DREAMS will be realised on Tuesday when over 60 players’ names are called out by clubs in the 2018 AFLW draft. The newest AFLW club Geelong hold the prized top-two picks, along with Pick 7, while Carlton, Collingwood and Melbourne will be other clubs eyeing off Victoria’s top prospects. With players nominating for state-based drafts, Fremantle, Adelaide, Brisbane and GWS will take the best talent who have nominated for their region. ULTIMATE GUIDE: How to follow AFLW Draft, pick predictions Ahead of Tuesday’s draft, foxfooty.com.au looks at some of the best young players in this year’s crop — and where they eventually could fall. 1. NINA MORRISON (Geelong) The midfielder could not have had a better season if she tried. During the Under 18 Championships, she averaged 21 disposals and shared in the carnival’s MVP along with Maddie Prespakis. Playing on the wing, Morrison stood out as the clear best in Vic Country’s win against Queensland, collecting 23 disposals and booting a goal. In the Under 18 All Stars exhibition match played as a curtain raiser to the E.J Whitten Legends game, the Geelong Falcons player had 19 disposals, five inside 50s and four clearances. At the AFLW Draft Combine, she smashed the previous Yo-Yo test record and 2km time trial record. All signs point to her stepping straight in and dominating in the AFLW after spending 2018 performing strongly at VFLW level. DRAFT COMBINE: Pies prospect stars, likely No. 1 pick breaks records Nina Morrison (left) and Maddie Prespakis (right) after winning the MVP at the AFLW Under 18 Championships. Photo: Jason O'Brien/Getty Images. Source: Getty Images 2. SOPHIE VAN DE HEUVEL (Geelong) The talented dual-sport athlete may not have to travel far, with the Ballarat local in the mix to head to Geelong. The half forward/midfielder tackles with venom and has smarts around the goals. She has an eye-catching leap, meaning she can be a hard match up inside 50. Van De Heuvel won the running vertical jump record at the Combine and has represented Australia in cricket as a teenager. Should have a successful career after being named in the All-Australian team. The Cats could opt to select local player Olivia Purcell with Pick 2, but may look to select another Victorian and take Purcell later in the draft — seeing as she has nominated for the Geelong region only. NEXT IN LINE: Promising dual-sport athlete wants to follow role model’s lead Sophie Van De Heuvel in action at the AFLW Under 18 Championships. Photo: Jason O'Brien/Getty Images. Source: Getty Images 3. MADISON PRESPAKIS (Carlton) Prespakis is the player that many tipped would be the No. 1 pick. But we will never know, as the talented midfielder opted to nominate for the Melbourne metro zone, meaning she cannot be selected by Geelong. Prespakis shared the AFLW Under 18 Championships MVP and TAC Cup Girls Best and Fairest with Nina Morrison, while she averaged 21 disposals across the carnival. In the Under 18 All Stars exhibition match, she had 21 disposals, five clearances and four inside 50s. She can win the ball in the contest and isn’t afraid to take her opponents on. DECISION TIME: Star prospect turns back on Cats, Blues in box seat Maddie Prespakis attempts to kick the ball during a TAC Cup Girls match. Photo: Robert Prezioso/AFL Media/Getty Images. Source: Getty Images 4. SABREENA DUFFY (Fremantle) The WA captain had a fine Under 18 Championships in defensive 50, where she earned All-Australian selection across half back. Duffy won the WA MVP after being a rock in defence, marking well overhead and showing composure with the ball in hand. She battles hard in one-on-one contests and has a strong work ethic behind her. A mad Fremantle supporter, it would be a dream come true for the 18-year-old if she got called out by the Dockers. Sabreena Duffy in action for Western Australia. Photo: Jason O'Brien/Getty Images. Source: Getty Images 5. TYLA HANKS (Collingwood) The strong inside midfielder is another ready made player who could play in 2019 for the club she is drafted to. She runs hard around the ground and can win the one-on-one battles in the contest. She is a solid kick off her right foot and has played senior football with Carlton in the VFL Women’s competition this season. Hanks also captained the Gippsland Power team in the TAC Cup, indicating she has strong leadership capabilities. Tyla Hanks captained the Gippsland Power this season. Photo: Kelly Defina/AFL Media/Getty Images. Source: Getty Images 6. JORDYN ALLEN (Melbourne) Allen being selected to the Demons would make sense, after