The race to be the number one pick in this year’s National Draft is wide open according to AFL Academy Coach Brenton Sanderson.
The former Adelaide Coach will join Collingwood next week as an Assistant Coach but he’s spent the year guiding the country’s best young footballing talent.
Sanderson told the AFL’s Road to the Draft podcast he’s finding it difficult to split the top five prospects.
“Jack Bowes – Gold Coast Suns Academy, I think is worthy of that pick,” he said.
“Sam Petrevski-Seton from Claremont in WA, he’s got class, brilliance, speed. He didn’t have his best season, he had some injury setbacks with his hamstring this year but I think he could potentially go number one.
“You have to love the season of Andrew McGrath – the young man from Sandringham, Captain of Brighton Grammar. He’s brilliant and he’ll be an AFL Club Captain one day.
“Will Brodie is right around that mix – 188 centimetres, tough, courageous, clearance king – think Patrick Cripps the way that he plays from Carlton.
“And also Hugh McCluggage who was the best player in the TAC Cup this year. He’s just come out of the clouds after injury setbacks last year.
“They’re all midfielders although Andy McGrath can play across half back and has done that very well.
“This is a strong draft pool around the pick one and midfielders.”
Clubs will be able to gain a further insight into this year’s talent pool throughout the Draft Combine.
From Thursday, 80 young prospects will be put through four days of testing and interviews.
