AFL Talent Ambassador Kevin Sheehan has released profiles on the top tall defenders in the 2024 Telstra AFL Draft pool.
The tall defenders group includes Luke Trainor who won the best on ground medal for the Australia U18 team in their clash with Coburg in April, along with All Australian centre half back Clancy Dennis and exciting high flyer Alix Tauru.
Sheehan's player profiles are being released in positional groups each week ahead of the Draft.
All players profiled attended the 2024 Telstra AFL Draft Combine or 2024 Telstra AFL State Draft Combine in October.
The 2024 Telstra AFL Draft will be held on Wednesday, November 20 and Thursday, November 21. The 2024 Telstra AFL Rookie Draft will follow on Friday, November 22.
Keep updated with all the latest news ahead of the 2024 Telstra AFL Draft at the Richmond's AFL List Hub.
NATIONAL DRAFT COMBINE
James Barrat
State: Victoria Country
State League Club: Bendigo Pioneers
Community Club: Leitchville Gunbower
Date of Birth: 23/11/2006
Height: 194cm
Developing tall defender who also plays forward. Kicked 22 goals for the Bendigo Pioneers in the Coates Talent League mainly early in the season before opportunity arose with Victoria County to fill a void in defence which he grabbed with both hands. An aggressive player whose ability to read the play and take contested marks are strengths, along with his versatility. Had great year in the Coates Talent League, averaging 17 disposals and seven marks in 13 games to win the Pioneers’ best and fairest award. Represented Victoria Country in three matches at the 2024 Marsh AFL National Championships, playing an important defensive role on the opposition’s deep forward targets. Also had a taste of VFL football for Essendon and acquitted himself well in his one appearance. Both his speed (3.01 seconds on the 20m sprint) and agility (8.29 seconds on the agility test) were very impressive at the national Draft Combine.
Cooper Bell
State: NSW/ACT
State League Club: GWS Giants Academy
Community Club: Belconnen Magpies
Date of Birth: 30/11/2006
Height: 199cm
A tall defender with good speed and clean hands who competes fiercely. Despite still developing his defensive craft, he has the athleticism to match up on the opposition’s primary marking target up forward. Played all four National Championships matches for the Allies and was composed under pressure, making good decisions with and without the ball. Played three matches for the GWS Giants Academy in the Coates Talent League and three matches for GWS Giants in the VFL, where he furthered his development and showed positive signs at both ends of the ground. His speed off the mark was confirmed when he recorded 3.02 seconds on the 20m sprint at the national Draft Combine, which was a great result for a player of his type.
Joel Cochran
State: NSW/ACT
State League Club: Sydney Swans Academy
Community Club: UNSW Eastern Suburbs Bulldogs
Date of Birth: 28/03/2006
Height: 194cm
A super athletic and versatile defender who can also play on a wing. Is strong overhead and has a great work ethic. Was impressive for the Sydney Swans Academy in the Coates Talent League, averaging 18 disposals in three matches. Played all four games with the Allies at the National Championships, averaging 14 disposals and 4.5 marks, including having 21 disposals in an impressive performance in the win over Western Australia. Also showed slices of his potential playing for the Australia U18 team against VFL outfit Coburg, as well as an appearance for Sydney’s VFL side against Collingwood. A state-level athlete in the 400m and 800m events, he stood out at the national Draft Combine with his time of 6:05 in the 2km time trail ranked first.
Adrian Cole
State: Victoria Metro
State League Club: Sandringham Dragons
Community Club: St Bedes/Mentone
Date of Birth: 05/01/2006
Height: 194cm
Athletic tall defender who competes furiously and is rarely beaten in one-on-one situations. With his height and natural leap, he has shown all season the ability to match up well with the opposition’s most dangerous tall forwards and lockdown when needed. Played that role to perfection for Victoria Metro in its National Championships-winning team and with the Sandringham Dragons in their Coates Talent League premiership campaign, where he played 15 matches and averaged eight disposals. His father hails from Nigeria and is part of St Kilda’s Next Generation Academy, making him eligible for selection for the Saints under the AFL’s NGA rules. His 6:24 seconds on the 2km time trial at the national Draft Combine demonstrated his competitiveness and endurance.
Clancy Dennis
State: Western Australia
State League Club: Claremont
Community Club: Mosman Park
Date of Birth: 28/12/2006
Height: 195cm
A tall defender who is composed under pressure and consistently makes the correct decision on when to intercept mark or spoil. A super competitive type, he is rarely beaten one-on-one, which he demonstrated for Western Australia at the National Championships. Was among hist team’s best players against the Allies and Victoria Country and was rewarded with All Australian honours. Continued his impressive year at club level for Claremont, averaging 16 disposals and six marks at Colts level to win selection in the WAFL Colts Team of the Year. Did not test at the Draft Combine due to an ankle injury.
