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THE COACH of the TAC Cup's most-wanted list has warned AFL recruiters to overlook match-winner Jaidyn Stephenson at their peril.
Club officials are still frantically pouring over Stephenson's medical results after becoming aware of a heart irregularity at the NAB AFL Draft Combine in October.
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It is the biggest talking point for Darren Bewick's talent-laden Eastern Ranges and the draft in general.
The Ranges are in rarified air, with the potential for double-digit draftees on Friday night, headlined by silky midfielder and possible No.2 pick Adam Cerra.
Only four clubs – Port Adelaide Magpies with 11 in 1992 and Western Jets and Northern Knights (both 1994) and Claremont (1991) with 10 – have achieved that in the national draft's 31-year history.
Stephenson may slide into the late teens after once being considered a top-five selection, with premier Richmond doing its due diligence in the chance he is available at pick 17.
But Bewick said the drama about Stephenson's health was a gross overreaction and that the forward-midfielder had X-factor and could "win a game off his own boot".
AFL.com.au understands Stephenson's family has a history of the heart condition and played high-level sport without an issue.
"I'd suggest the clubs passing him up will regret it in three or four years' time when they see him running around," the dual Essendon premiership star told AFL.com.au.
"Jaidyn's not showing any sign of anything.
"He's one of our hardest workers on the track and he plays a very explosive game, so if it was going to be a problem then we would have seen it and it would have affected his footy."
The draft's other potential slider, two-time under-18 All Australian ruckman Sam Hayes, is also a Ranges star.
The biggest criticism of Hayes targets his endurance and intensified with his poor testing at the NAB AFL Draft Combine, but Bewick said it was just the usual "pick on the big fella" mentality.
"Sam's twice All Australian; he's very raw and naïve about everything, but his upside is enormous," the eighth-year coach said.
"People are stuck on the fact he has no tank, but he's 18 years old and 203cm. That's something he can work on once he's in the system.
"I can see him in five, six years' time being one of the best big men in the competition."
Cerra, Stephenson, Hayes and Joel Garner have long been on the AFL radar, but Ryley Stoddart, Collingwood father-son prospect Tyler Brown and Jackson Ross burst onto the scene more recently.
Bewick admits he "wouldn't have even known who Ryley was" at this time last year, but the dashing half-backer could now go in the top 20.
Tom North and diminutive All Australian Dylan Moore are also likely selections, while Trent Mynott, Harry Nolan and Jordan Lynch tested at various combines.
Nolan, an athletic 196cm defender, has represented Vic Metro at the past two NAB AFL Under-18 Championships and is "rarely beaten", according to Bewick.
"He's a real negating defender, which has put a couple of clubs off, because he doesn't give enough on the offensive side," Bewick said.
"Daniel Talia, at Adelaide, is a very good defender who is just a very good defender – and Harry's in that mould."
The Ranges had six players join AFL ranks last year, including five at the national draft.
Bewick credited part of the club's success to a change in philosophy to prepare players for TAC Cup football earlier and greater focus on individual attributes.
