2005 potential draftees thread

[one-eyed]

 B:     Alipate CARLILE     Brad KELLEHER     James WALL
   (Murray)    (Eastern)    (Calder)
         
HB:    Tim LOOBY    Marcus DRUM    Richard DOUGLAS
   (Murray)    (Murray)    (Calder)
         
C:    Chris DUNNE    Nathan JONES    Dale THOMAS
   (Gippsland)    (Dandenong)    (Gippsland)
         
HF:    Leigh ADAMS    Jacob MCGUANE    Joel SELWOOD
   (Eastern)    (Geelong)    (Bendigo)
         
F:    Bill DRISCOLL    Ben MCKINLEY    Beau DOWLER
   (North Ballarat)    (Northern)    (Oakleigh)
         
R:    Robert WARNOCK    Marc MURPHY    Ricky DELPHINE
   (Sandringham)    (Oakleigh)    (Gippsland)
         
INT:    Ryan JACKSON    Steve CLIFTON    
   (Northern)    (North Ballarat)    
         
   Daniel NICHOLLS    Shaun HIGGINS    
   (Dandenong)    (Geelong)



2005 Morrish Medallist - Fortunato Caruso (Calder)

[Razorblade]

Don't be fooled by that line up, Drum is no dead-set CHB.

[one-eyed]

Draft Camp invitees announced
6:08:19 PM Wed 14 September, 2005
afl.com.au

The AFL has released the names of 73 players from around Australia invited to attend this year’s NAB AFL Draft Camp.

The Draft Camp will be held at the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra from 27-30 September.

Now in its 12th year, the Draft Camp has become a pivotal part of the final assessment of players who are being considered for the NAB AFL Draft, which will be held this year on 26 November.

Apart from the players attending this year’s Draft Camp, a further 112 players will also be tested in early October at half-day screening camps being held in various capital cities.

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Last year, 59 players from the NAB AFL Draft Camp were recruited on to either primary or rookie lists at AFL clubs.

A further 29 players who participated in the State screening camps were also recruited on to an AFL list.

2005 NAB AFL Draft Camp invitees:

Medium Forwards

Dzufer, Daniel - Suncoast Lions, QLD
Dempsey,Courtney - Morningside, QLD
Grant, Grae - Perth, WA
Seal, Matthew - East Perth, WA
Crook, Marcus - Geelong Falcons, VIC
Thomas, Dale - Gippsland Power, VIC
McKinley, Ben - Northern Knights, VIC
Kelleher, Brad - Eastern Ranges, VIC
Pfeiffer, Darren - Norwood, SA
Owen, Stephen - Nth Ballarat, VIC
Jackson, Ryan - Northern Knights, VIC

Medium Defenders

Hurn, Shannon - Central Districts, SA
Lower, Ed - Norwood, SA
Ibbotson, Garrick - East Fremantle, WA
Riggio, Matt - Peel Thunder, WA
Toovey, Alan - Claremont, WA
Stanley, Danny - Geelong Falcons, VIC
Ellis, Xavier - Gippsland Power, VIC
Looby, Tim - Murray Bushrangers, VIC
Thomas, Matthew - Sandringham Dragons, VIC
Douglas, Richard - Calder Cannons, VIC

Small/Medium Midfielders

Kiel, Haydyn - Southport, QLD
Hooper, Rhan - Mt Gravatt, QLD
Varcoe, Travis - Central Districts, SA
Murphy, Marc - Oakleigh Chargers, VIC
Jones, Nathan - Dandenong Stingrays, VIC
Addison, Dylan - St George, NSW
Elliott, Sam - South Adelaide, SA
Iles, Sam - Clarence, TAS
Swallow, Andrew - East Fremantle, WA
Simpkin, Jonothan - Geelong Falcons, VIC
Eddy, Robert - Gippsland Power, VIC

Medium Midfielders

Gamble, Ryan - Glenelg, SA
Bode, Jace - Sturt, SA
Lower, Nick - Norwood, SA
Oakley-Nicholls, Jarrad - East Perth, WA
Casserley, Travis - Swan Districts, WA
Pendlebury, Scott - Gippsland Power, VIC
Grigg, Shaun - Nth Ballarat Rebels, VIC
Thornton, Kristin - Peel Thunder, WA
Muston, Beau - Murray Bushrangers, VIC
Laidlaw, Matthew - Oakleigh Chargers, VIC
Higgins, Shaun - Geelong Falcons, VIC