the hybrid defender/midfielder played for the Casey Demons in the VFL Women’s competition this season. In her eight TAC Cup games for the Dandenong Stingrays earlier this year, Allen was named in the best in all but one. Allen controls the play in defensive 50 and has the ability to claim intercept marks. The 174cm prospect is among only 12 Victorians selected in the U18 All-Australian team. She is a reliable ball user and his fantastic leadership skills. Jordyn Allen is already playing for the red and blue — having played for Casey Demons in 2018. Photo: Robert Prezioso/AFL Media/Getty Images. Source: Getty Images 7. REBECCA WEBSTER (Geelong) The 172cm tall defender was named as the full-back in the TAC Cup Team of the Year, but has the capabilities to push further up the ground. Webster has an impressive leap that allows her to jump over her opponents and the 18-year-old played three games for Melbourne Uni in the VFL Women’s competition. She also had 12 touches in the Under 18 All Stars exhibition match in August. The AFL Women’s Academy member can also play through the midfield and Geelong may look to use her to play in multiple roles in the newest team in the competition. Rebecca Webster at the AFLW Draft Combine. Photo: Michael Dodge/Getty Images. Source: Getty Images 8. NIKKI GORE (Adelaide Crows) The South Australian midfielder is nicknamed ‘Turbo’ — and it’s no surprise given her speed and burst from the pack. The on-baller won the SANFLW Rising Star and played VFL Women’s football for NT Thunder. She tackles hard and isn’t afraid to get her hands dirty in the contest and is a player that will give her all every match. Gore represented the Central Allies during the Under 18 Championships. MEET ‘TURBO’: The Crows’ potential draftee who has the need for speed Nikki Gore could be the first South Australian selected. Photo: Jason O'Brien/Getty Images. Source: Getty Images 9. McKENZIE DOWRICK (Brisbane Lions) The West Australia draft prospect has nominated Queensland and therefore will be selected by the Lions at Tuesday’s draft. She was the Allies’ most impressive player in the Under 18 All Stars match against Victoria, where she had 18 disposals and three marks. Dowrick has a pinpoint left foot kick and is an outstanding mark overhead. CURTAIN RAISER: Future AFLW stars dominate in U18 exhibition match McKenzie Dowrick is an excellent kick of the football. Photo: Jason O'Brien/Getty Images. Source: Getty Images 10. MIKALA CANN (Western Bulldogs) Cann was part of Hawthorn’s VFL Women’s premiership, playing six games this season. Cann had 14 disposals and laid nine tackles as one of the Hawks’ better players in the match. She has a zip in her step around the ball and possesses X-Factor. Plays mostly across half forward, but can push into the midfield. Known to tackle hard and fight to win the ball back for her teammates. Having lost a few mature players (such as Emma Kearney and Jenna Bruton) to other clubs, the Bulldogs could opt for a mature-age prospect at this selection. NO AFLW, NO PROBLEM: Kennett a key backer of Hawks women Mikala Cann playing for Hawthorn’s VFLW team. Photo: Quinn Rooney/AFL Media/Getty Images. Source: Getty Images 11. KATIE LYNCH (Collingwood) On talent alone, the forward could well be rated higher than where she falls by many Victorian club recruiting managers. The 179cm forward is a strong mark overhead and knows where the goals are. Lynch played for the Magpies’ VFLW team and has fought back in 2018 after battling a few injuries in the past. Could be one of the steals later in the first round of the draft. Katie Lynch is a damaging tall forward. Photo: Jason O'Brien/Getty Images. Source: Getty Images 12. ALYCE PARKER (GWS Giants) If it was an open draft, you could mount an argument for Parker to be in the consideration to be the No. 1 pick. Parker’s numbers were through the roof during the Under 18 Championships and was named as the captain of the Under 18 All-Australian side. The 18-year-old kicks it well off her left foot and was named the NSW/ACT and Eastern Allies MVP at the carnival. Her match against Queensland in the final round of the championships was one of the better individual games. The Giants have a beauty. Alyce Parker boots it long down the ground for the Eastern Allies. Photo: Jason O’Brien/Getty Images. Source: Getty Images WHAT ABOUT NORTH MELBOURNE? The Kangaroos won’t enter the draft until Pick 25, missing out on a priority pick — despite only recently joining the competition. Tasmanian identical twins Chloe and Libby Haines are two