Adelaide
Selections before academy and father/son bidding: 13, 43, 53, 66, 82
Selections after bidding: 15, 44, 51, 62, 75
Who they picked: Jordan Gallucci, Myles Poholke, Elliot Himmelberg, Matthew Signorello, Ben Davis
Pre-draft priority: More depth in the midfield, specifically outside run, would be perfect.
Callum Twomey's verdict: After not landing a midfielder in the trade period, one was surely at the top of their list on draft night. They took Gallucci, whose speed, burst-away strength and goalkicking prowess fits nicely in the Crows' mix. He has the dash that few others in the Crows' on-ball brigade carry, so is a nice fit. Poholke's smart hands offer another player to the Crows' exciting forward mix, while Signorello is a bit speculative but has terrific athletic attributes and is a good mark above his head. It was handy for Himmelberg to slip through to the Crows' pick, because he can play at both ends and has genuine versatility, the same for Davis with their fifth and final pick.
• Club wrap: Crows grab former volleyballer with first pick
• Father-son prospect Jarman promised a rookie spot
Brisbane
Selections before academy and father/son bidding: 3, 16, 21, 22, 75, 76
Selections after bidding: 3, 17, 23, 24, 55, 71
Who they picked: Hugh McCluggage, Jarrod Berry, Alex Witherden, Cedric Cox, Jacob Allison, Corey Lyons
Pre-draft priority: The Lions need talented midfielders and a back-up ruckman who is ready for senior football.
Callum Twomey's verdict: Nailed it. The Lions needed midfield class desperately and landed McCluggage, who offers that in spades and gives their on-ball brigade a goalkicker. They took another two North Ballarat products in Berry and Cox, with Berry offering leadership and physicality and Cox genuine class. Having the three players from the same TAC Cup club on board will help their retention strategy. They rated Witherden highly, too, and he is the type of smooth ball-user that will be able to step into an AFL side. The Lions should walk away very happy with their crop of prospects and see them as a big part of their future. The Lions chose not to match a bid on academy defender Declan Watson and saved their last picks to take Allison through the bidding process and then busy midfielder Lyons.
• Club wrap: Lions pounce on No.1 contender McLuggage
Carlton
Selections before academy and father/son bidding: 5, 25, 48, 62, 65, 69
Selections after bidding: 6, 27, 47, 59, 61, 65
Who they picked: Sam Petrevski-Seton, Zac Fisher, Harrison Macreadie, Cameron Polson, Tom Williamson, Patrick Kerr
Pre-draft priority: The Blues need more class in their midfield and players who can kick goals.
Callum Twomey's verdict: Having hit last year's draft aiming to bring in a group of talls, the Blues arrived in Sydney this week looking for midfield class. They find it in Petrevski-Seton, who could be seen as the best player in this year's draft. He offers great skill and balance to their building midfield group headed by Patrick Cripps. Fisher is neat and tidy, while Macreadie is another key-position player (does he add to the ex-Giants at the Blues given he was a GWS academy member?). The Blues were linked earlier to Kerr but managed to pick him with their last selection, and he joins the club where he has a rich family history. It was an even mix for the Blues that contained a midfield star in Petrevski-Seton.
• Club wrap: Blues focus on adding to midfield depth
Blues coach Brendon Bolton and Sam Petrevski-Seton. Picture: AFL Photos
Collingwood
Selections before academy and father/son bidding: 28, 44, 51, 61
Selections after bidding: 30, 35, 50, 57
Who they picked: Sam McLarty, Callum Brown, Kayle Kirby, Josh Daicos
Pre-draft priority: A key defender, followed by a key forward – preferably one with ruck capabilities.
Callum Twomey's verdict: The Pies were desperate to get their first pick before a bid came for Brown, and that happened (albeit only by five picks). With that first pick they filled the hole left by departed defenders Jack Frost and Nathan Brown by selecting McLarty, who runs hard at the ball and can take a good contested grab. Brown is a footballer's footballer who just finds the ball consistently, while Kirby is a bit of a punt but has some natural talent as a medium forward. Collingwood didn't need to match a bid for Daicos, so was able to grab the father-son forward with its last pick. The Pies were able to achieve two key things at the draft: keep the famous names of their club in black and white, and also add a much-needed tall defender.
• Club wrap: Profound deafness won't hold back new Pie
Essendon
Selections before academy and father/son bidding: 1, 20, 29, 41, 67
Selections after bidding: 1, 22, 31, 42, 63
Who they picked: Andrew McGrath, Jordan Ridley, Josh Begley, Kobe Mutch, Dylan Clarke
Pre-draft priority: Another key forward is the obvious need, plus more pace and class through the midfield.
