The
Sunday Age
November 27, 2005 The players, the
stats, what the recruiters say and special comments by Age experts Jake Niall and
Stephen Reilly.
Adelaide
RICHARD DOUGLAS
No. 16 (Calder Cannons) 18yo 180cm 68kg
Defender with a terrific work rate, clean hands and footy smarts. Won coaches award for
Vic Metro, was selected in TAC Cup team of the year and won Calder Cannons' bestand-
fairest. Impressive draft camp with speed, agility and endurance all in the top 15 per
cent.
DARREN PFEIFFER
No. 17 (Norwood) 18yo 183cm 79kg
Good ball-winner who played senior football in SANFL this year. Can play forward or back,
and takes a grab. No.1 at the draft camp for standing vertical leap.
BERNIE VINCE
No. 32 (Woodville West Torrens) 20yo 186cm 81kg
Played four senior games in the SANFL this year including a top performance in the
preliminary final against Port Adelaide Magpies.
ALAN OBST
No. 48 (Central District) 18yo 193cm 82kg
Tall defender who is strong overhead, accountable and very determined. Represented SA at
the under 18 carnival.
THE CLUB SAYS
"We really wanted to get a genuine inside midfielder, a competitor, and we reckon
Douglas is just that sort of kid. Pfeiffer is quick and again has an enormous commitment
at the ball. We know, given the age of our midfield, that we've got to start underpinning
the centre square we've got with some new cornerstone players." – James
Fantasia, recruiting manager.
THE SUNDAY AGE SAYS
With three young ruckmen (John Meesen, Ivan Maric and Jonathon Griffin) recruited last
year, the Crows sought ground-level centre-square types this year. A move which makes
eminent sense when you realise that Mark Ricciuto turns 31 next season, Andrew McLeod 30,
Tyson Edwards 30 and Simon Goodwin will blow out 29 candles on his birthday cake next
month.
Brisbane Lions
MITCHELL CLARK
No. 9 (East Fremantle) 18yo 198cm 91kg
Tall forward/ruckman who is a noted goalkicker, strong overhead, agile and a good kick.
Played senior WAFL football this year. Struck down with meningococcal last week but
recovering well. Also a talented volleyballer who was offered scholarship at the
Australian Institute of Sport.
WAYDE MILLS
No. 25 (Southport) 18yo 195cm 88kg
Strongly built key defender with a physical presence. Captained Queensland at the under 18
championships and was named All-Australian. Great leap.
RHAN HOOPER
No. 41 (Ipswich) 17yo 177cm 71kg
Small midfielder with excellent pace and good skills on his preferred left side.
Represented Queensland this year.
JOEL PATFULL
No. 56 (Port Adel rookie)
20yo 189cm 91kg Medium forward who was a rookie with Port Adelaide. Had a consistent year
with Norwood playing both forward and back.
THE CLUB SAYS
"We were looking to replace a bit of height in the group, because of the loss of
(Darryl) White, (Martin) Pike and (Llane) Spaanderman and the fact that (Justin) Leppitsch
and (Mal) Michael are getting older. Talls are hard to find which is why we also went for
a tall defender in Mills after Clark." - Kinnear Beatson, recruiting manager.
THE SUNDAY AGE SAYS
Not for the first time – think of Jared Brennan at No. 3 in 2002 – the Lions
have invested in a tall player of unquestionable talent and questionable temperament in
Mitch Clark. He, and to an extent Wayde Mills, address the need created by the retirements
of Alastair Lynch, Darryl White and Martin Pike in the last 12 months, plus the departure
of Llane Spaanderman and the fragile state of 30-year-old Justin Leppitsch's back.
Carlton
MARC MURPHY
No. 1 (Oakleigh Chargers) 18yo 179cm 75kg
Highly rated small inside midfielder/forward. Murphy is a very competitive ball-winner who
reads the play well. Runner-up in the Chargers' best-and-fairest and was outstanding in
the under 18 championships, where he won the Larke Medal and All-Australian honours.
