Over the past decade, AFL clubs have struck gold at the draft by recruiting mature-age prospects from state leagues.

The introduction of the pre-season supplemental period and, most notably, the mid-season draft has taken away a few options for AFL clubs for the upcoming national and rookie drafts. But that doesn’t mean the talent pool is thin and the opportunities for players are dry.

Foxfooty.com.au profiles 18 players from the VFL, SANFL, WAFL and NEAFL that could be bargain pick-ups at the drafts later this month.

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Finals Week 1

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Jake Riccardi (Werribee – VFL)

Age: 20

Position: Key forward (195cm, 92kg)

2019 Champion Data scout profile: 11.1 disposals (above average), 5 marks (above average), 2.5 F50 marks (elite), 5.5 score involvements (elite), 1.9 goals (above average)

Riccardi this season won the Fothergill-Round-Mitchell Medal as the best young player in the VFL – and he’s every chance to become the 14th consecutive winner to be drafted by an AFL club. With 38 goals from 20 VFL games for the Tigers – including a bag of six against Coburg – Riccardi has the size, work ethic and marking ability to make an immediate impact at AFL level.

Luke Partington (Glenelg – SANFL)

Age: 22

Position: Midfielder (181cm, 79kg)

2019 Champion Data scout profile: 29.3 disposals (elite), 18.2 uncontested possessions (elite), 4.8 clearances (above average), 8.3 score involvements (elite), 5.6 tackles (above average)

He was a ball magnet at Under 18 level then in the WAFL (while he was on the Eagles’ list) – and in his first season out of the AFL system, Partington made a devastating impact. He won the Margarey Medal as the SANFL’s best player and played a major role in helping Glenelg break a 33-year SANFL premiership drought. He also tested strongly at the SA state combine, breaking the three-second barrier for the 20m sprint and placing third in the Yo-Yo test (21.2). The gun on-baller is determined for another chance at AFL level – despite a bizarre appearance at a local wrestling event.

Ben Sokol (Subiaco – WAFL)

Age: 24

Position: Key forward (186cm, 85kg)

2019 Champion Data scout profile: 14.6 disposals (above average), 8.3 marks (elite), 2.3 contested marks (elite), 7.5 score involvements (elite), 3 goals (elite)

Need a goalkicker? This is your man – the WAFL’s leading goalkicker for 2019 with 51 majors. Sokol had a ridiculous finish to his 2019 WAFL campaign, booting 32 goals from his last six games – including six in Subiaco’s grand final triumph, winning the Simpson medal for best on ground. Sokol, though, isn’t the fittest prospect of the aspiring draftees highlighted by his 20m sprint (3.30) and running vertical jump (70cm). But boy can he find the goals – and after attracting interest from Essendon and Melbourne for the mid-season draft, he’s in the mix again.

Angus Baker (Canberra – NEAFL)

Age: 21

Position: General defender (191cm, 87kg)

2019 Champion Data scout profile: 30.6 disposals (elite), 17.9 uncontested possessions (elite), 7.2 marks (elite), 9.9 intercept possessions (elite), 5 score involvements (elite)

Those numbers for a halfback are sensational. The Giants were among several clubs keeping an eye on Baker mid-season – and that interest hasn’t dwindled as the year has progressed. A Sydney Swans academy product, Baker suffered a fractured ankle then an ACL, derailing his AFL dream. But over the past two seasons, Baker has developed into one of the NEAFL’s best players at Canberra. He won the league’s rising star award and the Demons’ best and fairest count, while he finished second in NEAFL MVP voting. An excellent interceptor and rebounder blessed with freakish consistency, Baker seems destined to get an AFL gig.

West Adelaide footballer Elliot Dunkin ahead of the AFL draft. Picture: Morgan Sette Source: News Corp Australia

Elliot Dunkin (West Adelaide – SANFL)

Age: 21

Position: General defender (179cm, 68kg)

2019 Champion Data scout profile: 19.6 disposals (above average), 12.2 uncontested possessions (above average), 4.7 intercept possessions (average), 1.9 spoils (above average), 3.3 tackles (above average)

If it wasn’t for some confusion around the nominating process for the mid-season draft, Dunkin might’ve already been on an AFL list. Still, the defender had a breakout 2019 campaign and led to multiple clubs making contact with him after the season. A quick and intelligent rebounding defender, Dunkin recorded a kicking efficiency of 75.6 per cent this season.

