WHAT TIME WILL THE 2022 AFL DRAFT START?
The 2022 AFL National Draft will be held over two days, Monday 28 November and Tuesday 29 November, with coverage from 7pm (AEDT) on both nights.
The draft will be broadcast live on Fox Footy (Channel 504) — the only place to watch the selections as announced on television — and streamed on Kayo Sports. Sarah Jones will host the coverage, with expert analysis from Kevin Sheehan, Mick Ablett, Leigh Montagna, Jonathan Brown and David Zita. You can also follow the AFL draft live foxfooty.com.auwith analysis of each team and each club, along with Fox Footy’s social media channels.
The 2022 national draft will be held at Marvel Stadium, with the first round being held on Monday night. The second round onwards will also take place at the same venue on Tuesday night.
Watch Round 1 of the 2022 AFL Draft on Fox Footy and Kayo from 7pm EDT on Monday 28 November. New to Kayo? Start your free trial today >
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HOW DOES THE AFL PROJECT WORK?
All 18 clubs earn draft picks, which are based on the reverse order of completion of the previous AFL season. These options can be traded up to one year in advance, while some options are also given as compensation for departing free agents.
On draft night, teams select in order, adding the best young or mature players not already on AFL lists.
The only exceptions are when draft picks are traded overnight, as well as when deals are made for father-son and Academy players linked to certain clubs. Those clubs can then choose to match the offer made by their rival, using draft points, to acquire the player.
HOW DOES THE AFL TENDER SYSTEM WORK?
The AFL has created the Draft Value Index, which is a system that assigns a point value to the first 73 picks of the draft. He was introduced after Sydney snagged star Academy prospect Isaac Heeney for Pick 18 in 2014.
The points system essentially means that clubs that have existing links to draftees, either through Academy or parent-child eligibility, must “pay” to secure those players through multiple picks. It also gives rival clubs the opportunity to bid for these players.
In order for clubs to secure their linked talent, they must pay and match an offer using the draft picks/points they already have.
Let’s use Lions father-son star Will Ashcroft as an example for this year’s draft…
Dragons’ Will Ashcroft (L) is the son of three-time Brisbane Lions premiership player Marcus Ashcroft. Image: Daniel PockettSource: Getty Images
— North Melbourne tender Will Ashcroft in Pick 2 (2517 points), that is, the Brisbane Lions Now they have to match the Kangaroos’ offer using the draft picks they already have if they want their father-son weapon (they definitely do).
— The lions first get some help through a 20% discount., which is automatically given to clubs for father-son deals within the first round. It means that now the lions have to find Points 2014 to ensure Ashcroft.
— To match the offer, the Lions use Pick 34 (542 points), Pick 35 (522), 36 (502), 38 (465), equivalent to 2031 pointswhich is enough to cover the offer of the Kangaroos.
— Since the value of these four picks is greater than the discounted value of Pick 2, the Lions have it 17 points left. That means the last pick the Lions used to match Ashcroft’s bid (Pick 38) becomes a pick closer to the 17-point value, which is Pick 73. That pick, however, moves Until Choose 70 as the Lions’ four picks are gone, but every other team in the pecking order drops one spot because of the Lions’ Pick 2 offer.
— The offer has been successfully matched and Ashcroft is officially selected by the Lions at Pick 2, but it costs the club its first four picks.
— Despite losing Ashcroft, the Kangaroos retain their spot in the draft order and return to pick at Pick 3, with the default draft order continuing from there, but adjusted after the loss of picks from lions
If a club doesn’t have enough points at that point, they can enter a draft deficit, meaning their hand in the following year’s draft will have an impact. If the club chooses not to match, the player goes to the club that made the offer.
WHEN WILL SOME OFFERS COME IN TO SOME OF THE TOP ACADEMY/PARE-SON PROSPECTS?
If it’s not the Giants in Pick 1, it will be the Kangaroos in Pick 2 who force the Brisbane Lions to pay for Will Ashcroft. Then the lions could be back in action quickly, with a father-son gun Jasper Fletcher — the son of Adrian Fletcher — was expected to attract an offer starting at Pick 11 (Carlton).
Rival clubs would also not be surprised if they were a key defender Max Michalanney (Adelaide father-son) and forward midfielder Harry Rowston (Giants Academy) are receiving attention from rivals at the end of the first round, with all eyes on the Magpies and Swans to see if they bid for either player.