Agility and spring are outstanding.
JOSHUA KENNEDY
No. 4 (East Fremantle) 18yo 195cm 92kg
Key forward with excellent work ethic and contested marking ability. All-Australian at
under 18 level who played seniors in the WAFL. Just had a shoulder operation.
PAUL BOWER
No. 20 (Peel Thunder) 17yo 192cm 87kg
Tall, powerful defender who is mobile and provides good run from defence. Big kick. Topped
off his year with a premiership with Peel Thunder Colts.
JAKE EDWARDS
No. 36 (Western Jets) 17yo 192cm 82kg
Plays key positions at either end of the ground. Club "pretty pleased" to snare
him. Son of Allan Edwards, former Richmond, Collingwood and Bulldogs player.
THE CLUB SAYS
"Josh Kennedy had his shoulder operated on last week. He has a very strong work
ethic, he's a good kick and a very mature boy for an 18-year-old. Paul Bower's a very
aggressive, running defender. He's 17 years old and a monster already. And Jake Edwards
played for the Western Jets, key forward and key back. He's a very athletic player and
good mark overhead. So we got the midfielder and three talls." – Wayne Hughes,
recruiting manager.
THE SUNDAY AGE SAYS
No tailored, needs-specific strategy for the bottomed-out Blues, although with three talls
– two of them defenders – in their haul a rebuild of the spine seems planned.
Could claim to have secured the best small/tall combination of the draft in Marc Murphy
and Josh Kennedy.
Collingwood
DALE THOMAS
No. 2 (Gippsland Power) 18yo 183cm 75kg
A surprise selection at No. 2, Thomas is a quick midfielder/forward who is elusive and
smart around goals. Very competitive type who had an outstanding 2005, including best on
ground in the TAC Cup grand final. Will benefit from time in the gym.
SCOTT PENDLEBURY
No. 5 (Gippsland Power) 17yo 190cm 81kg
Midfielder with an elite basketball background. The agile left-footer won plenty of ball
on the wing with the premiership-winning Gippsland Power team.
DANNY STANLEY
No. 21 (Geelong Falcons) 17yo 186cm 89kg
Defender who plays with a physical presence and is strong overhead. Lovely long kick and
excels in one-on-one situations. Classes himself as a "hard inside player, half-back
or midfield".
RYAN COOK
No. 23 (Dandenong Stingrays) 17yo 186cm 77kg
Medium forward who is very quick and footy smart. Reached level 13.7 in the beep test at
Victorian state screening.
JOHN ANTHONY
No. 37 (Northern Knights) 17yo 191cm 85kg
Tall defender with terrific pace and passion for the game. Club recruiting manager Derek
Hine said: "He's got really good speed and he plays a bit like Jimmy Clement in
defence."
THE CLUB SAYS
"We thought with Dale, he's a guy who can go forward and play through the midfield.
He kicks the ball really well and both sides of the body. We're really pleased to get
Scott Pendlebury. He's a 190 centimetre midfielder and we think he's got enormous scope
for improvement. But already he holds the ball really well and just finds time to use it.
We're really happy. This was a really important draft for our football club and we got the
guys we wanted." – Derek Hine, recruiting manager.
THE SUNDAY AGE SAYS
The Magpies threw a couple of curve balls by selecting Dale Thomas and Scott Pendlebury
slightly ahead of where consensus had them, demonstrating the diversity of opinion about
this draft. Danny Stanley has the physique to play soon. Ryan Cook and John Anthony
completed an all- Victorian draft and also were considered somewhat unorthodox choices.
Essendon
PATRICK RYDER
No. 7 (East Fremantle) 17yo 196cm 86kg
Forward/ruckman who is strong overhead, has clean hands and dangerous around goals. Had an
outstanding year, making his debut in the WAFL, named in under 18 All-Australian honours
and represented the AIS/AFL Academy in Ireland. Excellent at stoppages.
