• Draft wrap: Blues keep faith in wayward Curnow
• Who is Tom Doedee? Crows pull draft's biggest shock
• Why Jacob Weitering went No.1
• Going places: Four extraordinary draft stories
Adelaide
Selections before academy and father/son bidding: 9, 13
Selections after bidding: 11, 17
Who they picked: Wayne Milera, Tom Doedee
Callum Twomey's verdict: The Crows were in and out of the draft early but made an impact with their two choices. They first called out the name of local half-forward Wayne Milera, who got through to selection 11. He will bring an immediate level of class to the Crows and they will be pleased to bring in the South Australian talent. But that's when things got interesting for the Crows. They made an early bid on GWS academy forward Harrison Himmelberg, which the Giants mulled over but eventually matched. The Crows then pulled the first major surprise of the draft by selecting Geelong Falcons medium forward Tom Doedee. Doedee had a solid finish to the season at TAC Cup level in the finals series and marks well above his head, but was predicted to be taken in the second half of the draft.
Brisbane
Selections before academy and father/son bidding: 2, 38, 39, 40, 41
Selections after bidding: 2, 14, 24, 39, 47
Who they picked: Josh Schache, Eric Hipwood, Ben Keays, Rhys Mathieson, Sam Skinner
Callum Twomey's verdict: The Lions will leave the draft as one of the big winners, having fulfilled their need for a quality young tall forward. Josh Schache has known for some time he will be a Lion next year and his selection at No.2 gives the club a young, up-and-coming key forward to build around. He might take some time but he'll get opportunities next year. The Lions then matched an early bid for academy prospect Eric Hipwood, but that was offset by the later bid for Ben Keays, which came at No.24 by the Western Bulldogs. The later bid on Keays meant the Lions had leftover picks they may not have budgeted for. Rhys Mathieson is a super get at pick 39 and Sam Skinner is a good choice at pick 47 as he recovers from his knee reconstruction. The Lions would go close to the three votes for their draft.
Carlton
Selections before academy and father/son bidding: 1, 8, 11, 19, 58, 59, 85
Selections after bidding: 1, 10, 12, 23, 53
Who they picked: Jacob Weitering, Harry McKay, Charlie Curnow, David Cuningham, Jack Silvagni
Callum Twomey's verdict: When Stephen Silvagni stepped back into Carlton's doors this year as the Blues' list manager, he clearly saw the 2015 draft as a chance to reshape his club's tall stocks. The Blues, as predicted, grabbed tall defender Jacob Weitering at pick No.1, and he will have an immediate influence. They then added to their forward line by taking Harry McKay and Charlie Curnow, who will join his brother Ed at the Blues. Silvagni's list took significant shape in the space of 12 selections. Carlton was linked to David Cuningham from a long way out and they liked his speed and breakaway pace, so chose him with their pick 23. He has some way to develop his game but had a few suitors around that stage of the draft. The Blues ended their night by grabbing father-son prospect Jack Silvagni, another developing tall, after Essendon made a cheeky bid at No.53.
Collingwood
Selections before academy and father/son bidding: 27, 64, 71, 74, 75
Selections after bidding: 32, 58, 63, 65
Who they picked: Brayden Sier, Tom Phillips, Rupert Willis, Ben Crocker
Callum Twomey's verdict: Derek Hine and the Magpies' recruiting team sprung a surprise with their first pick, taking late developer Brayden Sier at No.32. The Northern Knight was something of a draft bolter, but the Pies might have been holding out at that choice hoping he would get through. Tom Phillips' run and Ben Crocker's presence near goal should be handy, while the Pies were on the search for a mature-ager to add to their list having interviewed many across the season. Rupert Wills became that man, having shown enough early in the year for Collingwood's VFL side to win an opportunity.
