AFL Draft: Champion Data reveal their top 30 for the 2018 draft

Mick Stirling

AFL Draft: Champion Data reveal their top 30 for the 2018 draft image

​With the NAB AFL National Draft just a week away Champion Data has ranked the top 30 juniors from their 2018 seasons.

Last year’s figures had Jack Higgins as the number-one ranked player, and while he didn’t finish up being drafted until pick 17 by Richmond, the livewire forward/midfielder showed he could yet have claims on being the best from the draft.

The eventual first selection, Cameron Rayner, was ranked two with Rising Star winner Jaidyn Stephenson rounding out the top three.

MORE: Jack Watts the turning point in pick-one hysteria

It’s hard to see any of Champion Data’s top-ranked nominees in 2018 slipping down the order as far as Higgins did, but there are a few surprises.

South Australian Izak Rankine is considered a special talent, but sits just off the top spot according to many judges, yet Champion Data has him at number one.

Probably the biggest disparity with the best-considered judges of juniors is Tasmanian midfielder Chayce Jones. The folk at CD have him sitting in eighth spot compared to 22nd in the mind of AFL.com.au draft guru Cal Twomey, and 18th as considered by ESPN’s Chris Doerre.

Here is Champion Data’s full 2018 AFL National Draft top 30.

1. IZAK RANKINE

Clubs: West Adelaide/South Australia
Position: Forward/Midfield
Size: 179cm, 79kg

Champion Data says: Rankine was the No. 1 rated player at both the 2017 and 2018 Under 18 Championships. In 2018 year he averaged 16 disposals, but led everyone for goals, assists and score involvements.

2. SAM WALSH

Clubs: Geelong Falcons/Vic Country
Position: Midfield
Size: 184cm, 77kg

Sam Walsh

Champion Data says: Walsh is one of the most reliable ball winners we have ever seen a as junior. Across 41 matches covered by Champion Data he averaged 28 disposals per match. He won 23+ disposals in all of his 25 TAC Cup matches as both an under-age and top-age player.

3. BAILEY SMITH

Clubs: Sandringham Dragons/Vic Metro
Position: Midfield
Size: 185cm, 83kg

Champion Data says: He was Vic Metro’s MVP at the Championships and won the second-most disposals of any player behind Sam Walsh. He also ranked in the top five for contested possessions, clearances and pressure points.

4. JACK LUKOSIUS

Clubs: Woodville-West Torrens/South Australia
Position: Key Forward
Size: 195cm, 83kg

#Jack Lukosius

Champion Data says: Lukosius’ ability to find uncontested marks is his greatest strength. He took 7.8 marks per match at the 2018 NAB AFL Under 18 Championships, the most against Division 1 teams since Jonathon Patton in 2011.

5. MAX KING

Clubs: Sandringham Dragons/Vic Metro
Position: Key Forward
Size: 204cm, 90kg

Champion Data says: King injured his ACL after producing possibly the best TAC Cup match of the season in Round 1. He had 19 disposals, nine marks, six contested marks and eight goals from 15 shots at goal.

6. NICK BLAKEY

Clubs: Sydney Academy/Allies
Position: Forward
Size: 195cm, 82kg

#Nick Blakey

Champion Data says: In the NAB AFL Academy Series he was the second-highest ranked player averaging 18 disposals and 4.5 goals per match. Across 15 matches covered by Champion Data he has never won more than 23 disposals or four clearances in a match.

7. CONNOR ROZEE

Clubs: North Adelaide/South Australia
Position: Midfielder/Forward
Size: 185cm, 74kg

Champion Data says: Rozee averaged 157 ranking points at the 2016 Under 16 Championships and 104 ranking points as an underage player at the 2017 Under 18 Championships. Playing more as a forward though at the 2018 Championships he averaged just 74 ranking points. Late in the season he found form playing as an intercepting defender in the SANFL.

8. CHAYCE JONES

Clubs: Launceston/Allies
Position: Midfield
Size: 180cm, 77kg

Chayce Jones

Champion Data says: Jones has all the attributes of a player who can succeed in the mid-forward role in the AFL. He was a standout for the Allies at the Under 18 Championships, averaging 21 disposals and ranking in the top five players for metres gained, pressure acts and score involvements.