COURTENAY DEMPSEY
No. 19 (Morningside) 18yo 184cm 68kg
Explosive midfielder in the Andrew Lovett mould, according to coach Kevin Sheedy.
Represented Queensland and has excellent evasive skills. Originally from Cairns.
JAY NEAGLE
No. 39 (Gippsland Power) 17yo 188cm 85kg
Son of premiership midfielder Merv. Plays forward and can take a contested mark, and
represented Vic Country.
SAMUEL LONERGAN
No. 50 (Tassie Mariners) 18yo 181cm 80kg
Won his second Mariners' best-and-fairest playing as an attacking midfielder. Hard worker
who is good at clearances and has pace.
AUSTIN LUCY
No. 66 (Suncoast Lions) 18yo 192cm 90kg
Key defender with a very competitive nature and quick off the mark. Converted from a rugby
background.
THE CLUB SAYS
"In our mind there was no choice when Ryder was available at (pick) seven. So now
we've got (David) Hille, (Jason) Laycock, (Tristan) Cartledge, (Kepler) Bradley and Ryder,
five athletic ruckmen or key position players." – Kevin Sheedy, coach.
THE SUNDAY AGE SAYS
Kevin Sheedy's belief in tall over small and passion for indigenous skill were brought
together in Patrick Ryder, the Adam Goodes-like ruckman/forward from Western Australia.
Continued to address the issue of lack of speed by selecting Courtenay Dempsey at the end
of the first round, with the pick received for Ted Richards, and later chose Sam Lonergan,
an inside mid-fielder described as Mark Johnson-like.
Fremantle
MARCUS DRUM
No. 10 (Murray Bushrangers) 18yo 190cm 80kg
In the words of coach Chris Connolly, a natural reader of the play and good ball user. A
composed defender, Drum is strong overhead and has neat disposal skills. Under 18 All-
Australian in 2004, he won the Bushrangers' bestand- fairest this year. Coach Chris
Connolly says senior footy this year would be a "bonus".
GARRICK IBBOTSON
No. 26 (East Fremantle) 17yo 187cm 78kg
Pacy defender who the club believes could develop into something special. Played for
Western Australia in the under 18s.
ROBERT WARNOCK
No. 42 (Sandringham) 18yo 205cm 80kg
Recruited to provide depth in the ruck, but needs to bulk up. A project player picked to
provide long-term support to Justin Longmuir and Aaron Sandilands.
THE CLUB SAYS
"Marcus Drum will be a third tall defender or third tall forward for us, (he's an)
outstanding young man. We've got a pretty healthy list in terms of age ... two of those
drafted are developing. Marcus will hopefully make a contribution not next year, but
certainly the years after." – Chris Connolly, coach.
THE SUNDAY AGE SAYS
Marcus Drum, the nephew of this club's former coach, Damian Drum, fits the Fremantle
agenda of drafting the best available talent, regardless of positional needs or state of
origin. Garrick Ibbotson is a soccer convert, while 205-centimetre Robert Warnock becomes
the club's alternative uber-tall after Aaron Sandilands.
Geelong
TRAVIS VARCOE
No. 15 (Central District) 17yo 179cm 71kg
The Cats were happy to pick up Varcoe this late – had it not been for a foot injury
that required surgery mid-season, he could have gone top five. Plays in the midfield and
has blistering pace.
TRENT WEST
No. 31 (Gippsland Power) 18yo 198cm 90kg
Developing ruckman who can find the footy and works hard. The Cats rated him as the
secondbest ruckman in the draft behind Max Bailey. Has excellent endurance.
STEPHEN OWEN
No. 35 (North Ballarat Rebels) 18yo 188cm 80kg
Powerful forward who presents well on the lead and is strong overhead. Has much to learn
but is an excellent prospect, says coach Mark Thompson.