Essendon
Selections before academy and father/son bidding: 4, 5, 24, 25, 56, 73, 82, 86
Selections after bidding: 5, 6, 29, 30, 54, 64, 68
Who they picked: Darcy Parish, Aaron Francis, Alex Morgan, Mason Redman, Mitch Brown, Yestin Eades, Michael Hartley
Callum Twomey's verdict: The Bombers couldn't really have gone wrong when they started the night with two top-10 picks, but they nailed their selections. Darcy Parish is the midfielder they really needed, and Aaron Francis is the utility that should be able to play anywhere. Both will be in the senior team next year and give a big boost to a list that is being refreshed. They managed to cover most bases with their group of picks – Alex Morgan adds speed, Mason Redman offers a medium forward and Mitch Brown will come into senior contention right away after his impressive stint at the start of the year as a top-up player. Michael Hartley also adds depth defensively, while they drafted small forward Yestin Eades to also fill a need. In what was Essendon's biggest and most important draft in more than a decade, it will leave very satisfied.
Fremantle
Selections before academy and father/son bidding: 22, 35, 60, 68, 80
Selections after bidding: 27, 38, 55, 61
Who they picked: Darcy Tucker, Harley Balic, Samuel Collins, Shane Yarran
Callum Twomey's verdict: Darcy Tucker was too good to pass up at pick 27 when the Dockers entered the draft, and his run, spread and movement will be good for the wide expanses of Subiaco. It was a surprise Harley Balic was available where he was when the Dockers grabbed him at No.38, but he has class, composure and can impact the game at a number of spots. Fremantle had been linked to some mature-age players as it continue to try to keep its premiership window open, and it added a couple of senior players later on. Sam Collins, from Box Hill, can play as a tall defender and the Dockers have shown faith in players from state level before, while Shane Yarran's exciting start to the season was enough for Fremantle to give the 26-year-old a shot.
Geelong
Selections before academy and father/son bidding: 65, 76, 83, 87, 88, 89
Selections after bidding: 59, 66, 69, 70
Who they picked: Ryan Gardner, Sam Menegola, Wylie Buzza, Matthew Hayball
Callum Twomey's verdict: The Cats had the longest wait for any club before starting their draft, with assistant coach James Rahilly taking to the stage to call out the name of Ryan Gardner at No.59. The Tasmanian has had his injuries but has some raw talent and presence. The Cats then added mature-age midfielder Sam Menegola at No.66, jumping forward Wylie Buzza at No.69 and took Matthew Hayball at No.70. Although their hand of selections came late after their active trade and free agency period, would anyone back against Stephen Wells and his team to find a couple of handy players?
Gold Coast
Selections before academy and father/son bidding: 6, 16, 29, 55, 72
Selections after bidding: 8, 20, 34, 52
Who they picked: Callum Ah Chee, Brayden Fiorini, Joshua Schoenfeld, Mackenzie Willis
Callum Twomey's verdict: The Suns identified the need for a small forward on their list and got the best available with Callum Ah Chee at pick eight. Ah Chee can fly for marks, kick goals, fits into any group seamlessly, and might be among the handful of most talented prospects available. The Suns had weighed him up against Sam Weideman and Wayne Milera, but ended up going with Ah Chee, whose brilliance they are well aware of. Brayden Fiorini was on their radar for a while and will be a nice addition to the midfield, while Josh Schoenfeld's running power gives him a special trait. Mackenzie Willis was a surprise selection, but Scott Clayton has a history of drafting Tasmanians.
GWS
Selections before academy and father/son bidding: 10, 34, 42, 52, 54, 57, 62, 63
Selections after bidding: 7, 13, 16, 41
Who they picked: Jacob Hopper, Matthew Kennedy, Harrison Himmelberg, Matthew Flynn
Callum Twomey's verdict: The Giants couldn't really lose on draft night given they had two star midfielders coming through via their academy. The first bid came for Jacob Hopper at No.7, which cost the Giants their pick 10. And the next came six selections later for Matthew Kennedy, which they matched with a group of later picks. Both Hopper and Kennedy will play senior footy next year: they're ready, determined and up for the contest. The Giants were hoping a bid didn't fall too early for Harrison Himmelberg, so when Adelaide called his name at No.16 the Giants had some thinking to do. In the end they matched it, and then matched again when Melbourne bid on ruckman Matthew Flynn at pick 41. All four of the Giants' picks were from their academy and the Riverina region, making things pretty straightforward for the GWS recruiting team. In one go, they added talent that is homegrown.