Callum Twomey's verdict: The Bombers couldn't go wrong at No.1, particularly when their need was pace and goalkickers. They went with the speedy option in McGrath over Hugh McCluggage, and he'll play right away. They added some class off half-back with Ridley, who had plenty of fans in the second round, and then went for some attacking prowess in Begley. He is an unusual type of half forward but has an uncanny knack for goals. They closed out their night by successfully bidding on GWS academy product Mutch, who is a ball-winner and can find the footy at will, and another inside midfielder in Dylan Clarke. But this draft will be remembered for Essendon having its first No.1 pick in its history, and the Bombers went with a player who should be a long-term part of their push for its next flag.
• Club wrap: Bombers swoop on 'Wanganeen-like' mid
Fremantle
Selections before academy and father/son bidding: 7, 35, 40, 70
Selections after bidding: 8, 38, 41, 66
Who they picked: Griffin Logue, Sean Darcy, Brennan Cox, Luke Ryan.
Pre-draft priority: A young ruckman to develop quickly is needed. More young midfielders are also required.
Callum Twomey's verdict: The Dockers seemed to go hard at their needs, starting with Logue. He will be able to play right away and come into a squad that lacks young key backs. Having overlooked Tim English with their top-10 pick, the Dockers boosted their ruck stocks with Darcy, who will take some time but might be the best tap ruckman in the draft. They went tall again with Cox, who will be able to line-up next to Logue for years to come in defence and was an All Australian backman. Heading into the night most would have viewed the Dockers' talls as an area for improvement, and they ticked that off brilliantly. They brought in mature-ager Ryan with their final choice as another prospect who is ready to go.
• Club wrap: Dockers continue trend of recruiting local talent
Geelong
Selections before academy and father/son bidding: 24, 38, 42, 63, 71, 73
Selections after bidding: 26, 40, 43, 60, 68, 69
Who they picked: Brandan Parfitt, Tom Stewart, Esava Ratugolea, Quinton Narkle, Timm House, Ryan Abbott
Pre-draft priority: A goalsneak and a tall defender who can use the ball well would be handy.
Callum Twomey's verdict: The Cats believe they are in the premiership window and seemed to draft largely for an immediate pay-off. Three of their six pick-ups (Stewart, House, Abbott) were from Geelong's VFL side as mature-agers, so the Cats will be hoping they can have an impact right away. But first they moved on Parfitt at No.26, who has pace and skill and can really fight for the ball in the midfield. Ratugolea is another project for the Cats and will take some time but he has a presence in attack and as a mobile ruckman, while Narkle was overlooked last season but is powerful through the midfield. Stewart seems most likely of their batch of recruits to play a significant chunk of games next year, having captured plenty of interest from clubs.
• Club wrap: Cats keep draft haul in the family
Gold Coast
Selections before academy and father/son bidding: 4, 6, 8, 10, 72
Selections after bidding: 4, 7, 9, 10, 67
Who they picked: Ben Ainsworth, Jack Scrimshaw, Will Brodie, Jack Bowes, Brad Scheer
Pre-draft priority: You can never have too many quality midfielders. A small, defensive forward could also be handy.
Callum Twomey's verdict: There was no way the Suns could have gone wrong, really, considering they started the night with four top-10 picks. In the end all four of those picks – Ainsworth, Scrimshaw, Brodie and Bowes – will be contenders for their round-one side next year. Part of their strategy was to pick a group who are close friends, too, and the quartet were rapt to be joining the club together. Later on they matched a bid for Scheer, another member of the NAB AFL Academy, meaning the Suns' midfield group got a huge boost on Friday night. The evening may be looked back upon as the second coming of the Suns given the quality they added. Had to blitz and they did.
• Club wrap: Suns' star quartet ready to go in 2017
Will Brodie, Ben Ainsworth, Jack Scrimshaw and Jack Bowes. Picture: AFL Photos
GWS
Selections before academy and father/son bidding: 2, 15, 37, 39, 45, 52
Selections after bidding: 2, 5, 14, 20, 54, 58
Who they picked: Tim Taranto, Will Setterfield, Harry Perryman, Isaac Cumming, Lachlan Tiziani, Matthew de Boer
Pre-draft priority: GWS has an excellent best 22-25 and look set to inject more class.