RYAN GAMBLE
No. 47 (Glenelg) 18yo 180cm 72kg
Midfielder with terrific agility and versatility. From Millicent in Glenelg's country
zone. Good overhead and can play both ends. He missed the draft camp to play in the SANFL
grand final.
MATHEW STOKES No. 61 (Woodville-West Torrens) 21yo
177cm 80kg
An older player who has been plying his trade in the SANFL. Attacking midfielder described
by Thompson as "dangerous" and "exciting".
THE CLUB SAYS
"We concentrated on getting some speed and also guys that will develop. There's a lot
of work to be done on all those guys, probably with the exception of Mathew Stokes, who
has already played 70 odd games in the SANFL ... we took the risk on the Varcoe injury at
pick 15. We're very hopeful he'll make a full recovery." – Stephen Wells,
recruiting manager
THE SUNDAY AGE SAYS
It is fitting that the Cats picked a kid named (Ryan) Gamble, since they've rolled the
dice on Travis Varcoe's capacity to overcome a broken foot – recognising he had
fallen to pick 15 solely due to injury. With the exception of ready-to-go Mathew Stokes,
the trend was for long-term players whom the club acknowledged need plenty of development.
Hawthorn
XAVIER ELLIS
No. 3 (Gippsland Power) 17yo 186cm 72kg
Defensive midfielder who can carry the ball. Split his football between Melbourne Grammar
and Gippsland Power this year, topping off a great year with premiership success, where he
was a key player for Gippsland.
BEAU DOWLER
No. 6 (Oakleigh Chargers) 17yo 195cm 84kg
Tall forward who leads quickly, has excellent hands and is an accurate kick.
All-Australian this year and a graduate of the AIS/AFL Academy in 2004. Reads the ball
well through the air and has a passion for the game. Expected to make a full recovery from
the car accident that left him in a wheelchair.
GRANT BIRCHALL
No. 14 (Tassie Mariners) 17yo 192cm 84kg
Tall midfielder/defender who wins contested ball and runs the lines. Long left-foot kick.
Had an exceptional under 18 championships, winning the Harrison Medal for best player in
division two.
MAX BAILEY
No. 18 (West Perth) 19yo 206cm 93kg
Mobile ruckman with good skills for a player of his size. Has clean hands and a good
understanding of the game.
BEAU MUSTON
No. 22 (Murray Bushrangers) 18yo 189cm 79kg
Midfielder with pace. Injured his knee mid-year after an outstanding start to 2005 but is
making good progress in his recovery.
TRAVIS TUCK
No. 38 (Dandenong Stingrays) 18yo 187cm 79kg
Son of club legend Michael Tuck and brother of Richmond's developing midfielder Shane.
Excels at stop-plays and is a raking left-foot kick.
THE CLUB SAYS
"We've put in place a recruiting model at our football club. We're mindful that the
best way to approach winning a premiership in this competition is to invest heavily in
youth and build a side of young players that can come through together over a four or
five-year period. We've commenced that now." – Alastair Clarkson, coach
THE SUNDAY AGE SAYS
How could the Hawks fail? With picks aplenty, they could afford to choose the two injured
Beaus – Dowler and Muston – and a 206-centimetre beanpole in Max Bailey in the
knowledge that their draft investment portfolio was diverse and included safer choices
such as Xavier Ellis and Grant Birchall to complement riskier growth stocks. They should
have quite a list in 2009.
Kangaroos
MATT RIGGIO
No. 28 (Peel Thunder) 17yo 187cm 83kg
Medium defender with good pace. An AIS/AFL Academy graduate in 2005, he missed WA's under
18 team before a strong finish to the year saw him make his senior WAFL debut. Was in the
top 10 per cent for the beep test.
ANDREW SWALLOW
No. 43 (East Fremantle) 18yo 183cm 77kg
Inside midfielder with a high work rate. Captained WA and was an under 18 All-Australian.
KASEY GREEN
No. 45 (West Coast) 26yo 187cm 87kg
Experienced West Coast midfielder who played in the Eagles' grand final loss to Sydney.