Hawthorn
Selections before academy and father/son bidding: 15, 18, 47, 70
Selections after bidding: 19, 22, 44
Who they picked: Ryan Burton, Kieran Lovell, Blake Hardwick
Callum Twomey's verdict: Winning three consecutive flags gives the Hawks a bit of a licence to take a risk at the draft, but the reward in Ryan Burton, Hawthorn's first choice, might be huge. Burton was tipped as a top-five pick last year before his badly broken leg, but he slipped to pick 19 and the Hawks swooped. They might have seen their forward line as an area of boosting, so added Burton plus goalkicking medium tall Blake Hardwick. Small midfielder Kieran Lovell is sure to draw similarities to Sam Mitchell, and he should play some senior footy next year. What is clear in the Hawks' three selections is that they value footballers: all three of Burton, Hardwick and Lovell are natural players – not necessarily athletes, but prospects with great footy brains.
Melbourne
Selections before academy and father/son bidding: 3, 7, 45, 49
Selections after bidding: 4, 9, 42, 46
Who they picked: Clayton Oliver, Sam Weideman, Mitch King, Liam Hulett
Callum Twomey's verdict: Although it was expected by draft night, the Demons made a big call to go with Clayton Oliver at pick four (having made a bid on Callum Mills at No.3). Oliver's sample size of games might not be as large as others, but if he continues his rapid rate of improvement the Dees will have a scary midfield: Oliver, Christian Petracca, Angus Brayshaw, Christian Salem and Jack Viney to name a few. They toyed with taking Sam Weideman with their first choice but worked out he was going to be there at their second, and he is the perfect partner for Jesse Hogan in attack. The Dees added ruckman Mitch King and Liam Hulett with later choices, but it will be their early selections which will be most closely watched into the future. Oliver and Weideman have some real high-end traits.
North Melbourne
Selections before academy and father/son bidding: 17, 26, 28, 46, 67, 79
Selections after bidding: 21, 31, 33, 43
Who they picked: Ben McKay, Ryan Clarke, Mitchell Hibberd, Corey Wagner, Declan Mountford
Callum Twomey's verdict: North went into the draft wanting to find height, knowing that key forwards Jarrad Waite and Drew Petrie are coming towards the end of their careers in blue and white. It meant when Ben McKay was on the board at No.21 they swooped, with the key forward/defender selected after an impressive second half of the season. The Roos did well to then grab Ryan Clarke and Mitchell Hibberd, both athletic and powerful runners, while Corey Wagner became a Roo when the Brisbane Lions didn't match the bid for him at No.43. In restocking its group of talls and then adding some midfield depth, North achieved a couple of its aims heading into draft night.
Port Adelaide
Selections before academy and father/son bidding: 32, 48, 77
Selections after bidding: 37, 45
Who they picked: Riley Bonner, Aidyn Johnson
Callum Twomey's verdict: Port's say on the draft was short and sweet, but it couldn't have read out Riley Bonner's name any faster at pick 37. The best South Australian prospects haven't tended to last until the Power's picks in recent years, but Bonner got through to their slot and they were rapt to take him. His run, drive and electric left-foot should be a weapon at AFL level. Aidyn Johnson was in the Power's sights at 37 before Bonner slipped through, but Johnson remained there at No.45 – their second and last live pick at the draft. Johnson has speed, and plenty of it. There might have been a reliance on Matthew White for that line-breaking run at the Power, so Johnson could help fill that role when up and going.