Callum Twomey's verdict: Taranto's momentum across the season proved irresistible for the Giants, who grabbed him at pick No.2 and hope he can kick goals from their midfield next year. The Giants' plan was always to match bids for Setterfield, Perryman and Cumming if they came inside the first 20 and after their No.2 choice. They again brought in talent that was home grown, and added another with Tiziani, who deserved a shot after being overlooked last season. In their four top-20 picks, though, the Giants have brought in two tall, mobile and modern midfielders (how many more do they need?) and two of the best rebounding defenders in the draft. They also clearly have a role in mind for de Boer. The Giants dominated another draft and will have left chuffed with their haul.
• Club wrap: Giants get their man with 'big-game player' Taranto
Hawthorn
Selections before academy and father/son bidding: 81, 83
Selections after bidding: 74, 76
Who they picked: Harry Morrison, Mitchell Lewis
Pre-draft priority: The Hawks need more midfield depth and a key forward.
Callum Twomey's verdict: Nobody really knew who might get through to the Hawks' picks, but Morrison is a nice fit. He's a natural footballer who reads the play well, uses it nicely from defence and has some good bloodlines (as the cousin of Brisbane Lions midfielder Tom Rockliff). He has a tough streak, too, that will suit the Hawks' uncompromising style. The irony was lost on nobody that the Hawks picked up Mitchell Lewis (after controversially trading champion duo Sam Mitchell and Jordan Lewis last month) with their second and final pick at No.76, but the tall prospect will be given time to develop. His six-mark haul against Bendigo in August was enough to give recruiters an insight into his traits.
• Club wrap: Hawks swoop late on Rockliff's cousin
• New Hawk Mitchell Lewis finds there's plenty in a name
Melbourne
Selections before academy and father/son bidding: 47, 68
Selections after bidding: 46, 64
Who they picked: Mitchell Hannan, Dion Johnstone
Pre-draft priority: A developing ruckman and a young running defender would provide depth.
Callum Twomey's verdict: It was probably a bit of an unusual feeling for Jason Taylor and his recruiting team, given his three previous years in charge of the club's drafting he had top-10 picks at his disposal. With their first pick they took rangy forward Hannan from Footscray's VFL side, and the 22-year-old could be able to play a little sooner than some. Johnstone came out of Oakleigh Chargers and Scotch College and has a hard edge to his footy. The Dees didn't exactly go for needs as much as stock up with some more depth in areas they already have covered.
• Club wrap: Speed, power, speccies - Demon draftee's point of difference
North Melbourne
Selections before academy and father/son bidding: 11, 32, 33, 80
Selections after bidding: 12, 34, 36, 73
Who they picked: Jy Simpkin, Declan Watson, Josh Williams, Nick Larkey
Pre-draft priority: North's engine room is workmanlike and an injection of pace and class wouldn't go astray.
Callum Twomey's verdict: They filled the need for speed by grabbing Simpkin early. He was always in their mix and is the perfect selection at that stage, but the Roos backed that up by successfully bidding on Gold Coast academy prospect Williams. Williams is raw but genuinely quick and can break the lines. They brought in another key defender when they chose to bid on Brisbane Lions academy backman Watson, and then bid again on Williams, who was a Gold Coast academy product. Larkey can play at both ends and was worth a go at No.73, but it's the Simpkin pick that should have Roos fans most excited. He's a really nice fit for their needs and would have been taken higher if he played this year before his broken leg.
• Club wrap: Roos add X-factor to cover loss of veterans
Jy Simpkin joined North Melbourne at pick No.12. Picture: AFL Photos
Port Adelaide
Selections before academy and father/son bidding: 14, 17, 30, 31
Selections after bidding: 16, 18, 32, 33
Who they picked: Todd Marshall, Sam Powell-Pepper, Joe Atley, Willem Drew
Pre-draft priority: Another high-end midfielder is needed, as is a key forward.
Callum Twomey's verdict: If Port was searching for midfielders who can come in and play straight away then they will be pleased with Friday night's outcome. Powell-Pepper will play next year, while the contested nature of Atley and Drew as prospects will make it easier for them to slot in too. The Port midfield got a real boost of grunt, but adding Powell-Pepper's pace and brute strength gives it a point of difference as well. The retirement of Jay Schulz meant the Power were reasonably slim on taller forwards, so it made sense for them to jump at Marshall when they did. He won't be ready right away but should be a good option in time.
• Club wrap: The next Westhoff? Port's top draftee has physical weapons
Richmond
Selections before academy and father/son bidding: 27, 56, 78
Selections after bidding: 29, 53, 72
Who they picked: Shai Bolton, Jack Graham, Ryan Garthwaite
Pre-draft priority: A big-bodied midfielder who can play early on.