TIMOTHY HUTCHISON
No. 69 (Port Adelaide Magpies) 17yo 196cm 82kg
Key forward who is lightly built at 17 years and missed part of year due to injury.
THE CLUB SAYS
"Mainly we went for the best player at every choice. We've ended up with
three midfielders and another tall – two midfielders, a developing tall and a
midfielder (Kasey Green) who played in the (AFL) grand final, played on Ryan O'Keefe
basically." – Neville Stibbard, recruiting manager
THE SUNDAY AGE SAYS
Having traded out of the past two national drafts in exchange for seasoned
bodies, the Roos continued their mature player policy by grabbing the first recycled
player yesterday, in Kasey Green. Given a limited involvement in the early rounds, they
felt blessed to acquire young WA midfield prospects in Matt Riggio and Andrew Swallow.
Melbourne
NATHAN JONES
No. 12 (Dandenong Stingrays) 17yo 179cm 84kg
A tough inside midfielder with leadership potential, according to Demons recruiting
manager Craig Cameron. "He's a really good kick and a big possession winner. He's got
really good leadership qualities so he's got a lot of the things we were looking for in a
footballer." Had 36 touches in the TAC Cup grand final.
SIMON BUCKLEY
No. 53 (Sandringham Dragons) 18yo 189cm 81kg
Quick and with good skills, the Demons see Buckley developing into a tall
wingman/midfielder.
CLINT BARTRAM
No. 60 (Geelong Falcons) 17yo 181cm 73kg
Midfielder with great work rate, courage and clean hands. Graduate of the AIS/AFL Academy
this year. "Really dedicated to his footy," said Cameron.
HEATH NEVILLE
No. 68 (Tassie Mariners) 17yo 184cm 82kg
Half-back who is composed under pressure and has played senior football with Clarence in
Tasmania.
THE CLUB SAYS
"We put a lot of run and midfield type players into our club. If there was a
tall there at some point, we may have taken that. It wasn't a plan just to take midfield
types but that's what we ended up with and we probably added a lot of pace." –
Craig Cameron, recruiting manager
THE SUNDAY AGE SAYS
Used all four selections yesterday – thereby eliminating the possibility of
being reunited with Shane Woewodin in the pre-season draft – the first of them on
Nathan Jones, an inexhaustible warrior-type from Dandenong Stingrays. In Jones, the likes
of Brock McLean, Colin Sylvia and Brent Moloney have a new soul mate.
Port Adelaide
NICK LOWER
No. 30 (Norwood) 18yo 187cm 84kg
Tough half-back with midfield potential who represented SA at under 18 level. The
left-footer made his senior debut for Norwood this year. Ran 2.93 seconds for the 20
metres at the draft camp, putting him in the top six per cent in that category.
ALIPATE CARLILE
No. 44 (Murray Bushrangers) 18yo 191cm 93kg
Strongly built and dashing defender who is good one-on-one. Recruiting manager Mick Moylan
sees him developing into a full-back. "Particularly with guys like Darryl Wakelin and
that (eventually) moving out, we saw him as a good mix coming into our squad," Moylan
said."
HUGH MINSON
No. 58 (Norwood) 17yo 202cm 83kg
Brother of the Bulldogs' Will Minson and under 18 South Australian high jump champion.
Moylan described the left-footer as "a developing ruckman capable of pushing forward.
We're impressed by his character as much as anything."
JONATHAN GILES
No. 70 (Central District) 17yo 199cm 85kg
Ruckman/forward who played at under 17 level in the SANFL this year. Has good speed and
uses the ball well.
