
St Kilda aren’t averse to taking interstate talent, and they could look to add some more potency to their midfield by raiding South Australia once again. If Sid Draper does get past the Crows at No. 4 then the Saints will surely consider him as they look to bounce back from a disappointing 2024.
Draper is a born leader, captaining South Australia’s U/18 side this year. He also was the captain of South Adelaide’s U/18 team that won the title last year and was best afield in the decider. He works relentlessly, and can hit the scoreboard. South Australia’s best prospect by far.
Pick 9: Essendon – Tobie Travaglia, Defender, Bendigo, 187cm
Essendon are in dire straits defensively. Brandon Zerk-Thatcher was one of the worst statistical defenders in 2023 but then moved to Port Adelaide and excelled in a defence that finished top 4 in the league. Meanwhile the hyped Ben McKay became statistically one of the worst defenders in the league. System is to blame, and the team desperately needs more defenders.
A Vic-Country co-captain and All-Australian defender, Tobie Travaglia ticks the boxes for the Bombers. An excellent rebound defender and intercept mark, Travaglia has played all over the ground including the wing and up forward and can be a very versatile pick for Essendon.
Pick 10: Fremantle – Murphy Reid, Midfield/Forward, Sandringham, 180cm
Fremantle have the most ammunition in this draft and are unlikely to take all three picks with them given their links to Shai Bolton and Liam Baker, but they can’t trade here so they might consider Murphy Reid instead. Reid is a player that can play up forward and then rotate into the already ridiculously talented Dockers midfield.
While not the fastest player in this class, Reid is an excellent ball user who has a good eye for the goals. His versatility should help him become an early pick in this class.
Pick 11: Fremantle – Bo Allan, Midfield/Defender, Peel, 191cm
Similar to Murphy Reid but on the other end of the ground, Bo Allan is WA’s best prospect and could be some deployed in the Dockers back six who can then be a rotational piece in Fremantle’s stacked midfield.
Defensively, Allan plays as an interceptor and is an exciting distributor with his left foot. His foray in the midfield has been relatively recent but has been very exciting. Where he plays in the AFL will be very interesting.
Pick 12: Gold Coast – Leonardo Lombard, Midfield/Forward, Suns Academy, 176cm (Academy)
An exciting midfield/small forward hybrid, Leo Lombard will be the latest member of the Suns Academy to join the team following the exciting 2023 bumper crop of players.
An explosive and dynamic player equally at home either up forward as a goalsneak or in the middle causing havoc, Lombard stands out as an exceptionally strong runner and the best small forward in the group (should the Suns play him there).
Pick 13: Carlton – Sam Lalor, Midfield, Midfield/Forward, GWV Rebels, 187cm
If Sam Lalor falls this far, it would be an absolute bargain for Carlton. Teams with top 10 selections are monitoring Lalor, who suffered injuries in 2024 that prevented him from truly breaking out, but nonetheless carries some exciting talents.
Lalor has been drawing some Dustin Martin comparisons, and you can see why with his willingness to impact the contest either in the middle or up forward. While most of the midfielders in this group are athletically gifted, Lalor is one who loves the physical side of the game.
Pick 14: Hawthorn – Jack Whitlock, Forward, Murray Bushrangers, 200cm
Hawthorn are in the midst of an exciting rebuild that’s seeing them play September football in 2024, but the team could look for a key forward to groom for beyond. Mitch Lewis is often injured and even if he gets back to his best that doesn’t mean the team couldn’t use more firepower, with Gunston and Breust in the twilight of their careers.
A key forward who can pinchhit in the ruck and has some excellent ability below the knees, Jack Whitlock burst into consideration after a strong end to his season that saw him repeatedly kick bags of goals in the Coates Talent League. One to watch in coming years alongside his twin brother Matt (more on him later).
Note: Gold Coast would pick here followed by Brisbane, but both teams forfeited their pick to match the Leonardo Lombard and Levi Ashcroft bid respectively.
Pick 15: GWS – Xavier Lindsay, Midfield/Defender, Gippsland, 183cm
GWS are being raided and could be losing both Harry Perryman and Isaac Cumming which would be a big blow to their distribution. Xavier Lindsay can be a replacement pick as a midfielder who can also be a distributor off halfback.
As mentioned, Lindsay is an excellent distributor of the ball with his kicking and also possesses great pace and agility. He should begin as a rebounding halfback before moving into the midfield.
Pick 16: Essendon – Isaac Kako, Forward, Calder Cannons, 175cm (Academy)
Essendon interrupts the draft to match this bid for Isaac Kako thanks to the AFL reverting back to the old rules of allowing any Academy prospect to be matched in the top 40 picks, which the Bombers most surely will be doing.
A talented crumber with excellent goalsense, Kako has also played some midfield for the Calder Cannons and could be an intriguing pick for the Bombers if they want to trial him there.
Pick 17: Geelong – Taj Hotton, Midfield/Forward, Sandringham, 182cm
Geelong tend to be quite content just picking the best player available, which technically would be Bailey Smith at this juncture given the rumours. But again, no trades here so the Cats instead take another midfielder who can also move up forward if need be.
Taj Hotton is a talented player but has fallen a bit down the order given his season ended in May due to a torn ACL. When he’s healthy, however, he’s an exciting player who can bring some spark as a midfield/forward hybrid with a real eye for the goals.
Pick 18: Fremantle – Joe Berry, Forward, Murray Bushrangers, 180cm
The Dockers don’t need much, but they desperately need a goal scoring small forward given Michael Frederick is their best contributor with 23 goals. Freo fans would definitely agree they need an upgrade in this area.
Lucky for Freo, Joe Berry has been a prolific goalkicker this year with 27 goals in 13 games for the Murray Bushrangers. Small forwards like these draw attention so don’t be shocked if Berry ends up going lot higher than this.
Pick 19: Sydney – Jobe Shanahan, Forward, Bendigo, 194cm
Sydney have a pretty perfect list… almost, but they could use some more tall forwards to push Logan McDonald further and add some height to the forward line eventually. Joe Shanahan has a lot of fans in the top 15 and can also float backwards as a defender.
Shanahan stands out as a strong contested mark with an excellent leap, slowly pushing himself into form all the way through 2024. While he’s not on the level of Harry Armstrong, he’s chasing Jack Whitlock to be the second key forward chosen.
Pick 20: Sydney – Matt Whitlock, Defender/Forward, Murray Bushrangers, 199cm
The more mobile and slightly less polished Whitlock twin is an interesting case as someone who could play either end of the ground. Initially a defender unlike his brother, Matt has found himself blossoming as a key forward alongside his brother and is one that Sydney could polish up and then have replace Aaron Francis with when the time is right.
Of course the Swans might also see him as a defender too, which would be the point of pairing him with Shanahan with these picks. He’s incredibly athletic if sometimes prone to some errors, but he’s worth investing the time in.
Pick 21: Gold Coast – Cooper Hynes, Midfield/Forward, Dandenong, 190cm
The first round concludes with the Suns again, taking someone who can be considered almost a larger version of their Lombard pick from earlier with Cooper Hynes, the 190cm midfield/forward prospect from Dandenong.
Hynes burst onto draft radars with his performances for Dandenong, averaging over 25 disposals, 4 marks and nearly two goals for the Stingrays. How the Suns see him would be interesting, but he can help bring some electricity to get the Suns to their first September action down the line.
