AFL Teams

Which draftee from your club will have an instant impact?

While hopes are high for every draftee, who are the names that are set to hit the ground running?

Published by
Jack Jovanovski

For fans of struggling sides, the AFL Draft is as close to Christmas as possible.

Fresh faces act as shiny, new toys, with goodwill and cheer also available in abundance.

While every club has hit the track for their pre-Christmas training period and each of the new boys have filled their lockers with brand new gear, sights have turned to which of this year's draft class has the ability to make an early impact in 2022.

Although plenty of players plucked will need big summers in the gym, there are a handful of precocious talents that already have expectations on their shoulders.

Here are the names that look the most likely to hit the ground running in their debut years.

Adelaide - Josh Rachele

Adelaide's No. 6 overall selection will likely feature early in the season at West Lakes, whether it be through the midfield or in the forward line.

Having drawn comparisons to GWS' Toby Greene in the lead-up to being drafted, the forward-midfield versatility of Rachele will be very valuable to the Crows, and his excitement factor will be near impossible for the selection committee to ignore.

Vic Country player Josh Rachele fronting the media at Trevor Barker Oval, 2021 (Photo: Mitchell Keating - Zero Digital Media)

Brisbane - Kai Lohmann

With Brisbane's first selection Darcy Wilmot behind the likes of veteran Daniel Rich in the pecking order across half-back, Lohmann may be the first of the newest Lions to make an appearance early in 2022.

The Greater Western Victoria product is speedy and evasive and could form a lethal partnership with excitement machine Charlie Cameron in the Lions' forward line.

Carlton - Jesse Motlop

Carlton's lone selection at this year's National Draft, Motlop is poised to step right into the vacant forward-line spot left by Eddie Betts at the end of last season.

Motlop is another who provides an excitement factor, a trait Blues fans will adore considering they've been used to Betts' magic all these years.

PERTH, AUSTRALIA - OCTOBER 02: Jesse Motlop of the Bulldogs in action during the 2021 WAFL Grand Final match between the Subiaco Lions and South Fremantle Bulldogs at Optus Stadium on October 02, 2021 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)

Collingwood - Charlie Dean

Dean, a slightly more mature-aged prospect who played for Williamstown in the VFL, was taken with Pick 2 in the Rookie Draft by the Magpies and has a good chance at featuring for the black-and-white early in 2022.

A key position defender, Dean could help Collingwood right away in case one of Darcy Moore or Jordan Roughead goes down with injury or any declines in form.

Nick Daicos, Collingwood's prized father-son choice, will undoubtedly get his chance but it may not be as early as people expect, and if Dean's services are required he may well be the first cab off the rank.

Essendon - Alastair Lord

Of Essendon's 2021 draftees, Lord is arguably the most likely of the lot to break into Ben Rutten's best-22 early in the season.

It is going to be hard for No. 13 pick Ben Hobbs to break into Essendon's stacked midfield brigade (which includes Zach Merrett, Darcy Parish, Dylan Shiel and Jye Caldwell) in the early going, which leaves Lord, a small rebounding defender who can push into the midfield, as a likely early-season option.

Fremantle - Neil Erasmus

Erasmus, a local talent, was highly sought-after by the Dockers and will likely feature prominently in the early going.

Key forward Jye Amiss may need a bit more time to adjust to AFL level (as most young key forwards do) before he makes his Fremantle debut, while Erasmus is a more ready-made player who, in addition to being a midfielder, can push forward for the Dockers if needed.

PERTH, AUSTRALIA - NOVEMBER 24: Jye Amiss and Neil Erasmus pose with Fremantle coach Justin Longmuir during the NAB AFL Draft at RAC Arena on November 24, 2021 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Will Russell/AFL Photos)

Geelong - Mitchell Knevitt

There is no doubt Geelong will be moving forward with a youth-first focus in mind, but despite this, it would still appear that Rhys Stanley and Esava Ratugolea are shaping to be the starting ruck duo for the Cats; therefore Toby Conway may need to wait a little bit.

As a result, Knevitt is the most likely early impact-maker for Geelong.

Taking into account the Cats' ageing midfield and the departure of Charlie Constable to the Gold Coast Suns, Chris Scott may feel inclined to blood the young Cat early on.

Vic Country player Mitch Knevitt fronting the media at Trevor Barker Oval, 2021 (Photo: Mitchell Keating - Zero Digital Media)

Gold Coast - Charlie Constable

Jarrod Witts is getting older, but he's still the unquestioned first-choice ruckman in Carrara, leaving No. 5 choice Mac Andrew to wait in the wings for an extended period.

Furthermore, with Mabior Chol and Levi Casboult's arrivals in the Suns' forward line alongside Ben King, there isn't a lot of opportunity for Andrew at this very early stage.

As for Constable, he should have an immediate impact on Gold Coast's midfield.

Despite Touk Miller, Matt Rowell, David Swallow and Noah Anderson all poised to occupy midfield minutes, Constable is likely to be a regular best-22 member as he looks to showcase his ball-winning and foot skills either in the trenches or on a wing.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 22: Charlie Constable of the Cats (right) celebrates a goal during the 2019 AFL round 01 match between the Collingwood Magpies and the Geelong Cats at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on March 22, 2019 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos)

Greater Western Sydney - Leek Aleer

Aleer, the No. 15 pick and one of GWS' two first-round choices at last week's draft, played regular senior football for Central Districts in the SANFL this year.

Possessing length and agility, Aleer could eventually help form a formidable Giants back-line trio alongside Nick Haynes and Sam Taylor.

