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Chris Doerre 6y

AFL Draft Wrap: The best father-son, academy prospects

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Each week, ESPN.com.au AFL draft expert Chris Doerre casts his eye over the country's best junior footballers to give readers an early insight into the next generation of AFL stars.

As well as attending live games, Doerre pores through match vision, analyses the stats and talks to industry sources to ensure he can offer the most insightful draft analysis.

Aside from the weekly wraps, Doerre will also unveil his power rankings at the end of each month and as we get closer to November's national draft, Doerre will also predict who goes where with his annual phantom draft.

One of the key features in this year's AFL draft is the number of draft relevant players connected to AFL clubs as father-son or academy selections.

Given how much football there is still to be played, there may be some father-son and academy prospects not on this list who improve over the second half of the season and get drafted. At this point, the players listed below are those either expected to get drafted or players who have done enough to spike some interest in recruiting circles.

Father-son

Brisbane

Named in Murray's bests in three of their first four games, Jake Bradshaw (son of Daniel) has had some promising moments. Bradshaw, a 187cm a midfielder, is a damaging ball user and gets it moving forward quickly. He is a possible late or rookie selection.

Kicking eight goals through the first four rounds for Sandringham, James Rendell (son of Matt) has shown glimpses as a 198cm relieving ruckman who plays predominantly forward. Rendell is another who Brisbane may consider as a late or rookie selection.

Named in Sturt's bests in four of their first six matches in the SANFL Under-18s, Casey Voss (son of Michael) has been effective through the midfield. He has not dropped below 20 disposals over the past four weeks and is a quickly improving player who may be a late or rookie consideration.

Carlton

Averaging 24 disposals through the first four rounds as a midfielder in the WAFL colts for Subiaco, Will Hickmott (son of Adrian) is viewed as a potential late or rookie draft chance.

Providing a marking presence up forward for Oakleigh, Ben Silvagni (son of Stephen) has averaged almost seven marks over his past five games. At 194cm, Silvagni is a genuine key forward. He is firmly in the mix to be selected in the second half of the draft.

Essendon

Looking and playing just like his father as a lanky 199cm key defender, Mason Fletcher (son of Dustin) is arguably the best long kick in this draft. Fletcher looms as a likely mid to late draft choice.

Geelong

Hard running midfielder with clean skills, Oscar Brownless (son of Bill) is averaging 25 disposals over his past three games for Geelong in the TAC Cup. The 186cm midfielder looks like a probable national draft selection and is likely to feature in the second half of the draft.

Averaging 34.5 disposals and 18 contested possessions over the past two weeks for Geelong in the TAC Cup, Baxter Mensch (son of David) is firmly in the draft mix. As a 178cm midfielder who has little impact per possession, Mensch more likely is a late or rookie pick rather than an early choice.

Likely to feature inside the first half of the draft as a skilful utility, Bailey Scott (son of Robert) is also eligible for North Melbourne as a father-son choice and Gold Coast as an academy selection.

North Melbourne

Strong marking 188cm utility Joel Crocker (son of Darren) possesses clean skills and showed promising signs late in 2017. Crocker is a mid to late draft chance.

Likely to feature inside the first half of the draft as a skilful utility, Bailey Scott (son of Robert) is also eligible for Geelong as a father-son choice and Gold Coast as an academy selection.

Western Bulldogs

Ball winning midfielder Rhylee West (son of Scott) is likely to feature inside the first half of the draft. The powerfully 180cm midfielder is averaging 21 disposals and elevated his draft stocks with 17 disposals against North Melbourne's VFL side.

Next Generation Academy

Carlton

Powerful marking forward Sunny Brazier has taken six contested marks in his past two games for Northern in the TAC Cup. The 190cm forward looms as a possible late or rookie chance.

Collingwood

Oakleigh forward pressure specialist Atu Bosenavulagi is in the mix to feature late draft or as a rookie.

Strongly built defender Isaac Quaynor bares similarities to Heritier Lumumba as a disciplined, strong, straight-line running, long kicking defender. Quaynor is likely to feature mid to late draft.

Essendon

Breaking the lines as a defender and applying heavy forward pressure when used in the front half, Jake Firebrace is an exciting player who will receive consideration as a rookie.

Fremantle

Linebreaking midfielder Jason Carter is averaging 16.5 disposals over his four WAFL colts games for Peel. Carter is likely to feature mid to late draft.

Ball-winning midfielder Thomas Medhat is averaging 23 disposals and one goal per game in WAFL colts for West Perth. The 191cm midfielder is a likely mid to late draft choice.

Geelong

Mobile, relieving ruckman Blake Schlensog has kicked eight goals in his past three games for Geelong. He is in the mix to feature late or as a rookie.

Hawthorn

Talented overager Tyrone Hayes possesses speed, evasiveness and clean skills. Hayes has the talent to feature late draft or as a rookie.

Exciting ground level forward Irving Mosquito is dangerous every time he is near the ball and has built a reputation for applying heavy forward pressure. Mosquito looms as a possible Paul Puopolo successor and may feature late draft.

North Melbourne

A versatile speedster who breaks the lines, Tarryn Thomas is a genuine potential top 10 selection. At the weekend against Sydney's academy, he gathered 28 disposals, 20 contested possessions and kicked two goals for Tasmania.

Port Adelaide

Likely mid to late draft choice Kai Pudney is a hard-running midfielder who has spent the past three weeks playing SANFL reserves after a strong start in the Under-18s.

Richmond

Named in the bests for Murray in four of his first five matches, Ajak Dang, a 191cm defender possesses role player potential. Dang is a possible late or rookie choice.

Fast, clean at ground level and a strong tackler, Phillip Solomon looms as another late draft or rookie chance.

West Coast

Brother of Brisbane's Charlie, Jarrod Cameron, like his brother is a speedy, forward pressure specialist. Cameron is a chance to feature mid to late draft.

Western Bulldogs

One of the premier pressuring forwards in the TAC Cup, Joshua Chatfield, is averaging over five tackles over his first four games. He also provides a reliable marking target and is a damaging ball user. He is a possible late or rookie pick.

Athletic defender Buku Khamis takes on the game with his run and possesses clean skills. Khamis is a late or rookie choice.

Among Greater Western Victoria's best players in two of his first three games, Lachlan Dawson is a possible late or rookie choice as a midfielder.

Northern Academy

Brisbane

With strong marking ability, Connor McFadyen, a 190cm midfielder, can push forward and kick a goal. McFadyen is a likely late or rookie choice.

Gold Coast

Caleb Graham is a 194cm key position player who is a reliable intercept mark and a capable goal kicker. He converted six goals against Northern Territory in the AFL Academy Series. Graham looms as a possible late or rookie choice.

Athletic 194cm key defender Dirk Koenen is a possible late or rookie choice as a strong marking defender.

Eligible for not only Gold Coast as an academy selection, Bailey Scott (son of Robert) is likely to feature inside the first half of the draft as a skilful utility. Scott is also eligible for North Melbourne and Geelong as a father-son choice.

Greater Western Sydney

Strong marking 187cm forward Mathew Walker has kicked four goals from his two TAC Cup games and has been touted as a future midfielder. He looms as a late or possible rookie choice.

Sydney

Despite being eligible as a father-son selection for Brisbane and North Melbourne, Nick Blakey (son of John) has announced that he intends to join Sydney through their academy. Blakey is building top-10 draft credentials after kicking 12 goals during his first two games of the AFL Academy series. Assuming Sydney match bids for Blakey on draft night, expect him to be developed into the club's next generation key forward.

Impressive endurance athlete Connor Flanagan can win the ball and provide rebound from defence. A possible late or rookie selection.

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