Stocks high for VFL players Brent Diamond
November 14, 2010
VFL PLAYERS in search of an AFL contract have never had it better.
With the Gold Coast having eight picks in the first 13 selections at Thursday's AFL national draft, clubs are already showing a willingness to take a punt on a mature-age recruit or two, especially in the wake of the fairytale stories of 2010 - Fremantle's Michael Barlow and Geelong's James Podsiadly.
Already, two VFL players who had been pre-listed by the Suns received contracts during a hectic trade week - rebounding North Ballarat premiership defender Cam Richardson went to North Melbourne and ex-Williamstown and Casey defender Peter Faulks to Fremantle.
The Roosters, VFL's triple premiership team, expect to see another three of their players drafted or rookie-listed, with Isaac Smith, Myles Sewell and Stephen Clifton impressing.
At 187 centimetres and 75 kilograms, Smith is the bolter in the ranks given he had played just six VFL matches after arriving at Redan via Cootamundra in New South Wales, where he played mainly rugby as a junior.
Unlike Sewell, a Liston Trophy winner and Roosters best-and-fairest who has been in the recruiters' eyes for some time, Smith was only touted as a draft pick after starring in September. He impressed with loads of dash and dare on a wing while surprising with a goal or two when it counted most.
''He [Smith] had never been exposed at that level before,'' Roosters president Mark Patterson said. ''Really good players get better the higher the level they go.
''It's why you play footy I suppose. You play footy to play finals. You don't get remembered for a round-five game.''
The 21-year-old, who shone at a state screening test with a vertical jump of 89 centimetres and level 14.6 for the beep test, could go as high as pick 15, with Geelong - a big winner last year with Werribee gun Podsiadly - showing significant interest. Smith has spoken to nearly every club and is likely to be the first VFL player taken.
Sewell, 22, the brother of Hawthorn player Brad, won the Liston Trophy last year, but was overlooked in all drafts. This year, when he had slightly less impact on the field despite being best on ground in the grand final, his chances appear brighter. But he appears more likely to be taken in next month's rookie draft, along with midfield teammate and joint Liston Trophy winner (with Shane Valenti) Stephen Clifton.
Some recruiters have doubted Sewell's physical presence in the clinches - it's only this year that he has been able to bolster his slim frame to 80 kilograms - despite his impressive ball-winning qualities.
''After last year's rookie draft, I went overseas for a month or so for a break in North America and got back in the middle of January,'' he said. ''It [not getting drafted] hurt a little bit when I was over there, but it was good to get back and I was sort of fresh.
''I suppose I snuck under the radar last year and I copped a heavy tag on three or four occasions this year, but I think my season was just as good as last year.''
Then there are the likes of Ed Curnow, Valenti, Matthew Little, Robbie Campbell and Mitch Thorp, who are all eyeing a second crack at AFL level.
Box Hill's Curnow, a former Adelaide rookie, has attracted strong interest and is likely to be snared either late in the draft or early in the rookie draft. He was leading the Liston Medal count until an ankle injury ended his season in round 12, and appeared to be a few cogs above the competition early on with his slick passing and pace in the midfield.
Williamstown's Little easily won the Frosty Miller Medal (most goals kicked). The Western Bulldogs have shown interest in the former Hawk, as has Essendon - its new coach James Hird is a cousin of the talented forward. Little said he would be more suited as a ''second or third tall in the forward line'' in the AFL.
''I suppose the grounds are so much bigger in the AFL so there's a lot more area to work in … and the midfielders probably don't have as much time because of the pace of the game, so I reckon a second or third tall in the forward line would probably suit me better,'' he said.
Melbourne has its sights on Werribee's Mitch Thorp, a former Hawk who was taken at No. 6 in the 2006 draft, who impressed up forward this season.
Port Melbourne's Valenti is another workhorse. The former Sandringham star was delisted by Melbourne at the end of 2009, but shone for the Borough this season racking up an average 26 disposals.
http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/stocks-high-for-vfl-players-20101113-17rxz.html
