Money talks

Money talksCredit:The Age

North Melbourne continue to explore options to gain access to outstanding Tasmanian midfielder Ryley Sanders,in a move that could wipe one of this year’s best prospects from the draft pool.

Sanders,who is boarding at Melbourne Grammar as part of the school’s First Nations bursary program,is a surefire top-10 selection in an open draft and not yet part of the Kangaroos’ Next Generation Academy.

Tasmanian Ryley Sanders is set to be a top-10 pick in this year’s AFL draft.

Tasmanian Ryley Sanders is set to be a top-10 pick in this year’s AFL draft.Credit:AFL Photos

North have applied for the 18-year-old to be included in their NGA crop,and Sanders received his certificate of Aboriginality about six weeks ago after a lengthy process. The AFL is yet to give approval to the Roos’ NGA request,and did not respond toThe Age’s inquiries.

However,a major complication is that draft rules state clubs are unable to match a bid on an NGA prospect if a player is selected within the first 40 picks,where Sanders is certain to be taken.

One motivation for North to push on with Sanders’ NGA application is if they are given the green light,they could then lobby the league to gain pre-draft access to the 186-centimetre midfielder instead of asking for a priority pick.

The Suns were previously able to select academy prospects without having to match an opposition bid,among a suite of list concessions the league afforded them.

The Kangaroos have lost 14 games in a row and sit in the bottom two,where they have been stuck for four seasons,a period in which they won only 11 of 77 matches.Alastair Clarkson has also not coached since mid-May,to focus on his wellbeing after the prolonged Hawthorn investigation.

The AFL handed North Melbourne two future draft picks last year,which had to be used in a trade and ended up being sent to Fremantle for Griffin Logue –who sadly tore his ACL on the weekend – and let them have two extra rookie-list spots,as part of a special assistance package. Roos list boss Brady Rawlings and recruiting manager Will Thursfield met with Sanders in recent weeks,along with the club’s Indigenous player development manager Robbie Ahmat,who doubles as Melbourne Grammar’s Indigenous program manager.

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North Melbourne used their assistance package to trade for Griffin Logue.

North Melbourne used their assistance package to trade for Griffin Logue.Credit:AFL Photos

The Roos have shown interest in Sanders since he was 15,and he also has a close relationship with North rising star Harry Sheezel,from their time at Sandringham Dragons.

Sanders’ father,Adam,an experienced ex-footballer and coach,including being AFL Tasmania’s state academy coach,has Aboriginal heritage on his mother’s side.

“We’re just proud of the way Ryley’s gone about his last couple of years,” Adam toldMoney Talks.

“It was quite an upheaval to leave Launceston for Melbourne,but he’s had good support,and he’s done the work,so wherever he gets an opportunity,I’m sure he’ll put his best foot forward.

“Every dealing we’ve had with North Melbourne has been really positive. I’ve known Brady since he was a kid,drafted from Devonport. He’s a good fella,and Robbie Ahmat’s been fantastic for Ryley.”

Sanders also represented the Flying Boomerangs – a representative team for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men aged between 14 and 16 years – in 2019,alongside future Bombers Alwyn and Jayden Davey,as well as St Kilda’s Jack Peris and Isaac Keeler.

He averaged 36 disposals,15 contested possessions,five clearances,six inside 50s,four tackles and a goal for the under-18 championships-winning Allies. He is expected to receive the Larke Medal as the best-performed player.

Levi Casboult is out of contract at season’s end but keen to play on.

Levi Casboult is out of contract at season’s end but keen to play on.Credit:Getty Images

Out-of-contract Suns on hold?

Stuart Dew’s sacking as Gold Coast coach is set to leave the club’s out-of-contract players in limbo,with Sam Flanders,Levi Casboult,Malcolm Rosas and Jeremy Sharp among them.

Flanders,the No.11 pick in the 2019 draft,just had the best three-game stretch of his career – averaging 26 disposals,13 contested possessions and five clearances – at a time interested clubs were keen to see how he would fare in his return to the senior side.

Rosas has shown promise while playing 29 games in the past two seasons,while Casboult continues to hold down a key forward post after kicking 35 goals last year. Academy star Jed Walter is set to join the club in November,but Casboult,33,is keen to play on,his agent Anthony McConville,of Mac’s Sports,confirmed.

Sharp has not been sighted at AFL level this season after his potential move to Fremantle last year fell through when the Dockers prioritised Jaeger O’Meara. The 21-year-old amassed a season-high 39 disposals and 16 contested possessions in the VFL at the weekend.

Others without a deal for 2024 include Jed Anderson – who took indefinite leave last month – Connor Blakely,Sandy Brock,Charlie Constable,Sam Day,Oskar Faulkhead,Hewago Paul Oea,Brodie McLaughlin,Jake Stein,James Tsitas and Bodhi Uwland.

Draft boon for Allies

Victorious Allies coach Mark McVeigh hopes at least eight players from his under-18 championships squad will graduate to the AFL – but recruiters believe the number will be in double digits.

The combined Queensland,NSW,ACT,Tasmania and Northern Territory teamcompleted an unbeaten and historic campaign on Sunday with a come-from-behind,11-point victory over Victoria Country at RSEA Park in Moorabbin.

First-round lock:Colby McKercher of the Allies.

First-round lock:Colby McKercher of the Allies.Credit:AFL Photos

“It’s pretty big,and it just highlights the programs the players are coming form,” McVeigh said.

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“It’s a great reward,being able to do it for all the people who worked really hard within different states to develop the players from a young age. It means a lot to those players,and the recognition means a lot to the states – it’s put a smile on everyone’s face.”

Colby McKercher,Connor O’Sullivan,Ethan Read,Jake Rogers,Ryley Sanders and Jed Walter are considered first-round locks,but plenty of others enhanced their draft hopes.

Gold Coast will scoop up academy prospects Walter,Rogers and Read,a 202-centimetre unicorn whose kicking skills and running ability have wowed recruiters.

McVeigh believes Read,set to be the All-Australian ruckman,would make a great centre-half-back.

A fourth player from the Suns’ academy,Will Graham,a midfielder who spent the championships at half-back,is tipped to attract a bid no later than the 20s,while intercepting defender Nick Williams might make it five.

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Tall forward Charlie McCormack,who is tied to the Giants,kicked an equal-most 11 goals,along with Walter,but Vic Metro forward Nick Watson could overtake them in the final match on Sunday,against Vic Country.

Others to keep an eye on are midfielders Caiden Cleary – who gathered 36 disposals at the weekend – and Indhi Kirk (son of ex-Swan Brett),forwards Max Rider,Jack Callinan (son of ex-Crow Ian),Phoenix Gothard and Heath Ollington,defenders Dayne Posthuma and James Leake,and 206-centimetre ruckman Caleb May.

Cleary,Rider and May are Sydney academy players,while Greater Western Sydney will have first dibs on 200-centimetre Posthuma.

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