Cats to target SA dynamo
and he’s had a good year, so he’s certainly a chance – late (draft) chance or rookie.”
Isaac Heeney or Issac Smith. Late draft, rookie. A mid-sized forward, Sprague was arguably best-on-ground in a Vic Country trial game before a finger injury saw him miss about three months in the back half of the TAC Cup season.
“He’s got a lot of areas to improve in his athleticism, but he’s super smart, he finds great space on the ground, is a beautiful user of the ball and makes fantastic decisions, especially with the ball in hand.”
“He’s a medium forward that presents pretty well – just had injuries at a critical time during the year, but he’s not without a chance for sure.” Josh Caddy. Late draft, rookie. An AFL Academy member, captained Grammar and cocaptained Vic Country with Sam Walsh, but injured his hamstring in the first game of the carnival and has also endured a quad injury and concussion this season.
“He’s really good in the contest, but he spreads really well, too. He’s a really talented midfilder who can play forward and play back, and has that real burst from a contest that those really good mids have. He’s a great leader and quality player, but he’s a quality person too.” Stephen Coniglio. First round, potential top 10. The 26-year-old former Leopold and Drysdale player has produced three WAFL stellar seasons, resulting in two Sandover Medals (2016, 2018). Averaged more than 30 disposals this season, won the Simpson Medal for best-onground in a state game and won Claremont’s best-and-fairest. Runs like Ben
Late Cousins. draft, rookie. A premiership midfielder at the Geelong Falcons, Henderson played as a small lock-down defender at VFL level this year against a number of AFL-listed players. Neville Jetta. Rookie chance. The Geelong VFL captain, 23, has become an elite midfielder and is renowned as one of the fiercest tacklers in the competition. The hard-nosed onballer has two Cats’ bestand-fairests (2016, 2018) either side of an injury-plagued 2017. Taylor Adams.
Rookie chance. GEELONG could find its successor to Joel Selwood’s onball throne in tonight’s draft.
The Cats are circling 192cm clearance machine, Jackson Hately, from Central Districts in South Australia with their No. 12 pick.
The Trinity Grammar school captain excelled at the stoppages at the under-18 national championships, averaging 23 possessions and six clearances a game this year. He has valuable senior experience against men, averaging 19 disposals across 12 senior SANFL matches this season.
The powerful ball-winner and strong tackler looms as one of the best onball options in this year’s draft as the Cats look to find another clearance-winner to replenish their ageing engine room.
Geelong skipper Selwood, who has attended more centre bounce than any other player in the league since he was drafted in 2006, will turn 31 next season.
The Cats are hoping South Australian Hately will slide past Adelaide (pick No. 8), Greater Western Sydney (picks No. 9 and No. 11) and the Power (No. 10) in the first round of the draft.