Draft Spotlight #2 | Bailey Humphrey

Draft Prospect – Bailey Humphrey  

As part of the 2022 National Draft Coverage, Blue Abroad will place the spotlight on some potential draftees for the Carlton Football Club. 

The second player in the spotlight is Bailey Humphrey, a contested beast that can make an impact in the forward line and in midfield. 

Carlton currently holds picks 10, 28, 62, and 64 in the upcoming AFL Draft, meaning the Blues would be likely to take Humphrey at pick 10 if the opportunity arises. 

A strong chance to land at the Blues, Humphrey has made an impact in nearly every NAB League game in 2022, kicking a total of 21 goals across the season. 

The boy from Moe in Gippsland already has the size to compete at AFL level, as many boys are from the Gippsland region and team. 

Playing his NAB League footy at the Gippsland Power, Humphrey had an emphatic season averaging 19.8 disposals, 5.7 marks, 4.6 tackles, and 1.9 goals per game (including finals). 

The captain of the Gippsland Power had his best game came against the Northern Knights, where he tallied 31 disposals and kicked 4.5, a season-best.

Humphrey’s best assets include his contested marking, aerial threat, scoreboard impact, and his power. 

Measuring 184cm tall, Humphrey fits the role of a mid-sized half forward that is able to provide great leading options inside forward 50. 

His contested marking ability makes him a consistent threat inside forward 50, with his ability to outmuscle opponents a major benefit when transitioning into AFL level. 

One downfall of Humphrey’s game at the moment has been his set shot kicking, amassing 21.18 throughout the NAB League season.

However, he is able to kick greater distances than most with the power he has in his kicking ability, making him a versatile midfielder/forward that can provide great assets in either area. 

Humphrey sustained a knee injury early in the 2022 season which saw him miss out on Vic Country selection, however, his form earned him a spot in the final game of the National Championships. 

Humphrey’s only Vic Country game came against Vic Metro in the unofficial ‘Grand Final’ where he was one of the most impactful on the ground. 

However, the main downfall of his game yet again was his kicking accuracy, kicking 1.3 for the game, really missing his opportunity to make a scoreboard impact. 

That said, his speed on the ball and aerial presence was on show even when under some strong physical presence defensively. 

Humphrey’s running patterns inside forward 50 allowed him to create space within a small patch of space ahead, giving midfielders more open looks inside forward 50. 

This has been consistent in his football throughout the whole season. 

This also translates into the midfielder, where his burst work out of the stoppages provides for quick transition moving inside forward 50. 

Humphrey would provide great X-Factor for the Blues, who have struggled to consistently fill out the half forward role that was traded between Jack Martin and Zac Fisher throughout the year.

His ability to take strong contested marks up and down the ground gives great tactical flexibility with his positioning, as he can drag out players from the stoppages, whilst also supplying unpredictability in his movements to win the ball quickly and flare out of contested packs. 

Humphrey is a likely target for the Blues, and if you were to look at it right now he may be number one on the list. 

With more time under professional systems to improve his goal kicking and kicking efficiency, Humphrey would be ready to take another step in his quality level. 

Chance of landing at the Blues: 90%