Ruckmen

White, Jessie - Southport, QLD
McEntee, Luke - North Adelaide, SA
Ryder, Patrick - East Fremantle, WA
West, Trent - Gippsland Power, VIC
Warnock, Robert - Sandringham Dragons, VIC
Graham, Angus - Calder Cannons/Tas, TAS
Bailey, Max - West Perth, WA
Wall, James - Calder Cannons, VIC
Banjamin, Andrew - Geelong Falcons, VIC

Tall Forwards

West, Michael - Redlands, QLD
Hughes, Cleve - Norwood, SA
Rischbieth, Tom - Sturt, SA
Grima, Todd - Northern Bombers, TAS
Kennedy, Josh - East Fremantle, WA
Clark, Mitchell - East Fremantle, WA
Dowler, Beau - Oakleigh Chargers, VIC
Roffey, Nate - Mt Gravatt, QLD
Ainger, Andrew - Oakleigh Chargers, VIC
Cheetham, Jon - North Adelaide, SA

Tall Defenders

Lucy, Austin - Suncoast Lions, QLD
Mills, Wayde - Southport, QLD
Obst, Alan - Central Districts, SA
Birchall, Grant - Devonport, TAS
Bower, Paul - Peel Thunder, WA
Taggert, Ben - East Fremantle, WA
Drum, Marcus - Murray Bushrangers, VIC
Tyler, Matthew - North Ballarat, VIC
Spangher, Matthew - Eastern Ranges, VIC
Gilbert, Sam - Southport, QLD
Carlile, Alipate - Murray Bushrangers, VIC

http://afl.com.au/default.asp?pg=news&spg=display&articleid=229210

[one-eyed]

Thomas leads Power to glory
By Sam Lienert
The Age
September 25, 2005

GIPPSLAND teenager Dale Thomas is likely to have left an imprint on the mind of every AFL club's recruiting scouts after a match-winning display in the TAC Cup grand final at the MCG.

Gippsland Power, which dominated the under-18s competition throughout the season, led at every change to beat the Dandenong Stingrays 12.9 (81) to 10.6 (66) in the curtain-raiser to the AFL grand final.

While there were several players on each side in line for possible selection in November's draft, including potential father-son picks Travis Tuck and Jay Neagle, it was Thomas who shone brightest on the biggest stage yesterday.

The 181 centimetre midfielder displayed dazzling skills, as well as a dose of aggression, and kicked a goal in each quarter to guide the Power to victory, and claim the award as the grand final's best player.

After being in the middle of plenty of early minor scuffles, he opened the goalscoring for the Power by using quick reflexes to rove a pack and kick his first major.

But it was his next three goals that would have made the highlights reel of any game, and would have left a lasting impression on recruiting managers.

He took a spectacular, high-flying mark on the half-forward flank in the second term, before goaling from 50 metres on a substantial angle.

He followed that by opening the scoring in the second-half with a brilliant left-foot snap from tight on the boundary line, which bounced through the goals.

Then, in the final term, as Dandenong charged back from a 22-point deficit at the last change to within 10 points, he slotted a right-foot snap from the right flank, 40 metres out, to seal the victory.

Thomas finished the match with 20 disposals, eight marks and three tackles, as well as his four goals without a miss.

Fellow Power player Xavier Ellis, a 187-centimetre defender, considered likely to go early in the draft, put in a solid 19-possession performance and also pulled down a spectacular mark in the second term, from which he goaled.

Gippsland full-forward Neagle, the son of former Essendon star Merv Neagle and a father-son candidate for the Bombers, kicked two goals for the winners, but had a quiet day overall.

Tuck, the younger brother of Richmond's 2005 surprise packet Shane, and son of Hawthorn's AFL games record-holder Michael, had a solid game in the midfield for Dandenong.