prospects who could be selected by the club. SEEING DOUBLE: Roos’ big AFLW call on talented Tassie twins ‘WE WERE PROBABLY LUCKY’: How Roos built a list from scratch<doc-sep>Jack Lukosius and Izak Rankine could be headed to the Gold Coast. Photo: Tait Schmaal. THE 2018 AFL Trade Period is over. But don’t expect club’s phones to stop ringing — with teams still having the ability to trade picks up until November 16. Clubs will then again be able to trade picks on draft day (November 22). And the one club that is set to be at the centre of everything is the Gold Coast Suns. The Suns hold Pick 2 and 3 as it stands, 34 days out from the draft. With highly touted South Australians Jack Lukosius, Izak Rankine and Connor Rozee set to be top-10 picks, both Adelaide and Port Adelaide may look to trade up the draft order to secure one of the local Under 18 stars. Port currently have the upper hand, holding Pick 5, 10 and 15. While Adelaide have Pick 8, 13 and 16. COULD THE SUNS DO A DEAL WITH CROWS OR PORT? There’s no doubting Gold Coast list manager Craig Cameron’s phone will be running hot in the coming weeks. All signs point to the Suns selecting Lukosius and Rankine on draft night, so if either South Australian club want them — they will have to trade up. Cameron said neither club were yet to put a formal offer on the table for their top picks. “They haven’t specifically approached us for (picks) 2 or 3, but they’ve approached us to have a conversation down the track,” Cameron told the club’s website. It’s cricket like never before. Every Australia home Test, ODI, T20I Match LIVE and ad-break free. SIGN UP TODAY! Henley High School teammates Jack Lukosius and Izak Rankine are two contenders for Pick 1. Photo: Matt Turner. Source: News Corp Australia Adelaide list manager Justin Reid said the club was “open minded” regarding a potential pick swap. But Port Adelaide flagged that it wasn’t as clear cut as trading up and that they’d take the best player available, regardless of their state. “We are certainly open to it (trading up),” Port Adelaide list manager Jason Cripps said at the PWC Connors Sports Breakfast on Monday. “(But) we’re pretty happy with any of the Victorian boys, we’re going to back ourselves in, we’ve traditionally been really strong with retention, especially with Victorian guys. “We’ve actually got a little bit of a challenge at the moment losing a couple of South Australian’s in Jared Polec and Chad Wingard, which is a little bit unique.“ The Power sent a warning to the Gold Coast Suns — who are set to draft two of Lukosius, Rankine and Rozee — declaring they would be targeting them heavily if they were drafted to the Gold Coast. “If a Lukosius and a Rankine end up going to Gold Coast like SOS said, we’re probably pretty happy to try and get them back in a few years’ time,” Cripps said. Athletic tall Ben King is likely to be drafted in the top 10 on draft night. Photo: David Crosling/AAP Image. Source: AAP “Because then it just becomes a two-horse race between us and the Crows, as opposed to a Victorian kid that wants to come back home — he’s potentially got 10 options. So that’s part of the discussion and strategy. WHAT ABOUT CARLTON (PICK 1) AND ST KILDA (PICK 4)? The Blues appear likely to select Geelong Falcons gun Sam Walsh with Pick 1 — but would they entertain a trade that sees them gain another pick in the top 10? The Blues currently hold Pick 1 and 69. If Adelaide want to jump above their rivals Port Adelaide, St Kilda’s Pick 4 is the next best result — assuming they don’t do a deal with Gold Coast. However, the Saints have long been linked to local Victorian key forward Max King — who is doing his ACL rehab at the club. DO COLLINGWOOD, NORTH MELBOURNE AND SYDNEY NEED MORE PICKS? Collingwood, North Melbourne are Sydney appear to be the three big players in terms of the Academy and father-son prospects that could be picked up in the 2018 national draft. The Pies have 1215 draft points all up and if a bid on NGA defender Isaac Quaynor came at Pick 12 — the Magpies would be able to cover that bid with their picks. But they wouldn’t be able to cover a bid for Will Kelly if that came in around Pick 25. Meaning they would have to go into second-round deficit in 2019. Tarryn Thomas in action in the TSL State League Grand Final. Photo: Nikki Davis-Jones Source: News Corp Australia North Melbourne have 1677 draft points and need to match bids for Tarryn Thomas (10-15 range), Bailey Scott (25-40) and Joel Crocker (late-rookie). While Sydney traded down from Pick 13 to receive more points with later picks and appear all set to match a top-10 bid on Academy prospect Nick Blakey. But there’s no doubting that Collingwood and North Melbourne could be involved in pick swaps over the coming weeks.<doc-sep>