THE CLUB SAYS
"We were hoping to get Nick Lower and we did ... he's a tough player so
someone we certainly need in our side. We've had Brett Montgomery and Matty Primus as well
as Roger James all off our list last year, so the age has really come down. We've got two
guys who are about 200 centimetres as well so they're going to take three or four years to
come good. Our attitude is really long-term decisions." – Mark Williams, coach
THE SUNDAY AGE SAYS
Port reckons Nick Lower and Alipate Carlile are capable of wearing the Power
strip next year, while Hugh Minson and Jonathan Giles were deemed "longer-term
prospects". The latter pair are both rucks, as Port took account of Matthew Primus's
retirement and Brendon Lade's imminent 30th birthday.
Richmond
JARRAD OAKLEY-NICHOLLS
No. 8 (East Perth) 17yo 188cm 75kg
Midfielder with terrific pace and sweeping ability across halfback. WA under 18
representative who played seniors with East Perth. No.1 for agility and No.2 for speed at
the draft camp. Football director Greg Miller compared him with Brett Deledio as "a
modern day footballer who runs and carries the ball".
CLEVE HUGHES
No. 24 (Norwood) 18yo 192cm 84kg
Tall forward with a terrific kick. "We thought he'd be gone well and truly by choice
24," Miller said. "We see a key position player, a guy who can play I think at
this stage on the full forward line."
TRAVIS CASSERLEY
No. 40 (Swan Districts) 18yo 187cm 76kg
A midfielder with plenty of stamina, the Tigers would have been happy to take Casserley at
No.24. "A magnificent kick who has beautiful balance and speed," said Miller.
THE CLUB SAYS
"Our finance manager won't be pleased – relocation costs, living away
from home allowances, I'm going to be in trouble first thing Monday! That's just the way
it fell. We felt the couple of key talls would be gone, as they were, so we moved into the
speed area." – Greg Miller, football director.
THE SUNDAY AGE SAYS
The Tigers finally opted for Jarrad Oakley-Nicholls ahead of Travis Varcoe,
preferring the taller runner. Cleve Hughes has significant upside and, assuming he makes
it, redresses the creaking Tiger spine. The Tigers have left a spot for the pre-season
draft, but might not use it.
St Kilda
SAM GILBERT
No. 33 (Southport) 19yo 194cm 82kg
Tall defender, a year older than most draft players. Played in a premiership with
Southport and impressed for Queensland at under 21 level this year. Should be ready to
play.
MICHAEL RIX
No. 49 (Coburg) 24yo 200cm 98kg
Mature, and one of the best of the VFL ruckman. Picked as a ruck back-up, but will have
chances aplenty at Moorabbin if he is good enough.
PHILLIP RAYMOND
No. 63 (Glenelg) 18yo 186cm 69kg
Medium forward. Lean, good mark, kicked 60 goals for his school side and played with
Glenelg under 19s.
JUSTIN SWEENEY
No. 71 (Tyabb) 17yo 188cm 80kg
Draft "smokey" with athletic ability, a good leap and balance. Medium forward
who kicked 70 goals for Tyabb this year.
THE CLUB SAYS
"We've picked up a tall, running back-line player, a ruckman who can also
play back and a couple of kids with promise with late picks." John Beveridge,
recruiting manager
THE SUNDAY AGE SAYS
Beveridge's eye for the obscure player, like James Gwilt last year, fell upon
Tyabb forward Justin Sweeney, the last player chosen in the entire draft. First selection
was used on a tall defender from Queensland, Sam Gilbert, who, with Max Hudghton turning
30 next year and the career of Luke Penny jeopardised by a knee problem, is part of a
succession plan.
Sydney
MATTHEW LAIDLAW
No. 51 (Oakleigh Chargers) 18yo 186cm 82kg
One of the quickest at the draft camp and a good mark for his size. Strong body, ready to
play.
KRISTIN THORNTON
No. 54 (Peel Thunder) 17yo 184cm 72kg
Skinny midfielder with good endurance. Has a twin brother. Gets the ball a lot.
RYAN BRABAZON
No. 59 (Claremont) 18yo 181cm 70kg
Medium midfielder who won the WA Colts best-and-fairest. Lean, but has speed and
endurance.
