Rookie Draft preview
4:19:34 PM Mon 12 December, 2005
Matt Burgan
Sportal for afl.com.au
A total of 60 selections will be on offer at this year's NAB AFL Rookie Draft on Tuesday, giving youngsters the opportunity to potentially forge or continue an AFL career.
Although it's unlikely that all 60 picks will be utilised - expect 40 to 50 players to be selected - it is now a significant draft for AFL clubs.
Some of the 18 year olds that were overlooked in November that are likely to figure prominently in the Rookie Draft - or possibly even the Pre-Season Draft - include Jace Bode (Sturt), Angus Graham (Calder Cannons), Todd Grima (Northern Bombers), Sam Iles (Clarence), Ryan Jackson (Northern Knights), Tom Looby (Murray Bushrangers), Luke McEntee (North Adelaide), Tom Rischbieth (Sturt), Matthew Thomas (Sandringham Dragons) and Alan Toovey (Claremont).
Ever since triple premiership player Mal Michael became the first 'rookie' to play an AFL match in 1997, the system has blossomed into an important vehicle for clubs to access players outside of the mainstream NAB AFL Draft held in November.
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And a number of players selected in the Rookie Draft are playing in the AFL just months after they are claimed in this meeting.
Bulldog Dale Morris can testify to that after he was drafted last December, before playing 17 AFL matches in 2005. He also went on to represent Australia - with distinction - against Ireland in this year's International Rules Series.
Not only does it offer youngsters an opportunity to gain a place on an AFL list, it also allows clubs to nurture and develop youngsters with a view to finding potential senior-listed players at cost-effective price.
It might be a player overlooked in the November NAB AFL Draft, a delisted AFL player, a 'mature' state-based player or that ever elusive 'smoky'. And the 'smoky' is still alive and well in the drafting process. Just ask St Kilda recruiting manager John Beveridge, who selected James Gwilt and Justin Sweeney in past two main drafts.
The Rookie Draft has been so beneficial to some clubs in recent times that there is a theory among the industry that it is almost as important as the main draft.
The belief is that if clubs have late picks in the November draft, then it is almost the equivalent of having early selections in the Rookie Draft. The only difference is that the rookies can be acquired at a bargain-basement price.
And when you consider Nathan Bassett, Dean Cox, Aaron Davey, Chad Fletcher, Mark Johnson, Tadhg Kennelly, Brett Kirk, Stephen Milne, Russell Robertson and Ben Rutten were originally rookies - it only further emphasises the importance of this meeting.
In many respects, this is a great opportunity for recruiting managers to think outside of the square, take a punt or back their ability to pick a gem from the rough.
AFL players will emerge from this Rookie Draft - there is no doubt about it - but only time will tell which players there are.
Tuesday will also provide a second opportunity for delisted players under the age of 23.
Players such as ex-Demon Steven Armstrong, ex-Lions Tom Logan and Llane Spaanderman are among the names with AFL experience likely to be selected as rookies.
But for the likes of former Bombers Damian Cupido and Marc Bullen and ex-Hawk Steven Greene it means that the Pre-Season Draft is their only hope of entering back onto an AFL list, as the trio was born in 1982.
They are already 23 years old and the criterion stipulates that a rookie must be under the age of 23 years on 31 December when drafted. Players must also be 18 years on or before 31 December. Therefore players born from 1983-87 are eligible for this meeting.
It looms as yet another fascinating draft meeting.
Rookie List - number of picks and selection order
Adelaide: (4) - 13, 29, 42, 53
Brisbane Lions: (4) - 6, 22, 37, 49
Carlton: (2) - 1, 17
Collingwood: (3) - 2, 18, 33
Essendon: (4) - 4, 20, 35, 47
Fremantle: (2) - 7, 23
Geelong: (3) - 12, 28, 41
Hawthorn: (5) - 3, 19, 34, 46, 55
Kangaroos: (2) - 10, 26
Melbourne: (4) - 9, 25, 39, 51
Port Adelaide: (4) - 11, 27, 40, 52
Richmond: (5) - 5, 21, 36, 48, 56St Kilda: (3) - 14, 30, 43
Sydney: (
- 16, 32, 45, 54, 57, 58, 59, 60
West Coast: (3) - 15, 31, 44
Western Bulldogs: (4) - 8, 24, 38, 50
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