Following the conclusion of the AFL Draft 2021 at the end of November, some teams are placing a lot of hope in their new recruits and hoping to change their fortunes after disappointing seasons in 2021.


As the bottom team on the ladder in 2021, North Melbourne Kangaroos had the first pick in the 2021 draft and they selected Jason Horne-Francis with their number one pick. Horne-Francis is an all-Australian and his state’s MVP at under-16s level just two years ago.


North Melbourne will have high hopes for Horne-Francis and with two years of senior football under his belt, it is hoped he can change the fortunes of the struggling Kangaroos who finished rock-bottom in 2021, picking up just four wins across the 22 game season.


The 2021 draft was perhaps the hardest for a number of years due to the lack of playing time for a lot of the prospects over the past 18 months. This meant that this year’s recruits were the most under-viewed for decades, however, that doesn’t diminish from their talent and there were some huge prospects up for selection in the draft.


Let’s take a look at five of the biggest prospects for 2022:

Jason Horne-Francis - North Melbourne Kangaroos
We’ve already talked about the impact the Kangaroos will be hoping Horne-Francis can make in 2022 and they will be looking at his ball-winning ability in the middle of the park to help them to improve on their woeful defensive record from 2021.


Horne-Francis averaged 16.5 disposals (8.8 contested), 4.2 tackles and 3.2 clearances in 20 games at senior level this year as well as representing both Australia at Under-18s level and South Australia at Under-19s level.


The Kangaroos have a big job on their hands and they are already the favourites with Betway to finish bottom of the ladder once again in 2022. Whilst Francis-Horne may not make an immediate impact, the Kangaroos are certainly building for a brighter future.

Sam Darcy - Western Bulldogs
With the second pick of the 2021 draft, Western Bulldogs picked up Sam Darcy - a tall forward who can also play down back or in the ruck. He is exceptional in the air, making the most of his height - Darcy is 204cm - and reads the ball very well in flight. He has a solid goal-kicking routine and booted six goals in a Victorian Metro trial match.


Western Bulldogs picked up Darcy after matching GWS Giants bid. Sam is the son of former Bulldogs star Luke Darcy and was eligible for the Bulldogs under the father-son rule. It is hoped that Sam will go on to match his father’s exploits and help to propel the Bulldogs up the table in 2022.


The Bulldogs are already in strong shape for the 2022 season after finishing fifth on the ladder in 2021 and Betway currently has the Bulldogs as second-favourites for the Grand Final in 2022.

Finn Callaghan - GWS Giants
After missing out on Darcy, GWS Giants turned their attention to Finn Callaghan - a left-footed midfielder who burst onto the scene with dominant performances early with the Sandringham Dragons, winning selection in the Australian Under-18s team for its Challenge match against Geelong (VFL) and showcasing his natural talent and athleticism.


Callaghan looks like a great coup for the Giants thanks to his unique aerial ability as well as a great sense for goal, making him a difficult matchup at his size when he goes forward. Played six matches in the NAB League, averaging 24.3 disposals (eight contested), three clearances and 3.2 tackles, winning him the Dragons' best and fairest award as well a selection in the NAB League Team of the Year in 2021.


The GWS Giants will be hoping to build on a seventh-place finish in 2021 and they are currently 15.00 with Betway for the Grand Final in 2022.

Nick Daicos - Collingwood
Collingwood finished the season in second-to-last place in 2021 with just six wins in the season, finishing with four defeats on the bounce and collecting just 24 points. It goes without saying that 2022 is a big year for the club and they need to bounce back. They will be delighted with their fourth-round draft pick, Nick Daicos.


Daicos was a stand out in the NAB League last season, averaging 35.8 disposals and two goals in five appearances, and representative games for both the Australian Under-18s team (29 disposals) and Victoria Metro (41 disposals). A creative player who has clean hands and great vision, Daicos is a great addition to the Collingwood roster for 2022.


The bookies are predicting another tough season for Collingwood with Betway giving odds of 81.00 for them to make the Grand Final in 2022.

Mac Andrew - Gold Coast Suns
Rounding out the top five draft picks for 2021 is tall forward/ruckman, Mac Andrew. Andrew showed some sparkling form at the start of the year with his overhead marking, agility and speed, propelling him into the Australian under-18s team for its NAB AFL Academy match against Geelong’s VFL team.


Looked highly promising with his aerial ability and mobility for Victoria Country in the AFL Challenge match against Victoria Metro, and averaged 12.7 disposals, 2.7 marks and 12.7 hit outs in six matches for the Dandenong Stingrays this year to claim NAB League Team of the Year honours.


Joining Collingwood at 81.00 to make the Grand Final in 2022, the Gold Coast Suns will be hoping to prove the doubters wrong and build on a 16th-placed finish last time out.


The AFL is arguably one of the most competitive leagues in world sport and we are excited for the start of the new season.