Callum Twomey's verdict: Bolton's flair and excitement was clearly too hard to pass up for the Tigers, who will see him as offering something different to their forward mix. After drafting Daniel Rioli with their first pick last year, the Tigers went for speed and dash again in Bolton. He also complements inside pair Dion Prestia and Josh Caddy who joined the club in last month's trade period. Graham will likely sidle up alongside those two next year as a ready-to-go midfielder who fell through to the latter part of the draft, while Garthwaite fills the need of a tall defender. The Tigers were looking at some key backmen with their earlier choice but overlooked them to bring in Bolton, so Garthwaite is a fair selection late.
• Club wrap: Tigers fill the need for speed
St Kilda
Selections before academy and father/son bidding: 23, 36, 60
Selections after bidding: 25, 39, 56
Who they picked: Ben Long, Josh Battle, Ed Phillips.
Pre-draft priority: The Saints might look for someone who can play as a tall forward.
Callum Twomey's verdict: The Saints had to wait and see what came through but clearly pace was on the agenda for the black, red and white. That's why Long appealed, and he can also be used at either end of the ground as a half-forward or half-back so his selection makes sense in that regard. Battle was probably too good to pass up for the Saints at pick 39. He isn't exactly what they need, but his form throughout the year made him one of the better-performed tall forwards. He just may need to work his way into things because the Saints' forward group is coming along nicely. Phillips is another midfield option with a bit of dash and endurance to his game. He had a solid season for the Chargers.
• Club wrap: Famous Long name continues at St Kilda
Sydney Swans
Selections before academy and father/son bidding: 9, 19, 46, 49
Selections after bidding: 11, 21, 45, 48
Who they picked: Oliver Florent, Will Hayward, Jack Maibaum, Darcy Cameron
Pre-draft priority: Toby Nankervis' departure to Richmond creates a vacancy in the ruck.
Callum Twomey's verdict: If the Swans' Grand Final loss showed anything about their list it is that they lacked some pace and movement through the midfield, and a little bit of X-factor. Florent and Hayward might not play right away but in time they offer both of those things as two of the most exciting players in the top rung. Florent's run and carry appealed, while Hayward marks well above his head and gives great bounce as a half-forward with a booming kick. Maibaum and Cameron filled gaps as tall depth options, with Maibaum a particularly good choice at that selection given the Swans' shortage of bigger key backs. He was an All Australian at the under-18 championships.
• Club wrap: The visit that helped Swans land 'mentally tough' Florent
Will Hayward and Oliver Florent in their new guernseys. Picture: AFL Photos
West Coast
Selections before academy and father/son bidding: 12, 34, 54, 89
Selections after bidding: 13, 37, 52, 77
Who they picked: Daniel Venables, Josh Rotham, Willie Rioli, Jake Waterman
Pre-draft priority: Another quality onballer with some leg speed would be ideal.
Callum Twomey's verdict: Venables was a bit of a surprise, but his pace and verve appealed in that range. He has some different qualities to other prospects given his aggression and athleticism and size as a midfielder. In that way he brings a new dimension to the Eagles' group, as another Luke Shuey type of player. It was a mixed bag thereafter the Eagles, with quick defender Rotham, small forward Rioli and father-son pick Waterman at their last choice. One of their hopes coming into the draft was to use their last pick on the roving half-forward and they were able to achieve that, while Rioli also fills the need for small forwards with Josh Hill and Mark LeCras coming towards the end of their careers and a increasing reliance on Jamie Cripps.
• Club wrap: Eagles spring surprise by overlooking talls
Western Bulldogs
Selections before academy and father/son bidding: 18, 26, 50, 74
Selections after bidding: 19, 28, 49, 70
Who they picked: Tim English, Patrick Lipinski, Lewis Young, Fergus Greene
Pre-draft priority: A key forward would be on top of the Dogs' draft shopping list, but a developing ruckman should also be keenly sought.
Callum Twomey's verdict: The premiers got the steal of the draft in English, who slipped down the order to their first pick as clubs again shied away from picking a ruckman with an early choice. The Dogs needed some ruck depth but also have the luxury as Grand Final winners to let him spend some time developing before he's ready to go. After that it didn't matter too much what the Dogs did, as that was the one glaring weakness on their list. Lipinski and Greene offer a mix, while Young is a developing tall forward who is raw but exciting. He had plenty of interest late in the year and doesn't turn 18 until late in December, so the Dogs see him as having great growth in his game.
• Club wrap: Dogs go against grain and boost tall stocks
• 10 things we learned from the 2016 NAB AFL Draft