Richmond
Selections before academy and father/son bidding: 12, 51, 78, 84
Selections after bidding: 15, 50, 67
Who they picked: Daniel Rioli, Oleg Markov, Nathan Broad
Callum Twomey's verdict: Francis Jackson and his recruiting team might have won themselves a reputation as 'bidders' after draft night. The Tigers placed bids on Matthew Kennedy at No.13 and Eric Hipwood at No.14, and also placed a bid on father-son selection Bailey Rice at No.49. All were unsuccessful, but at least they called the player's name where they ranked them and put their hand up when the players warranted bids (if not earlier). Daniel Rioli filled the Tigers' search for a small forward at their first choice – No.15 overall – after Callum Ah Chee had already been taken by the Suns. The Tigers then grabbed Oleg Markov and added another mature body to their midfield by selecting Nathan Broad, who they will be hoping can offer some impact at AFL level straight away.
St Kilda
Selections before academy and father/son bidding: 14, 44, 66
Selections after bidding: 18, 40, 49
Who they picked: Jade Gresham, Brandon White, Bailey Rice
Callum Twomey's verdict: The Saints had the choice of a few good players when their pick finally came around at No.18, but they went with small midfielder Jade Gresham. The only knock on Gresham is his height – 178cm – because he does most things really well. The Saints had the choice of a few other players there, including Kieran Collins who they met with on draft day, but grabbed running tall Brandon White at pick 40. White was highly rated by some clubs inside the first 30 picks, so the Saints will be pleased to grab him. A bid fell for father-son prospect Bailey Rice at No.49, which the Saints were happy to match and that is a good result for them. They managed to add two running defenders and a classy midfielder so ticked a couple of boxes.
Sydney Swans
Selections before academy and father/son bidding: 33, 36, 37, 43, 53
Selections after bidding: 3, 51, 56
Who they picked: Callum Mills, Tyrone Leonardis, Jordan Dawson
Callum Twomey's verdict: Callum Mills will be the answer to a trivia question one day after being the first player to attract a live bid during the draft. The Demons placed the bid at pick No.3, which meant the Swans had to use picks 33, 36, 37 and about half of the value of pick 44 to secure him. Pick 44 moved down the order a few spots, and the other picks shifted to the end of the draft, but Mills is a top talent who will have an impact next year so the Swans should be pleased he's theirs. The early Mills bid might have impacted their plans or hopes to match a bid for father-son pick Josh Dunkley, with the Swans knocking back the bid for Dunkley which came at No.25 from the Dogs. The Swans will go down as the first club ever to not match a bid. With their remaining slots they took Tyrone Leonardis, a nice kick, and Jordan Dawson from Sturt.
West Coast
Selections before academy and father/son bidding: 23, 31, 61, 69, 81
Selections after bidding: 28, 36, 57, 62
Who they picked: Luke Partington, Tom Cole, Kurt Mutimer, Matthew Allen
Callum Twomey's verdict: The Grand Finalist didn't really have too many holes to fill – their key stocks at both ends are strong, their midfield is very solid and they were one win away from a premiership. It meant the Eagles were in a good spot to see which players got through to their selections, and Luke Partington's hard-running appealed. Tom Cole uses the ball well off half-back, as does Kurt Mutimer, and Matthew Allan is a third tall forward who converts his shots at goal. Cole will be a really nice, solid player for a while and Partington does everything that's asked of him. Generally the Eagles try to bolster their WA stocks with at least one player a draft coming from a local club, but the lack of young talent in Western Australia this year meant they looked outside their state with every pick.
Western Bulldogs
Selections before academy and father/son bidding: 20, 21, 30, 50
Selections after bidding: 25, 26, 35, 48
Who they picked: Josh Dunkley, Kieran Collins, Marcus Adams, Bailey Williams
Callum Twomey's verdict: The Dogs traded back from pick 11 to hold picks 20 and 21 and have managed to snag two highly-rated players there. It worked out to be a good move. They were surprised Kieran Collins lasted to their selection and will be happy to have added another key tall. He was linked to their selection at 11 had they kept it, such was their need for another key backman. But before that they placed a bid on Sydney Swans father-son prospect Josh Dunkley. The Swans decided not to match and he became a Bulldog, winning in his wish to stay in Victoria closer to family. The Dogs like good characters and ball-winners, so he probably seemed an obvious choice around this range. Strong tall defender Marcus Adams and ball-magnet Bailey Williams rounded out their night.
