AFL draft: The best state league prospects

Discovering and developing mature age prospects through the state leagues remains one of the most cost-effective ways of adding talent to fill needs. On this year's premiership-winning Richmond side, Nathan Broad, Kane Lambert, Liam Baker and debutant Marlion Pickett were all drafted from the state leagues.

The biggest individual state league success story of recent years is Geelong's Tim Kelly, who, following an All-Australian season and an equal fourth Brownlow Medal finish, was the most attractive trade target this offseason. He was joined by fellow mature age recruit Tom Stewart on the All-Australian team, making the side for the second successive year.

With the new additions of the pre-season supplemental selection period and the mid-season rookie draft, there are now more state leaguers than ever entering the AFL ranks. An easy conclusion to make would be the state leagues are drying up in terms of the national draft, but there remain numerous ready-mades and developing mature agers with the scope to play at AFL level.

Among the best performed state league recruits last year included Sam Collins who was acquired by Gold Coast through their 'outside the draft' concessions. Matthew Parker, Nick Hind and Marty Hore were among the most successful selected during the national draft while Callum Wilkie and Tom Atkins impressed out of the rookie draft.

During the preseason supplemental period, Michael Gibbons and Jay Lockhart have added value for their respective sides. Marlion Pickett, who was taken during the mid-season draft, debuted in and was one of Richmond's best in their Grand Final.

This year's best prospects

With the capability to play inside or outside through the midfield, Frank Anderson is a capable ball winner who covers the ground well and can play a defensive role as required. Anderson was unlucky not to get picked during the mid-season draft. After playing in the Eastern Football League in 2018, Anderson has transitioned into the VFL seamlessly.

Winner of the NEAFL Rising Star, Angus Baker generated meaningful drive from defence, moved the ball on quickly, used the ball reliably and intercepted often. He was among Canberra's bests in 13 of their 17 matches and averaged over 30 disposals per game.

Winner of the 2016 and 2018 Sandover Medals for the WAFL's fairest and best, Jye Bolton is a ready-to-go midfielder. The 27-year-old former Collingwood rookie has averaged 29 disposals over the past four seasons. He can play inside or outside and remains one of the best midfielders outside the AFL.

In the mix as a forward, Sam Lowson was one of the favourites to feature during the mid-season draft but unfortunately got hurt at the wrong time, injuring his ankle just days before the draft for Coburg in their clash against Geelong. Dangerous around goal, Lowson is a good finisher, damaging at ground level, a good athlete who possesses speed, a high leap and applies heavy forward pressure.

Taking his game to the next level, former North Melbourne defender Mitch Hibberd has  become one of the VFL's best midfielders. With the capacity to play inside or outside, Hibberd at 191cm wins the contested ball, tackles aggressively, covers a lot of ground and provides run and carry.

Ready-to-go midfielder/forward Mitch Maguire possesses damaging skills, power and the capacity to hit the scoreboard as a forward. He has been compared in the past to Dayne Zorko and averaged 30.5 disposals per game this season in the NEAFL despite opposition sides attempting to clamp down on him every week to try to limit his influence.

A capable ball-winning midfielder who has shown strong improvement over the past two seasons, Matthew Nunn accelerates out of stoppages with his breakaway speed and hurts the opposition by foot. A South Australian, Nunn is ideally suited to a midfield requiring an injection of speed and skill.

Winning the Magery Medal for the SANFL's best and fairest, former West Coast player Luke Partington is a plug and play midfielder. Averaging 30 disposals per game in the SANFL, Partington is a midfielder with speed, endurance, clean skills and good ball-winning capabilities.

Winner of the Fothergill-Round-Mitchell Medal, awarded to the best young VFL player, Werribee key forward Jake Riccardi will be hoping to be the 14th successive winner of the award to find his way onto an AFL list. Following a promising overage season in the TAC Cup in 2018 for Calder, Riccardi has shown rapid development this season to become an athletic, strong marking presence forward of centre. Riccardi finished second in the competition's goalkicking, kicking 38 goals from 20 games.

Winning the 2017 Sandover Medal for the WAFL's fairest and best ahead of then teammate Tim Kelly, former Fremantle rookie Haiden Schloithe remains one of the best players outside the AFL. The classy 26-year-old midfielder/forward has averaged almost 26 disposals per game over the past three seasons while also averaging more than one goal per game each year.

Goalkicking medium forward Ben Sokol won the Simpson Medal for best on ground in the WAFL Grand Final, kicking six goals. Sokol was the WAFL's leading goalkicker, kicking 60 goals from 20 games while also taking a competition high 166 marks.

A hard-leading forward, Sokol demonstrates a high work rate, has a strong body and has developed a reputation for having the strongest hands overhead outside the AFL.