But the Stingrays' star was midfielder Nathan Jones, who picked up a game-high 38 disposals, to be easily his side's best player.

AAP

DETAILS

GIPPSLAND 3.5 6.5 9.8 12.9 (81)
DANDENONG 1.1 4.2 6.4 10.6 (66)

GOALS - Gippsland: Thomas 4, Neagle 2, Fraser, Ryan, Pendlebury, Ellis, Dunne, Dore. Dandenong: Comben 3, Cook 3, Murray 2, Lee 2.

BEST - Gippsland: Thomas, Flint, Delphine, Dore, West, Youle. Dandenong: Kirkwood, Jones, Comben, Nicholls, Crowe, Tuck.

http://www.realfooty.theage.com.au/realfooty/articles/2005/09/24/1126982271740.html

------------------------------

TAC Cup: Power surges
25 September 2005   
Sunday Herald Sun
Courtney Walsh

A DOMINANT display from Gippsland's powerful forward line enabled it to surge past the Dandenong Stingrays for its first TAC Cup premiership at the MCG yesterday.

The flag favourite, coached by former Hawthorn premiership player Paul Hudson, led for most of the day, defeating Dandenong by 15 points.

In his first year as coach, Hudson moulded Gippsland into the competition's best team, losing only four matches on the way to claiming the minor premiership and yesterday's flag, winning 12.9 (81)-10.6 (66).

"At the end of the day (they were too good)," Hudson said. "They have been sensational all year and they thoroughly deserve the win."

Hudson paid tribute to Dandenong, coached by former Demon Graeme Yeats, saying the Stingrays would be an stronger next year.

The Stingrays stopped the Calder Cannons from making their fifth straight Grand Final last week, but were unable to peg back the Power yesterday despite a four-goal last quarter.

After a slow start, nippy forward Dale Thomas sharked a goal to start a surge for the Power, which led by 16 points at quarter-time. It was the first of four for Thomas, who won the TAC Medal for best afield.

The Power's Ricky Delphine was lively in the middle, picking up 11 touches. Daniel Nicholls tried hard for the Stingrays, who paid the penalty for early errors.

A five-goal run from Gippsland, including a goal to Jay Neagle, son of former Essendon star Merv and a father-son draft prospect, broke the game open as the Power kicked away to a 28-point lead midway through the second term.

Smart forward Ryan Cook gave Dandenong some hope, kicking two goals in less than a minute, before Gippsland draft hopefuls Xavier Ellis and Thomas scored after brilliant marks to have the minor premier 15 points clear at half-time.

For Dandenong, Travis Tuck, son of Hawthorn champion Michael and brother of Tiger Shane, worked against the tide to half-time, picking up 16 touches, but then faded.

A Peter Daicos-like snap from Gippsland's Thomas flicked the switch for the Power in the second half, while another strong mark and goal to Neagle had the cup heading to Traralgon for the first time as it cleared out to lead by 22 points at three-quarter time.

A desperate Dandenong threw everything at Gippsland in the last quarter, with goals to David Comben and Alex Lee bringing it to within 10 points, before Thomas snapped cleverly from 30m out to seal the game.

http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/footy/common/story_page/0,8033,16710848%255E19742,00.html

[one-eyed]

A bit of a Richmond connection there.

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Teenage star marches to familiar Drum
Jon Anderson
Herald-Sun
25nov05



MARCUS Drum is bred to play, can play, and wants to play. All he needs now is an AFL club, and that will be fixed tomorrow morning at the 2006 national draft.

Drum, 18, is assured of a place on a 2006 AFL player list, with anything between pick No. 3-15 a realistic possibility, given that every club, bar Essendon and the Western Bulldogs, has spoken with him at either last month's draft camp or the Shepparton home of his parents Chris and Trish.

Adelaide, Hawthorn and West Coast have trekked up the highway to Shepparton while other clubs interviewed him for 15-20 minutes at the AIS draft camp in Canberra.

"I was a bit nervous for the first couple of interviews but after a while you get into a bit of a routine because they ask the same questions," Drum said yesterday.

"I know everyone says it, but I honestly don't care where I go.

"I have always wanted to play AFL football and part of that is being able to accept you may have to move interstate."

