A high-impact midfielder-forward from the Calder Cannons and a South Barwon speedster are shaping as two of this year’s big AFL draft bolters.
Jackson Watkins and Zach Stevens have attracted significant interest from AFL clubs in recent months, which saw them receive late call-ups to attend this week’s Victorian state draft combine.
Watkins was overlooked for Vic Metro’s under-18 national championships squad earlier in the year but is understood to have met with at least seven clubs after finishing the Talent League season strongly.
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A 186cm front-half weapon who has improved his running, Watkins logged 23 disposals (17 contested), three clearances, 12 score involvements and kicked three goals in one eye-catching Wildcard Round match in late August.
“He’s a good size, he hits the scoreboard and he is very creative with his hands and how he uses the footy,” Calder Cannons talent manager Sebastian Spagnuolo said of Watkins.
“He doesn’t panic either, which is really good, and he’s got such penetration in his kicking which makes him so damaging.”
Stevens burst onto the draft radar with some big displays in the Geelong Football League and at VFL for Geelong.
The 19-year-old played in two losing grand finals in the space of five days last week with the Cats and South Barwon, who are coached by former Melbourne leader Mark Neeld.
Stevens did not come through the elite talent pathway as a junior but a bumper under-18 season for South Barwon – capped with a best-on-ground display at GMHBA Stadium in their grand final win – earned him a pre-season trial with Geelong VFL.
The lightning-quick forward has attracted interest from several AFL clubs and is striving to follow in Tom Stewart’s footsteps as another Barwon mature-age recruit.
“He’s incredible. We watched him in the under-18s grand final last year, and he had an awesome day, best on ground,” South Barwon captain Matt Caldow said.
“You never quite know how it’ll translate to senior footy. But ‘Stevo’ has just taken it all in his stride, and seems to get better and better every week. I hope it all goes well for him because he’s got all the attributes.”
East Perth defender Jake Soutar is another mature-age prospect whose name has been on the lips of recruiters.
A 190cm interceptor with elite aerial abilities and a nice kick, the 20-year-old’s stocks rose across the second half of the year.
At the top end of the draft order, Claremont midfielder Heath Mellody has jumped into top-five calculations on the back of his silky second half of the season.