Oakleigh Chargers ball magnet Jagga Smith had no issue getting his hands on the Sherrin this year to remain in the Pick 1 conversation.
Smith entered this year as one of the premiership prospects in his class, having played a key role for Vic Metro and the Oakleigh Chargers in 2023 before a promising performance in the Future Stars game in September that year.
The Richmond junior's draft campaign saw him rack up the ball at every level he featured in, with his Talent League form for the Chargers having Smith end the season with the highest disposal average in the competition at 33.8 touches per game.
Smith also averaged 7.9 clearances, 10.3 ground ball gets and 6.8 score involvements per game for Oakleigh while booting seven goals from his dozen appearances. During that campaign, Smith recorded 24 or more disposals in every game, including three matches of 40 or more - headline by a 50-disposal outing against the Western Jets in Round 9.
Finding the footy was just as easy for Smith at the U18s National Championships against the country's best, going at close to 30 touches per game across his quarter of matches in an undefeated Vic Metro outfit.
Smith's star power and leadership qualities were recognised this year, being named captain of the U18 All-Australian team and the Talent League Team of the Year. He also finished three votes off Morrish Medal winner Xavier Lindsay in the award's count.
Taking another step up late into the year, Smith featured in three games for Richmond's VFL side and flexed his stoppage craft and smarts to go at a mean of 27.3 disposals, 6.3 clearances and 4.7 score involvements per game.
His positioning at stoppages and quick decision-making give Smith the upper hand at the coalface on most occasions, proving to be an electrifying prospect for clubs to consider at the top end of the draft.
Richmond will weigh up a selection for Smith at both Pick 1 and Pick 6, while Carlton, Adelaide and Melbourne are sure to have some level of interest in his services.
The energetic Smith earns comparisons to Port Adelaide ace Zak Butters, with the pair sharing a driving competitiveness that has placed them at the top of their respective competitions.
Position: Midfielder
Height: 182cm
State: Victoria
Club: Richmond
Ball-Winning
Stoppage Craft
Leadership
IQ
Senior Experience
Pick 1-6
Richmond (Picks 1 and 6)
Carlton (Pick 3)
Adelaide (Pick 4)
Melbourne (Pick 5)
"A lively and creative midfielder who is a prolific ball-winner on the inside with elite distribution by hand and foot. He showed the rare ability to step through congested situations and maintain his composure at all levels this year, including at VFL level for Richmond." - Kevin Sheehan