Noah Mraz
State: Victoria Country
State League Club: Dandenong Stingrays
Community Club: Narre Warren Foxes
Date of Birth: 20/02/2006
Height: 198cm
A mobile tall defender with an aerial presence, he had a taste of National Championships football as a bottom-age player last year and certainly held his own in the match against Victoria Metro. Started this season full of promise, averaging 19.5 disposals and four marks in his first two matches with the Dandenong Stingrays in the Coates Talent League before injuring his ankle late in the Australia U18 match against Coburg in April. The injury ruled him out for the remainder of the year. Despite being sidelined for almost the entire season, his promise shown as a bottom-aged player and form early this year was enough for clubs to monitor his recovery very closely to further evaluate his potential. Presented well at the Draft Combine, running a solid 6:32 on the 2kn time trial.
Harry O’Farrell
State: Victoria Metro
State League Club: Calder Cannons
Community Club: Maribyrnong Park
Date of Birth: 03/05/2006
Height: 197cm
A tall defender who had an injury interrupted season. He is a player who makes great decisions on when to mark or spoil, with the mobility and size to be a great match-up for most opposition key forwards. Has a real presence in the air, with his judgement and clean hands real assets. Missing the National Championships but averaged 11 disposals and four marks for the Calder Cannons in the Coates Talent League before hurting himself early in his fifth match. Was a member of the 2024 Marsh AFL National Academy and represented the Australia U18 team against Coburg early in the year, so he is highly regarded despite limited exposure to fully access his scope for further development. His 3.06 seconds on the 20m sprint at the Draft Combine showed his speed off the mark for a player of his size.
Alixzander Tauru
State: Victoria Country
State League Club: Gippsland Power
Community Club: Warragul Industrials
Date of Birth: 16/11/2006
Height: 193cm
Exciting tall defender whose spectacular ability in the air propelled him into the Victoria Country team for its final three matches of the National Championships after not being selected in the initial squad earlier in the year. A graceful mover over the ground, he also showed versatility in playing in the midfield and forward with the Gippsland Power in the Coates Talent League, averaging 14.5 disposals and six marks in 12 matches and earning Team of the Year selection. Was ultra impressive in all testing at the national Draft Combine. Recorded the best running vertical jump (94cm) of all participants, while his times of 3.00 seconds on the 20m sprint, 8.20 seconds on the agility test and 6:36 on the 2km time trail provided clear indications of his elite athleticism.
Luke Trainor
State: Victoria Metro
State League Club: Sandringham Dragons
Community Club: Old Brighton Grammarians
Date of Birth: 10/04/2006
Height: 194cm
An athletic tall defender who is strong overhead and shows dash and composure with ball in hand on the rebound. Showed he’s capable of playing a more negating role deep during the National Championships and even went forward in the last moments of the title-decider to kick the winning goal. Averaged 19.8 disposals at 77 per cent efficiency and 5.8 marks across the four matches for Victoria Metro and was rewarded with All Australian honours. Earlier in the year he was awarded the best player medal for the Australia U18 team in their showcase match against Coburg. Was dominant in five matches for the Sandringham Dragons in the Coates Talent League, averaging 20 disposals and six marks, before being injured with a shoulder in the qualifying final. He was rewarded for his outstanding overall form in the pathway with selection in the Coates Talent League Team of the Year. He is the grandson of Geelong and North Melbourne legend Doug Wade and former North Melbourne president Tony Trainor and nephew of AFL commissioner Gab Trainor. Did not test at the Draft Combine due to hip injury.
Matt Whitlock
State: Victoria Country
State League Club: Murray Bushrangers
Community Club: Shepparton
Date of Birth: 16/05/2006
Height: 198cm
A tall defender who can also go forward and have an impact, which he did on numerous occasions this year. Athletic and lightly framed, he is a good player one-on-one and reads the game well to take intercept marks when in defence. Received a late call-up as an injury replacement player to represent the Australia U18 team in their second match against VFL team the Footscray Bulldogs, where he showed some exciting signs of things to come. Displayed enormous potential at both ends of the ground for Victoria Country in the National Championships, as well as with the Murray Bushrangers in the Coates Talent League, averaging14 disposals and five marks in both competitions as well as kicking 29 goals, including two bags of five. Was rewarded with selection in the Coates Talent League Team of the Year. His running vertical jump of 90 cm at the national Draft Combine was impressive and ranked sixth overall, with his speed (3.05 seconds on the 20m sprint) also very good for a key position prospect.