No. 3 selection Finn Callaghan will obviously feature heavily at some point, but breaking into a stacked GWS midfield (which includes the likes of Josh Kelly, Jacob Hopper, Stephen Coniglio, Callan Ward and Tom Green) will be a tough task and may require an injury to one of the former in order for an earlier debut.

ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA - OCTOBER 16: Leek Alleer during the running reach test of the SA NAB Draft Combine at the University of South Australia Mawson Lakes on October 16, 2021 in Adelaide, Australia. (Photo by Mark Brake/AFL Photos)

Hawthorn - Josh Ward

Ward, the No. 7 overall selection, will likely have no troubles breaking into Hawthorn's first-team right from the get-go.

New Hawks senior coach Sam Mitchell has emphasised a youth movement at Waverly Park, and the persistent rumours throughout the trade period about multiple seasoned Hawks on the chopping block reiterated this point.

Ward is a consistent ball-winner and possesses elite durability and has been compared to Zach Merrett.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - APRIL 10: Josh Ward of the Knights kicks during the NAB League Boys match between the Northern Knights and the Sandringham Dragons at Preston City Oval on April 10, 2021 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Cameron Grimes/AFL Photos)

Melbourne - Blake Howes

The Demons are stacked with solid key position players, which is why swingman Jacob Van Rooyen may have to bide his time before getting called up to the seniors.

However, Howes is an athletic option off half-back and could feature early in the 2022 season despite the high degree of difficulty breaking into a premiership-winning side.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - APRIL 10: Blake Howes of the Dragons runs out during the NAB League Boys match between the Northern Knights and the Sandringham Dragons at Preston City Oval on April 10, 2021 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Cameron Grimes/AFL Photos)

North Melbourne - Jason Horne-Francis

The Kangaroos will have no hesitation naming the No. 1 pick in their Round 1 side, with the young South Australian midfielder already showing what he's capable of doing at senior level for the South Adelaide Panthers in the SANFL.

Horne-Francis is an explosive, contested-ball beast who will no doubt feature for the Kangaroos in Round 1.

ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA - NOVEMBER 24: Number one draft pick Jason Horne-Francis goes to North Melbourne
during the NAB AFL Draft at the Cathedral Hotel on November 24, 2021 in Adelaide, Australia. (Photo by James Elsby/AFL Photos)

Port Adelaide - Josh Sinn

Sinn will be competing with the likes of Darcy Byrne-Jones and Riley Bonner for playing time off half-back, but considering Port's dealings to move up the order and secure the Victorian, Port Adelaide is likely to want to blood him early in the season.

Sinn has speed and line-breaking ability and will look to add to an already-fast Port Adelaide side in early 2022.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - APRIL 05: Josh Sinn of the Dragons celebrates a goal during the NAB League Boys match between the Sandringham Dragons and the Oakleigh Chargers at RSEA Park on April 05, 2021 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Cameron Grimes/AFL Photos)

Richmond - Tyler Sonsie

The Tigers got great value when they drafted Sonsie with the No. 28 selection.

The Eastern Ranges midfielder has clean hands, is a good kicker of the football (drawing comparisons to Richmond premiership stalwart Trent Cotchin) and is able to push forward and hit the scoreboard as well.

Richmond drafted five players inside the top 30 picks last week, with defenders Josh Gibcus and Tom Brown just as likely as Sonsie to make an early-season impact.

GEELONG, AUSTRALIA - APRIL 24: Tyler Sonsie of the NAB AFL Academy runs with the ball during the match between the NAB AFL Academy and the Geelong Cats VFL side at GMHBA Stadium on April 24, 2021 in Geelong, Australia. (Photo by Daniel Pockett/AFL Photos/via Getty Images)

St Kilda - Marcus Windhager

Windhager, who has been battling injury over the course of the offseason, is an athletic midfielder who can also push forward and hit the scoreboard.

The Saints will no doubt make great use of Windhager's versatility as he prepares to join a midfield that includes Jack Steele, Brad Crouch and Seb Ross.

Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera, St Kilda's No. 11 selection, will likely need time to develop before making a senior appearance, leaving Windhager and Pick 33 Michito Owens as Brett Ratten's more likely options early in the season.

Sydney - Matthew Roberts

Like his South Adelaide teammate Horne-Francis, Roberts has shown he's a ready-made player and could therefore make an impact straight away for the Swans through the midfield and the forward line.

Roberts is a hard-working midfielder who can also push forward and impact the scoreboard, so the Swans could use him on a wing or push him forward alongside Isaac Heeney and Tom Papley.

PERTH, AUSTRALIA - AUGUST 28: Matthew Roberts of South Australia in action during the NAB AFL U19 Championships game between Western Australia and South Australia at Mineral Resources Park on August 28, 2021 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)

West Coast Eagles - Greg Clark

The 24-year-old Clark is a mature-age recruit, so he'll add even more experience to an Eagles list that has plenty of it.

The big-bodied Subiaco vice-captain was taken by the Eagles with Pick 62 and should be looking to make an instant impact, with midfielder Jack Redden set to have a delayed start to the season after undergoing shoulder surgery.

Western Bulldogs - Luke Cleary

It's hard to see father-son acquisition Sam Darcy making an instant impact for the Bulldogs, as tall forwards generally need time to adjust to AFL level (and we saw Jamarra Ugle-Hagan's slow transition from the Bulldogs' VFL side to their senior side).

Therefore, Luke Cleary may be the most likely out of the Bulldogs' 2021 crop of draftees to make an early impression on Luke Beveridge and the Dogs' selection committee.

The rebounding defender is an efficient kicker and a hard worker and he may be in line for an early-season debut for the Bulldogs if things fall his way.

Published by
Jack Jovanovski