AFL talent guru Mick Ablett has given the lowdown on a number of players who could be selected in Wednesday’s Mid-Season Rookie Draft.
Ablett knows the WAFL landscape very well given he is involved at Subiaco as Beau Wardman’s skills coach and runner.
The majority of names are from the WAFL with others from the SANFL, VFL and Coates Talent League.
(Where possible, Ablett forecast the AFL club that could be the best fit for each player).
Brynn Teakle (East Fremantle)
Will clubs be hesitant to give the former Port Adelaide mid-season draftee another shot?
“I don’t think they’ll hesitate, he’s ready to go,” Ablett said on SEN WA Breakfast.
“When we talk ruckmen and how long they take to develop, at 24 years of age he’s coming into the beginning of what’s a prime career.
“I got a close up of him a few weeks back and he had 48 hit-outs and kicked three goals against us (Subiaco).
“He’s a class above state league level, there’s no doubt about that.
“For a club that’s in the market for a ruckman, he’d be one of the first off the list I would have thought.”
Jasper Scaife (West Perth)
“He’s 197cm and he’s exciting. He’s kicked multiple goals in a number of games this year.
“At 20 years of age at that size when you’re playing league football, to be able to have the impact that he’s had speaks volumes of where he’s at.
“I know there’s still a small question mark over that (his mental maturity) in chatting with some clubs about where he’s at and how far he’s come and whether he’ll be able to stand up to the rigours of the AFL.
“He’s got a lot of footy ahead of him. If we look at the impact that these tall-hybrid forwards are having now, he’s certainly in the mix.”
Best fit: “Brisbane have potentially got four picks in this, Joe Daniher is not getting any younger and I don’t know where their next tall forward comes from.
“Brisbane do invest in West Australians, so I wouldn’t be surprised if they’re a likely landing spot.”
Jacob Blight (Peel Thunder)
“He is the strongest performed from a WAFL perspective, particularly when it comes to key position players.
“We just saw the deal that Ben McKay got at Essendon because of a shortage of big-bodied, strong, key defenders.
“Jacob is 196cm and although you’d like a couple more centimetres on him, I think he gets a go.
“He finds the ball, he uses it quite well and he can win it back.”
Best fit: “You’d think they (North Melbourne) are definitely one that is in the mix.”
Luker Kentfield (Subiaco)
“He was very close at the end of last year. He’s a 196cm key forward who can pinch-hit in the ruck.
“He is super competitive, and we don’t say that very often about young men of that size. It’s just instinctive to him.
“He’s another one that hasn’t had a lot of air time but one to keep an eye on.
“I don’t have a club for him, but I think he will go.”
Milan Murdock (East Fremantle)
“He deserves a go. Homegrown talent and we hope the Western Australians do continue to invest at home.
“The game is about pressure now, we know that, and Milan Murdock is one of the best at state league level at applying pressure.
“I wouldn’t be surprised to see him go, There’s not much more that he could do.”
On the rumours that West Coast will select Murdock:
“I made some calls and it was strongly denied that West Coast were in for him.
“From what I’m led to believe, West Coast haven’t spoken to Milan Murdock.
“That’s not to say they’re not going to take him.”
Jack Hutchinson (Collingwood VFL)
“He’s a 190cm, 22-year-old, hybrid forward.
“He absolutely launches at the footy. Super competitive, very athletic.”
Will McLachlan (Geelong Falcons)
“He kicked 20-plus goals in the first five games of the Coates Talent League this year.
“He’s a 181cm forward and someone that is going to be in the mix too.”
Best fit: “With the loss of Lachie Schultz, Michael ‘Sonny’ Walters is in the twilight of his career, and McLachlan is a noted goal kicker who has been very consistent.
“In conversations I’ve had with multiple clubs he is highly rated across the board.
“He’s a small forward that could help fill that void (for Fremantle).”
Matt Ling (Norwood)
Ablett is expecting at least three players from the WAFL will be picked up: “I think Blight definitely goes, I think Teakle, I do think Scaife and Luker Kentfield.”
The AFL’s Mid-Season Rookie Draft takes place on Wednesday, May 29 from 7pm AEST.