STATE DRAFT COMBINE
Riak Andrew
State: Victoria Country
State League Club: Dandenong Stingrays
Community Club: Berwick
Date of Birth: 17/02/2005
Height 193cm
Tall defender who had been hampered by injuries in recent seasons before getting some continuous matches under his belt this year. Showed enough potential to play for Victoria Country in its match against the Allies at the National Championships. Mobile and with an impressive natural leap, he intercepts well with his marking and uses his long reach to spoil efficiently against taller opponents. Played 12 matches for the Dandenong Stingrays in the Coates Talent League as an approved overaged player, averaging 10.2 disposals, three marks and four tackles. Is the brother of Gold Coast Suns emerging star Mac and is part of Melbourne’s Next Generation Academy.
Tom Bell
State: Western Australia
State League Club: South Fremantle
Community Club: Bunbury
Date of Birth: 06/10/2006
Height: 197cm
Tall defender capable of playing lockdown roles as well as having the ability to drop off his opponent to intercept mark. Had an interrupted year with an ankle injury keeping him out of National Championships contention but overcome the setback to play some consistent football at under-18s level for South Fremantle, averaging 15 disposals and five marks in 12 matches and was rewarded with selection in the WAFL Colts Team of the Year. His 27 disposals and 11 marks in Round 18 against East Fremantle was an outstanding performance. Was unable to test at the state Draft Combine in Perth due to injury.
Joel Brown
State: Western Australia
State League Club: Peel Thunder
Community Club: Donnybrook
Date of Birth: 31/10/2006
Height: 195cm
An emerging tall defender who graduated through the grades at Peel Thunder, where strong performances at colts and reserves levels led to him debuting at senior level and finishing the year playing eight State League games to catch the eye of AFL scouts. Despite not earning selection in Peel’s victorious Grand Final team, he played his role well in defence during the season after missing selection in Western Australia’s squad for the National Championships. Given he only turns 18 years at the end of October, his development as a player and prospect has been rapid. Was a strong performer at the state Draft Combine in Perth, with his 6:37 on the 2km time trial an indication of his endurance and work ethic.
Thomas McKay
State: South Australia
State League Club: Glenelg
Community Club: Brighton
Date of Birth: 27/10/2006
Height: 192cm
Was very composed on the last line of defence for South Australia in all four games of the National Championships, with his ability to intercept mark and distribute the ball efficiently impressive features of his game. Mixed his football between college and under-18s at Glenelg, showing he can also play forward and use his strengths. Is the son of former Australian netball star Sarah Sutter with her athletic genes apparent in his movement. His time of 8.31 seconds on the agility test at the state Draft Combine was a slick performance.
Darcy Petersen
State: Western Australia
State League Club: Peel Thunder
Community Club: Eaton
Date of Birth: 12/01/2006
Height: 193cm
Close-checking tall defender who was impressive in negating dangerous forwards to feature among Western Australia’s best players in National Championships matches against the Allies and South Australia. Very good one-on-one and showed impressive closing speed and discipline in those Championships performances before injured in game three. An aggressive tackler who competes fiercely, he played Colts football for Peel Thunder as well as a couple of matches at reserves level. Presented well at the state Draft Combine in Perth, with his 3.06 seconds on the 20m sprint a sound performance.
Wil Rantall
State: Victoria Country
State League Club: GWV Rebels
Community Club: South Warrnambool
Date of Birth: 19/10/2006
Height: 192cm
Rangy and athletic tall defender capable of playing on both taller and smaller opponents. His speed is a real asset in closing down opponents and providing exciting run from defence. Played 11 games for the GWV Rebels in the Coates Talent League, averaging 10 disposals, and was an important member of their defence in their run to their first Grand Final appearance since 1997. Showed his turn of foot with a sharp 2.99 seconds on the 20m sprint at the state Draft Combine event in Melbourne. Is the brother of former Collingwood player Jay Rantall.
Jacob Sheean
State: South Australia
State League Club: South Adelaide
Community Club: Noarlunga
Date of Birth: 28/01/2006
Height: 196cm
Tall defender who was rock solid for South Australia at the National Championships, playing all four games and showing composure and a sharp competitiveness. Was among his team’s best players in the win over the Allies, with his kicking a feature in setting up his team on the rebound. Was captain of South Adelaide’s under-18s team, playing ten matches and averaging 19 disposals at 76 per cent efficiency. Also had a taste of reserves football throughout the year, playing five games at that level. Tested soundly at the state Draft Combine with his 6:44 seconds on the 2km time trial and 3.05 seconds on the 20m sprint both strong performances.
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Small and medium forwards
Small and medium defenders
