I read somewhere today (I am sure it is one of these articles) that we will only be using one pick in the rookie draft - that means carrying 2 rookies in 2005.
Magpie loyalty fades to a roar
12 December 2004
Sunday Herald Sun
By JACKIE EPSTEIN
IT took about 15 minutes for Ruory Kirkby's disappointment to subside on national draft day. Three weeks ago the key position player was surprisingly overlooked by all 16 clubs after being tipped by many as a first-round selection.
But soon after Kirkby received a call from Richmond football director Greg Miller inviting him to train with the Tigers.
"The initial thinking was disappointment, but after you get over that there's always other avenues to take," Kirkby, 18, said.
"You just realise there are other options and hopefully they can come through.
"Richmond is in a rebuilding stage, like Hawthorn and like St Kilda were a few years ago, so I think they've got a lot of things to look forward to."
Kirkby had no hesitation making the move from Echuca and has been living with Miller and his family.
His father, Ivan, said it did not take long for Ruory's confidence to return.
"After the disappointment of the draft he's just hoping to get back into the system," Ivan said.
"He's fairly resilient and got over it fairly quickly. He wants people to know he's worth a punt."
Ruory said it was daunting at first, but he has adapted to the Tigers' demanding pre-season schedule.
He hopes to be picked up with one of the club's two selections in Tuesday's pre-season draft.
Failing that, there is one spot available on the rookie list. "It would be good not to miss out again," Kirkby said.
"I haven't really thought about it much at the moment and I'm just trying to train as best I can and put myself in a strong position to impress them.
"Even if it doesn't happen, there are still other options for me to take in VFL or interstate. Even so, it's not all over."
Kirkby played for Victoria Country in the national under-18 championships and earned All-Australian honours.
He can play in defence or forward, but was not a standout performer at the draft camp.
AFL talent manager Kevin Sheehan said it was unpredictable on draft day, with each club forming different views.
"There's always a surprise and he was one of them," Sheehan said.
"He might have been the next player on some clubs' lists. He's had the benefit now of training for a few weeks, so that becomes a positive for Richmond to get to know him.
"He's one of 100 who joined clubs in the pre-season."
A strong motivation for Kirkby, a Collingwood fan, is trying to prove the recruiters wrong.
"No one really told me why," Kirkby said. "But I think they got the notion -- I don't know if this is true -- that I wasn't athletic enough.
"Some clubs, when it came to their choice, overlooked me because they thought I wasn't athletic enough, but I couldn't have really put my hand any higher with all the achievements . . . over the last year.
"I'll say it's their loss. Hopefully, I'll prove them wrong and it just makes you think how much more you want it."
Miller said Kirkby had done everything asked of him and was one of six young players the club was looking at.
"He came down from Echuca hoping to be picked up," Miller said.
"He was an All-Australian and it was a surprise he wasn't picked up in the national draft.
"He's given it his best shot. We have some quality kids trying out with us."
http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/footy/common/story_page/0,8033,11661664%255E19742,00.html