Mitch Hibberd (Williamstown – VFL)

Age: 23

Position: Midfielder (191cm, 90kg)

2019 Champion Data scout profile: 24.3 disposals (above average), 12.4 contested possessions (elite), 10.1 groundball-gets (elite), 5.2 score involvements (elite), 6.9 tackles (elite)

After being delisted by North Melbourne 12 months ago, Hibberd produced an outstanding VFL campaign in 2019. He moved into a more permanent midfield role and thrived, with his inside work a true highlight. Veteran Seagulls coach Andy Collins recently told Leader Newspapers that Hibberd was “one of the most, if not the most, professional kid I’ve coached”.

Frank Anderson (Northern Blues – VFL)

Age: 22

Position: Midfielder (186cm, 83kg)

2019 Champion Data scout profile: 19.8 disposals (average), 8.5 contested possessions (average), 4.3 clearances (average), 4.3 score involvements (above average), 5.4 tackles (above average)

From a gun Eastern Football League prospect to an AFL draft prospect – it’s been a rapid 12-month rise for Anderson, who continued to develop in VFL this season. While his numbers aren’t eye-catching, Anderson is a well-balanced midfielder that’s hard at the contest yet also able to find space.

Frank Anderson impressed for the Northern Blues in the VFL. Picture: Mike Owen Source: Getty Images

Chad Pearson (South Fremantle – WAFL)

Age: 21

Position: Key defender (193cm, 89kg)

2019 Champion Data scout profile: 18.1 disposals (elite), 9.7 uncontested possessions (above average), 77.3 kicking efficiency (above average), 4.2 intercept possessions (below average), 2.7 score involvements (above average)

A beautiful kick and consistent performer for South Fremantle over the past two seasons, Pearson is an intriguing prospect for a club seeking a third tall defender. At 193cm, Pearson has the size to play on almost any forward. But he’s just as damaging with ball in hand, as he not only wins a lot of it but uses it well. The West Australian reported that Fremantle had shown some interest in drafting Pearson.

Sam Lowson (Coburg – VFL)

Age: 24

Position: General forward (182cm, 84kg)

2019 Champion Data scout profile: 10 disposals (average), 1.5 F50 groundball-gets (above average), 5.1 score involvements (above average), 1.6 goals (elite), 3.7 tackles (above average)

An ill-timed ankle injury just days before the 2019 mid-season draft ruined Lowson’s hopes of joining an AFL club after he kicked 13 goals from his first four VFL games. The good thing was he managed to return for the final four games to build some confidence and recapture some of the form that put him on AFL club radars. An explosive, powerful small forward with elite pressure and excellent goal sense, Lowson still holds hope he could get picked up later this month.

Cole Gerloff (Norwood – SANFL)

Age: 20

Position: Midfielder (185cm, 82kg)

2019 Champion Data scout profile: 19.1 disposals (average), 8.2 contested possessions (average), 64.6 kicking efficiency (above average), 1.1 goals (elite), 5.9 tackles (above average)

Overlooked at the draft a few years ago, Gerloff’s first full SANFL league season was a major hit, winning the competition’s equivalent of the rising star award. For a midfielder, Gerloff’s tackling and marking ability would appeal to AFL clubs, as would his willingness to push forward and hit the scoreboard with 21 goals from 19 games.

Norwood’s Cole Gerloff was the SANFL’s best young player in 2019. Picture: Matt Loxton Source: News Corp Australia

Jackson Ramsay (East Perth – WAFL)

Age: 24

Position: Midfielder (184cm, 83kg)

2019 Champion Data scout profile: 30.2 disposals (elite), 17 uncontested possessions (elite), 5.2 marks (elite), 5.8 clearances (above average), 6.1 score involvements (elite)

A familiar name for Collingwood fans as Ramsay spent five years at the Pies, mainly as a defender. But this WAFL season for East Perth, Ramsay thrived as a full-time midfielder and consistently racked up a ridiculous numbers, three 38-plus disposal hauls across a five-week patch. As much as it’d love to retain him, East Perth is reportedly preparing to lose Ramsay to an AFL club.

Jordan Foote (Woodville-West Torrens – SANFL)

Age: 23

Position: Midfielder (184cm, 81kg)

2019 Champion Data scout profile: 24.8 disposals (above average), 10.6 contested possessions (above average), 4.5 clearances (above average), 6.3 score involvements (elite), 6.2 tackles (elite)

Foote was axed by the Swans after an injury-plagued 2018 campaign but slotted into the Eagles’ league line-up with aplomb. He took out the club’s best and fairest award after a super consistent season, accumulating 20-plus disposals in 16 of his 18 games. While Foote is a consistent ball-winner, his ability to drive the ball forward, as well as bring teammates into the game and put them in scoring positions, has caught the eye of AFL clubs.