9. BEN KING

Clubs: Sandringham Dragons/Vic Metro
Position: Key Defender/Key Forward
Size: 202cm, 87kg

Champion Data says: In 2017 as a defender he averaged an impressive seven intercept possessions and three intercept marks per match. In 2018 he moved forward and was the No. 2 ranked key forward in the TAC Cup, leading the league for contested marks per match.

10. LUKE VALENTE

Clubs: Norwood/South Australia
Position: Midfield
Size: 187cm, 82kg

Luke Valente

Champion Data says: As South Australia’s captain at the 2018 NAB AFL Under 18 Championships, Valente led his team to the title averaging 22 disposals per match and was the only midfielder to rate elite for both intercept possessions and score involvements.

11. JORDAN CLARK

Clubs: Claremont/Western Australia
Position: Half Back
Size: 185cm, 81kg

Champion Data says: Clark’s draft stocks progressively rose as the season progressed. In his final five matches, he was playing in the WAFL averaging 15 disposals, seven intercept possessions and kicking at 70 per cent efficiency

12. TARRYN THOMAS

Clubs: North Melbourne next generation academy/Allies
Position: Forward/Midfield
Size: 188cm, 82kg

#Tarryn Thomas

Champion Data says: Thomas was the No. 1 ranked player at the NAB AFL Academy series, averaging 168 ranking points, 22 disposals and 2.4 goals per match. With a big frame, he won 57% of his possessions from a contest from his 30 matches covered by Champion Data.

13. JACKSON HATELY

Clubs: Central District/South Australia
Position: Midfield
Size: 189cm, 80kg

Champion Data says: Hately had the most impact on matches of any South Australian junior playing in the SANFL last year. He averaged 18 disposals and 91 ranking points per match. At the Championships he thrived at stoppages rating elite for both clearances and tackles.

14. XAVIER DUURSMA

Clubs: Gippsland Power/Vic Country
Position: Half Back/Midfield
Size: 186cm, 73kg

Champion Data says: Duursma barely stepped a foot wrong in the TAC Cup, contributing for Gippsland all over the field. He was the fourth-highest rated player in the TAC Cup winning 23 disposals per match and was the only midfielder to rate elite for intercept possessions, score involvements and goals.

15. JYE CALDWELL

Clubs: Bendigo Pioneers/Vic Country
Position: Midfielder
Size: 184cm, 82kg

Jye Caldwell

Champion Data says: Caldwell showed glimpses of what he can provide in his two full TAC Cup matches this year, averaging 22 disposals, four clearances and five tackles per match. Back at the 2016 Under 16 Championships he averaged 27 disposals and six clearances per match.

16. SAM STURT

Clubs: Dandenong Stingrays
Position: Forward
Size: 189cm, 74kg

Champion Data says: Sturt played the final six matches of the TAC Cup season, booting 11 goals and averaging 100 ranking points. Among General Forwards in the TAC Cup he ranked No. 1 for marks inside 50, groundball-gets inside 50, score involvements and score assists.

17. XAVIER O’HALLORAN

Clubs: Western Jets/Vic Metro
Position: Midfield
Size: 186cm, 84kg

Champion Data says: O’Halloran placed third on the AFL Ratings at the Championships from just 13 disposals per match. He rated elite for both goals and assists and gained 24 metres per disposal. He had seven kicks inside 50 marked, with no other player above four.

18. ZAK BUTTERS

Clubs: Western Jets/Vic Metro
Position: Midfield
Size: 181cm, 71kg

Champion Data says: Butters had one the highest impact per disposal of any midfielder in the TAC Cup in 2018. He averaged just 20 disposals but was one of just two midfielders to rate elite for both score involvements and intercept possessions.

19. ISAAC QUAYNOR

Clubs: Oakleigh Chargers/Vic Metro
Position: Half Back
Size: 180cm, 83kg

Isaac Quaynor.

Champion Data says: At the 2018 Championships Quaynor averaged 419 metres gained per match, ranked second in the competition. He can still win his own ball, rating elite in both the TAC Cup and at Championships for contested possessions.