Respected by his peers, Drum has been in the system since representing Victoria in both football and cricket at the 1999 Primary Schools Carnival alongside Travis Cloke, now with Collingwood, and Marc Murphy, who will be taken by Carlton at pick No. 1 today.

Drum is a nephew of former Geelong player and Fremantle coach Damian Drum, and Richmond legend Francis Bourke is an uncle. It works this way – Marcus's father Chris is a brother of Damian, and Chris's sister Kerry is married to Francis Bourke.

If that wasn't enough, his first cousin is Geelong captain Steven King, King's mother Leonie being a sister of Drum's mum Trish.

The Drum name is strongly associated with Murray league team Congupna, or Congupna Road as it used to be known, Chris having played more than 300 games with the club, including the 1978 premiership win over Katandra.

And this year Marcus maintained the connection by playing two games when his Murray Bushrangers commitments allowed, kicking six goals against Tocumwal in a rare run up forward.

Under the AFL's financial incentive scheme, Congupna will receive $3000 when Marcus Drum is drafted, with another $3000 after his first game, $2400 on his 10th game and a further $2400 if is he's still on an AFL list after three years.

That's a total of $10,800, big money to a country club such as Congupna, which has produced players including Richard Ambrose (Sydney) Marc Bullen (Essendon) and Geelong pair King and Shannon Byrnes.

At 190cm and 80kg, Drum is the first to admit he needs to add plenty of beef, but that will come, just as it did for his close mate Brett Deledio at Richmond.

The pair were born just a couple of weeks apart – Drum on May 1, a day too late too qualify for last year's national draft.

And, like Deledio, Drum was an outstanding junior cricketer before giving the sport away at age 15.

"I just lost the passion for the game when comparing it with football. At 14 I got a bit of a back problem from bowling, so that helped me make my decision," Drum said.

"Plus there is so much more excitement than cricket, just the mateship, the thrills. And you usually only get one chance in cricket whereas in footy the ball keeps coming back."

Drum said he would just be happy to hear his name called out at Telstra Dome tomorrow, and he didn't care by whom.

"I look at it this way. To play in the AFL, I have to move from home anyway, whether it's Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth or wherever.

"And I don't have any idea who's going to draft me if I get selected.

"The Western Bulldogs and Essendon haven't spoken to me, but they say they are sometimes the clubs that pick you. Plus I know players at every club except Port Adelaide through the junior system, either the under-18s or national championships.

"And I barracked for both Sydney and Fremantle because my uncle Damian coached at those clubs, so it doesn't matter that much to me."

Drum started life as a Geelong fan, although he can't remember seeing his uncle play in a career that finished in 1989.

But the fact he had played was enough for a Gary Ablett Sr poster to adorn Marcus's bedroom wall, later to be replaced by Paul Kelly and Tony Lockett and, more recently, Matthew Pavlich, Paul Hasleby and Leigh Brown.

"I like the way Leigh Brown plays football, just has a real go, and I suppose he's a bit the same as me in that he plays back and forward," Drum said.

"I don't even mind a go in the midfield, but I will have to improve my endurance a fair bit because I knocked up when they gave me a few tries for the Bushrangers this year."

AFL national talent manager Kevin Sheehan says Drum has the capacity to play most positions, and he admits he's an unashamed fan of the 18-year-old.

Sheehan describes him in these words: "A composed defender who is strong overhead, good decision maker and has neat disposal skills. All-Australian at under-18 level in 2004 and graduate of the AIS-AFL Academy.

"TAC Cup team of the Year in 2005 and winner of Murray Bushrangers best-and-fairest. Fine leader at underage level who has also played midfield and forward. His 3sec for 20m at the NAB AFL Draft Camp showed he has good pace (top 28 per cent)."

There are no obvious weaknesses in there and, when you add a good mind, you have an appealing package. So why wouldn't he go in the top two or three?

Simply because of where he plays. The light, in-between size defender will have to wait until after genuine onballers such as Marc Murphy, or potential key forwards such as Patrick Ryder or Josh Kennedy, are snapped up.

Then he can set about adding a new chapter to the family album.

http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5478,17358123%255E20322,00.html