THE CLUB SAYS
"The fact that we're down the back means there were a couple we liked who
went early. We've got three good young midfielders who we hope can develop." Ricky
Barham, national recruiting manager
THE SUNDAY AGE SAYS
"If you can't be at the front of the draft, be at the back" is Sydney's
motto. The premiers didn't have a selection until pick 51 and were out by pick 59. Not
surprisingly, given the side's hard-fought, gritty formula for success, the first two of
Sydney's three picks were inside midfielders with, as they say, a competitive spirit.
West Coast
SHANNON HURN
No. 13 (Central District) 18yo 188cm 92kg
Physically mature running halfback who has already played in a senior premiership with
Central District. A powerfully built ball-winner who is strong overhead and an excellent
user of the ball. All-Australian under 18.
BENJAMIN McKINLEY
No. 29 (Northern Knights) 18yo 184cm 82kg
Medium-sized forward who is good overhead and kicked over 60 goals in the TAC Cup
competition. Included in this year's All-Australian and TAC Cup team of the year.
MATTHEW SPANGHER
No. 34 (Eastern Ranges) 18yo 193cm 83kg
Key position defender. Tall and athletic with good running endurance. Played for Vic Metro
this year.
THE CLUB SAYS
"The way that the draft worked out it's given us three players that we rated
really highly. It's given us what we wanted." – John Worsfold, coach.
THE SUNDAY AGE SAYS
Man-child Shannon Hurn, touted as a potential top-10 choice, fell through to the
Eagles. At 92 kilograms, he'd play regularly next year in a lesser side. Confident in its
powers of retention, West Coast drafted three boys from beyond the border – Hurn
(SA), Benjamin McKinley (Vic) and Matthew Spangher (Vic) – and confined their
drafting to the early rounds.
Western Bulldogs
SHAUN HIGGINS
No. 11 (Geelong Falcons) 17yo 184cm 79kg
Medium midfielder, in the Bulldogs' view the best player available at their first pick.
Uses the ball well with hand and foot and is a courageous high possession winner in
traffic. Named in this year's TAC Cup team of the year.
DYLAN ADDISON
No. 27 (St George) 18yo 186cm 73kg
Quick and tough, Addison plays inside and has potential to develop. Impressed for NSW/ACT
in under 18 championships. Deceptive overhead marking ability.
TRAVIS BAIRD
No. 46 (Brisbane Lions rookie) 19yo 189cm 80kg
Had a year in the system, with potential to develop as a tall. Can kick on either foot.
BRETT MONTGOMERY
No. 55 (Port Adelaide) 32yo 180cm 83kg
Good playmaker off half-back who returns to his original club to bolster the defence.
Best-and-fairest winner with Port Adelaide.
MICHAEL WEST
No. 57 (Redlands) 18yo 195cm 86kg
Tall forward returning from an anterior cruciate ligament injury. Worth a punt, the Dogs
say. Strong overhead and an accurate kick for goal.
THE CLUB SAYS
"It's a good mix for us, we've got some midfielders and we've got some
talls. It's worked out well." – Scott Clayton, recruiting manager.
THE SUNDAY AGE SAYS
Curiously, given the team's surfeit of midfielders and shortage of quality talls,
the Bulldogs' first two picks were mid-180-centimetre midfielders: Shaun Higgins and Dylan
Addison. Later, surprised again by selecting Brett Montgomery, who will be 33 next winter.
Montgomery returns to Whitten Oval after a highly successful five-year stint with Port
Adelaide that suggests Rodney Eade and his staff believe they are moving into serious
contention.
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The Sunday Herald Sun noted the 16 clubs selected 66 players from a potential 76
selections, with the majority coming from the AFL's talent identification scheme.
Only Kasey Green, Brett Montgomery,
AFL rookies Travis Baird, Joel Patfull, and Justin
Sweeney (from Tyabb to St Kilda with the final pick) were from outside the TAC
Cup and state-based leagues.
November 27, 2005 |
