Several Northern Knights players are on the radar ahead of this week’s AFL draft.
The Knights, who finished 10th with six wins in the TAC Cup, had eight players test at the national and state combine screenings in October.
Talent manager Peter Kennedy said those eight players and Zach Ballard were the ones he expected to be in contention for a spot on an AFL senior or rookie list.
Kennedy said not many players from outside those tested at the combine normally got selected.
The club’s likely picks, he said, would be Kyle Langford, Reece McKenzie and Jason Castagna.
“Kyle can play both ends, and he tested really well at the draft combine.
“He’s an athletic player who captained Ivanhoe Grammar and played for Vic Metro, and he’s kicked two bags of five goals for the Knights.
“I expect he’ll go late first round or early second round,” Kennedy said.
“Reece is a power forward. He’s remarkably quick over 20 metres and was in the top two per cent at the draft testing.
“He was the best contested mark and kicked a bag of 10 for the Knights and 16 in school footy.
“Jason is a medium defender with speed and endurance. He ran a 15.3 beep test.”
Others Kennedy believes are in the mix are Jayden Short, Ryan Tester, Bailey Jordan, Sam Switkowski and Garrett McDonagh.
“Jayden had the best kicking efficiency in the TAC Cup,” he said. “He’s a bit of a late bolter after missing all the practice matches, which also meant he wasn’t selected for Vic Metro.
“Ryan is in his first year of football. He played mainly as a key defender and is more likely a rookie chance.
“Bailey is on the radar. He played on the best forwards for us, which put him on a big learning curve.”
Switkowski won the Knights’ best and fairest award and played for Vic Metro, but Kennedy said the large number of good players at his height could affect his chances.
He thought McDonagh was a Matthew Suckling-type, who came off half-back with a booming kick.
Kennedy said that while Zach Ballard was a chance of being picked up, he would most likely go through the VFL system next year to work on his finishing skills.
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