Lochie Dickson (Coburg – VFL)

Age: 25

Position: General forward (190cm, 87kg)

2019 Champion Data scout profile: 22.5 disposals (above average), 13.4 uncontested possessions (elite), 3.7 clearances (average), 4.1 score involvements (above average), 3.5 tackles (below average)

A winner of Coburg’s past two best and fairest counts, Dickson was in the mid-season draft frame before being overlooked. Dickson spent time all around the ground this season, but was renowned for winning ample outside ball and giving Coburg great drive, winning 30-plus disposals three times. His kicking, though, for an outside player needs some work.

Jye Bolton has been one of the WAFL’s best players over recent years. Picture: Paul Kane Source: Getty Images

Jye Bolton (Subiaco – WAFL)

Age: 27

Position: Midfielder (187cm, 84kg)

2019 Champion Data scout profile: 29.6 disposals (elite), 15.1 contested possessions (elite), 61.9 disposal efficiency (below average), 8.4 clearances (elite), 5 score involvements (above average)

A perennial member of these lists – which probably means Bolton might be running out of time. The former Collingwood rookie has been one of Western Australia’s best and most consistent players over the past four seasons, which has seen him claim two Sandover Medals. Bolton had some monster games in 2019, including a two-goal, 46-disposal effort against Swan Districts in Round 20 before a 40-disposal effort against West Coast in the finals. The fact Marlion Pickett was drafted at the age of 27 should give Bolton some hope of an AFL lifeline.

Haiden Schloithe (South Fremantle – WAFL)

Age: 26

Position: Midfielder (184cm, 88kg)

2019 Champion Data scout profile: 24 disposals (above average), 10.4 contested possessions (above average), 6 clearances (above average), 6.3 score involvements (elite), 1.1 goals (elite)

Is this the year a club finally gives Schloithe a second chance? He watched a former teammate Marlion Pickett win a premiership medallion in September then another ex-teammate Tim Kelly – the man who finished second to Schloithe in the 2017 Sandover Medal count – be traded from Geelong to West Coast weeks later after a stunning AFL season. A former Fremantle rookie, Schloithe has consistently been one of the WAFL’s best players over the past three seasons as a goalkicking-midfielder. He finished fifth in the Sandover Medal count this season, primarily thanks to a mid-season purple patch that saw him have five games of 30-plus disposals.

Mitch McCarthy (Frankston)

Age: 22

Position: Ruck (196cm, 95kg)

2019 Champion Data scout profile: 14 disposals (above average), 4.1 marks (above average), 23.3 hit-outs (average), 6.8 hit-outs-to-advantage (above average), 3.6 clearances (above average)

AFL clubs have shown interest in McCarthy, who spent the 2017 season on Collingwood’s rookie list. A former basketballer, McCarthy had an excellent back-end to his 2019 campaign with the Dolphins and showed significant development. He’s signed with Port Melbourne for 2020, but remains on AFL club radars ahead of the draft.

Marcus Lentini has been a ball magnet for Coburg in the VFL. Picture: David Smith Source: News Corp Australia

Marcus Lentini (Coburg – VFL)

Age: 20

Position: Midfielder (184cm, 79kg)

2019 Champion Data scout profile: 30.1 disposals (elite), 15.4 contested possessions (elite), 48% kicking efficiency (below average), 8 clearances (elite), 4.4 score involvements (above average)

Numerically, it’s so hard to ignore Lentini, who can find the ball in heavy fog with a blindfold on. He’s been the VFL’s top ball-winner for the past two straight seasons, racking up 40-plus possessions twice this season. However, by his own admission, Lentini needs to improve his ball use, highlighted by his below average kicking efficiency.

Matthew Hammelmann (Redland — NEAFL)

Age: 23

Position: Key forward (197cm, 96kg)

2019 Champion Data scout profile: 12.8 disposals (average), 8.1 marks (above average), 2 contested marks (elite), 8.6 score involvements (elite), 3.7 goals (elite)

Following three seasons on the Brisbane Lions’ rookie list, Hammelmann has been a genuine star in the NEAFL with insane goalkicking numbers. From his 36 games for Redland, Hammelmann has booted a whopping 126 goals and, remarkably, been held goalless just once, even though his side has won just four of those matches. The mature-age prospect is a strong mark above his head and may get another opportunity at AFL level.

Other players to consider

Joel Ottavi (Williamstown – VFL)

James Rower (Woodville-West Torrens – SANFL)

Lachlan Delahunty (Subiaco – WAFL)