Well. That was hectic. After one of the most chaotic and vertigo-inducing trade and free agency periods of the modern era, the order for the 2018 NAB AFL Draft is set. Actually, no it’s not. Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Reddit Email Share With clubs now having the power to trade picks up until draft night (including on draft night itself), expect the draft order below to change quite dramatically before November 22. With this draft class being spoken about as one of the best in recent memory, as well as the likelihood of a bunch of academy bids expected, the new stand-alone Round 1 looks like it could go on forever. Bearing in mind just how implausible it is to predict how the first round will unfold given all the variables, below is any early prediction as to how the first round might unfold, 1 month out from the real thing. 1. Carlton – Sam Walsh, Midfielder, Geelong Falcons Though I discussed how the Blues couldn’t afford to pass on South Australian key forward Jack Lukosius in an article during the season, I’ve come to my senses. Walsh would add another exciting prospect to an all-of-sudden budding midfield group of co-captain Patrick Cripps, Paddy Dow, Will Setterfield and Zac Fisher. Dare I say bust proof? 2. Gold Coast – Max King, Key Forward/Ruck, Sandringham Dragons Really intrigued as to what the Suns will do if they hang on to both picks on draft night. Taking the King boys would be one for the romantics, while also filling two huge areas of concern. Max is the key forward capable of pinch-hitting in the ruck who, despite a devastating ACL injury early in the season, would still be worthy of the second overall pick. 3. Gold Coast – Ben King, Key Defender, Sandringham Dragons The best defender in the draft, Ben played up forward for the Dragons this year after Max went down with an injury. Capable at both ends, but should slot in at fullback for the Suns from day one. 4. St. Kilda – Jack Lukosius, Key Forward, Woodville-West Torrens (SA) Awkward position for the Saints, as the supremely talented Lukosius doesn’t exactly fill a ‘need’. However, it would have been unfathomable six months ago to predict Lukosius would fall to pick four. Clearly best player available. 5. Port Adelaide – Izak Rankine, Half-Forward/Midfield, West Adelaide, (SA) Port get their wish by adding South Australia’s second-best product at pick 5. Rankine is a supreme talent who gets better as the occasion gets bigger. A freak who arguably boasts the most naturally gifted talent in the draft class. 6. Sydney (bid) – Nick Blakey, Forward/Midfield, Sydney Swans Academy Didn’t have the year he wanted due to persistent injuries, but the 195cm specimen still showed glimpses of his enormous potential. Expect a bid to come around this mark for the Swans next academy gem. 7. Gold Coast – Bailey Smith, Midfielder, Sandringham Dragons The Suns should keep it simple here and take the best midfielder at this point. That’s Smith, a quality, well-rounded midfielder that possesses speed, endurance and ball-winning ability. 8. Western Bulldogs – Jye Caldwell, Midfielder, Bendigo Pioneers Caldwell is another who was hampered by injuries seemingly all season. Still, recruiters would have seen enough to know that the hard-working inside midfielder would be a valuable addition to any engine room. 9. Adelaide – Connor Rozee, Half-Forward/Midfielder, North Adelaide, (SA) A really exciting local prospect with a bag of tricks that, in all honesty, would be a steal at pick nine. Has the ability to have an impact off half-back, in the middle or on a half-forward flank. 10. North Melbourne (bid) – Tarryn Thomas, Midfielder, North Launceston (NM Next Generation Academy) The 189cm midfielder was another who didn’t quite have the season he would have liked due to injuries and inconsistencies with form. Some believe he may slide in the draft but whenever the bid comes, the Roo’s will pounce (or bounce?). 11. GWS – Jordan Clark, Half-Back, Claremont (WA) The Giants have lost quite a bit of outside run with the losses of players such as Nathan Wilson and Tom Scully. With Heath Shaw nearing the end as well, Clark would be a nice heir apparent to play the quarterback role off halfback. 12. Port Adelaide – Jackson Hately, Midfielder, Central Districts, (SA) The Power go back to the South Australian well.