20. RHYLEE WEST

Clubs: Calder Cannons/Vic Metro
Position: Midfield
Size: 181cm, 82kg

Champion Data says: Scott West averaged more than 25 disposals across his career but Rhylee won more than 25 disposals in just four of his 21 matches covered by Champion Data. As a midfielder he rated elite for inside 50s and goals in the TAC Cup, while laying 5.8 tackles per match.

21. ELY SMITH

Clubs: Murray Bushrangers/Vic Country
Position: Midfield
Size: 188cm, 87kg

Champion Data says: Smith was only selected in one game at the NAB AFL Under 18 Championships but left as the only player to win more disposals than Sam Walsh in a match. In that game he won 30 disposals, 18 contested possessions, nine clearances and laid five tackles.

22. BAILEY SCOTT

Clubs: Broadbeach/Allies
Position: Midfielder
Size: 186cm, 73kg

Champion Data says: Scott showed balance as both an inside and outside player at the NAB AFL Under 18 Championships ranking in the top 10 players for uncontested possessions, clearances and goals. He displayed a similar balance at the NAB AFL Academy Series for Gold Coast, ranking in the top five players for uncontested possessions and clearances.

23. IAN HILL

Clubs: Perth/Western Australia
Position: Forward/Midfield
Size: 175cm, 65kg

Ian Hill

Champion Data says: At WAFL Colts level Hill averaged 20 disposals and 1.7 goals per match, but struggled with the step up to Reserves level, dropping back to just 11 disposals and 0 goals from three matches.

24. EDWARD (NED) MCHENRY

Clubs: Geelong Falcons/Vic Country
Position: Midfielder/Forward
Size: 178cm, 71kg

Champion Data says: McHenry was the No. 1 tackler at the NAB AFL Under 18 Championships, applying five more than any other player. In the TAC Cup he averaged the seventh-most ranking points of anyone to play five matches, with the highest kicking efficiency of anyone to average 21 disposals.

25. BAILEY WILLIAMS

Clubs: Dandenong Stingray/Vic Country
Position: Ruck/Forward
Size: 199cm, 95kg

Champion Data says: Williams’ consistency for a tall player was remarkable at TAC Cup level, winning 80+ ranking points in all but one of his 14 games and kicking a goal in all but three matches despite spending time in the ruck.

26. LIAM STOCKER

Clubs: Sandringham Dragons
Position: Midfield
Size: 183cm, 85kg

Champion Data says: Stocker averaged just 18 disposals, 10 contested possessions and four clearances through his first six matches, but upon returning from injury he averaged 25 disposals, 14 contested possessions and six clearances from his final nine games. Across the entire season he ranked in the top five players for both contested possessions and clearances.

27. JEZ MCLENNAN

Clubs: Central District/South Australia
Position: Half back
Size: 185cm, 81kg

Jez McLennan

Champion Data says: McLennan stood out as the best intercepting half-back in the 2018 draft class. At the 2018 NAB AFL Under 18 Championships he took the most intercept marks of any general defender and ranked second in the SANFL Reserves amongst anyone to play more than five matches.

28. CURTIS TAYLOR

Clubs: Calder Cannons/Vic Metro
Position: Forward
Size: 187cm, 78kg

Champion Data says: Taylor split his between the midfield and forward in the TAC Cup, but his numbers barely rose from his 2017 campaign to his 2018 season. His disposals jumped by just 1.3, contested possessions by 1.6, his goals by just 0.2 and his tackles per game fell.

29. LUKE FOLEY

Clubs: Subiaco/Western Australia
Position: Midfield
Size: 188cm, 74kg

Champion Data says: Foley was the most consistent performer in the WAFL Colts. He averaged 25 disposals and one goal per match, while rating elite for score involvements and tackles. He was Western Australia’s top-rated player at the Under 18 Championships.

30. RILEY COLLIER-DAWKINS

Clubs: Oakleigh Chargers/Vic Metro
Position: Midfielder
Size: 190cm, 91kg

Riley Collier-Dawkins

Champion Data says: Collier-Dawkins isn’t a big ball winner averaging just 18 disposals in the TAC Cup and 12 disposals at the 2018 NAB AFL Under 18 Championships. He won 49% of his possessions as a junior from a contest, but never excelled at stoppages, winning more than five clearances in just one of his 30 matches covered by Champion Data.

Mick Stirling