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There is a feeling Essendon could get their draft wish and be able to select two players in the open draft before an offer comes in for the father-son prospect Alwyn Davey Jnr, who is now expected to attract the attention of the rival club in the middle stages of the second round. North Melbourne will take three players in the open draft and use their fourth pick to match an offer Cooper Harveythe son of dual Kangaroo premiership and VFL/AFL games record holder Brent Harvey.
Essendon will be a hopeful prospect for the NGA Antoni’s work he doesn’t attract an offer until later in the draft, or they may even pick him up as a B starter.
Versatile Gippsland Power prospect Cooper Vickerywho is NGA-bound for Hawthorn, could also be around the Pick 40 mark, while the Devils are closely monitoring interest in their NGA prospect Finn Emile-Brennan – a damaging winger/midfielder with a lovely kick.
Other players to consider after Pick 40, possibly in the rookie draft, include Jayden Davey (Essendon father-son), Shadeau Brain (Brisbane Academy), Josh Draper (NGA Fremantle), Jasper Scaife (NGA Fremantle), Conrad Williams (NGA Fremantle), Ted Clohesy (Geelong NGA), Nick Madden (Academy of Giants), Nathan Barkla (PORT ADELAIDE) i Tyrell Dewar (West Coast NGA).
WHO ARE THE BEST PLAYERS IN THE 2022 AFL DRAFT CLASS?
He may not go Pick 1, but the father-son gun of the Brisbane Lions does Will Ashcroft is at the top of many club draft boards this year. A class act who oozes professionalism both on and off the pitch, Ashcroft is the complete midfielder as he is as adept at bursting out of stops as he is at winning the ball inside. He barely put a foot wrong in his draft year, winning almost every award possible: the Larke Medal, the first NAB League captain, the best in the NAB League grand final and the team captain of the year in the NAB League, and dominant at every level, incl. a couple of VFL games for Brisbane.
Aaron Cadman from Vic Country. Image: Dylan BurnsFont: Getty Images
Key front lookalike Jeremy Cameron Aaron Cadman However, the Giants are expected to take the first pick in the draft. He has elite aerobic ability, work rate and a high jump, meaning he beats defenders in the air, one-on-one and on the run, at any stage of the game. Simply put, the 194cm prospect is a match-up nightmare for opposing sides.
Sandringham’s Harry Sheazel is the best pure hybrid forward prospect and is emerging as a big fan favorite at AFL level. Very skilful, quick, agile and neat with ball in hand, Sheezel is a very damaging centre-forward, whether scoring goals himself or putting teammates in a better position to score.
Duo Oakleigh Chargers George Wardlaw i Elijah Tsatas There are different types of ballplayers — Clayton Oliver-like Wardlaw inside and Tsatas, an explosive guy in the mold of Chad Warner — but they’re in the top five on many club draft boards. Wardlaw should land at the Kangaroos with Sheezel, while Tsatas is one of six players who could go between Picks 5 and 10.
Tsatas, versatile player with a big body Matthew Phillipouexplosive forward midfielder Bailey Humphreybalanced on the ball Cam Mackenzietop-10 bolter Rubén Ginbey and Joel Selwood’s clone Jhye Clark all have been linked to top 10 selections.
Ginbey is expected to be one of the first WA-based prospects taken Monday night, with Jedd Busslinger — the best key defender in the draft class — also in the mix.
Mattaes Phillipou of SA. Image: Sarah ReedSource: Getty Images
Outside corridors Oliver Holland’s (Murray Bushrangers) and Jasper Fletcher The Brisbane Lions father and son are also expected to attract first-round attention.
All 13 players mentioned have been invited for the first night of the draft, which is a strong indication that clubs will take them in the opening round.
Other prospects who haven’t been invited to Marvel Stadium but are still tipped to be taken in the first round include key forward Matt Jeffersonand exciting utility of 194 cm Ed Allanwhile WA’s powerful midfielder Elijah Hewett and half forward Brayden George will also be in the mix.
Here it is foxfooty.com.au’s the top 50 draft power rankings … and our first-round mock draft.
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It is widely believed that the first four picks will be used to catch Aaron Cadman (GWS Giants), Will Ashcroft (Brisbane Lions), Harry Sheazel (North Melbourne) and George Wardlaw (North Melbourne). Then it gets murky with Essendon’s selection, with no consensus between rival recruiters on whether the Bombers will opt for Elijah Tsatas or Matthew Phillipou — the two players who have weighed in for weeks. However, most industry sources believe Gold Coast is likely to select Bailey Humphrey after…