The draft is finished for the year and with that around 1,000 young hopefuls failed to get onto an AFL list. Their next hope is the Rookie and Pre Season Drafts and good luck to them. However lets focus on the 80 odd that did get drafted and the clubs they ended up at and which club pulled the biggest surprise and which club looks to be the winner.
Luke can now breathe easily as he got his wish to play for Collingwood
Luke Ball found his way to Collingwood so maybe ignoring all his other potential suitors did work. The other noticeable news was West Coast did indeed do a back flip on Lewis Jetta and picked up defender Brad Shepperd instead and the Bulldogs picked some unknowns with their first two picks of the drafts.
I thought more recycled players would be picked but the only ones where Luke Ball at #30, Hawthorn picking Rhan Hooper #58. St Kilda used picks #60 and #64 for Jesse Smith and Adam Pattison, Simon Buckley joined Ball at Collingwood with pick #85 and with one of the last picks in #91, injury plagued Matt Maguire found a home in Brisbane.
We will now go though every club and have a look at their drafts, remember to look at what we thought they initially would target to see if they meet your clubs needs.
Adelaide Crows
Adelaide has a new fascination with tall players with adding another ruckman in James Craig (#61) and Daniel Talia (#13) who can play forward and back. Their spine looks set for the next ten years.
Jack Gunston (#29), Sam Shaw (#45) and Brodie Martin (#74) have been described as utilities who can play tall and short in a number of positions. Looks like the Crows have strengthen their squad even more.
Brisbane Lions
Having their first pick at #27 can be hard but the Lions have added some potential and future midfielders in Callum Bartlett (#27), Ryan Harwood (#47) and Jesse O’Brien (#73).
Picking up Matt Maguire at #91 could be the steal of the draft if he can get his body right and back to playing his 2004-2005 football. He will fit in nicely down back as the Lions where one tall short for much of this year.
Carlton Blues
Two rookie upgrades in Sam Jacobs and Aaron Joseph which is no surprise but what is imo is the fact they did not recruit any talls and again focused on midfielders. Interested in what the Blue supporters think about their clubs love for midfielders and whether a Daniel Talia or an Aaron Black would have been a better choice.
Kane Lucas (#12) will be a gun though and Marcus Davies (#43) and Rohan Kerr (#59) will be handy back up midfielders.
Collingwood Magpies
Collingwood got what they wanted in Luke Ball at #30 but also Josh Thomas (#75) and also ex-Demon Simon Buckley at #85 who they where interested in. The other pick was Ben Sinclair at #62.
All four will add depth to their midfield that is shaping nicely and Ball will add experience and protection for the younger guys and could be the difference to taking the next step from 4th – 6th.
Essendon Bombers
Who says romance does not play a part in the AFL anymore? Everyone was wondering would we see another Long at Essendon and a Winmar at St Kilda. We got both…
Essendon picked up Jack Carlisle at #24 and I have to ask the question if they need yet another tall player?
Their other picks in Jake Melksham (#10), Travis Colyer (#26) and Anthony Long (#33) add even more pace to their already fleet footed side, they must be the fastest side now.
Fremantle Dockers
6 live picks and they picked three midfielders and two talls along with a small dangerous forward in Nathan Fyfe (#20) which meets their need for pace and a back up KPP when Pavlich and co retire.
Anthony Morabito (#4) could be anything, Jesse Crichton at #48 is a steal and Justin Bollenhagen (#52) looks promising. Joel Houghton (#36) has work to do on his body but his kicking at goals is top notch (maybe he can be the kicking coach for Tarrent). Finally Dylan Roberton (#49) who can play tall down back.
Geelong Cats
Nathan Vardy at #42 replenishes their ruck stocks and is a surprise after many tipped him to go at #16. They added some more dangerous forwards in Mitchell Duncan (#28) and Allen Christensen (#40).
Their first pick in Daniel Menzel (#17) will be a good replacement for Milburn when he moves on and the Geelong picked up more midfield depth in Josh Cowan (#56)
Hawthorn Hawks
Did not pick up the ready made ruckman as we said, as Sam Grimley will be more of a development pick at #39. Rhan Hooper at #58 may surprise many but his move under Buddy’s & Roughy’s feet will allow Rioli to play more midfield. While Talyor Duryer (#69) could fill the medium forward role.
Benjamin Stratton (#46) looks like another Campbell Brown who has the ability to play tall and small and Jordan Williams (#57) is another hard nut player who loves the contested ball.
Hawks supporters, you happy not picking up a ruckman or are you waiting for the rookie draft?
No surprise with Jack Trengove and Tom Scully picked at #1 and #2.
Melbourne Demons
While its easy to pick up good players having four of the first 20 picks, even their lower picks could be seen as the Demons yet again coming up as the winner in this draft.
They added two ruckman and four top midfielders who will easily make the Demons have the prospects of having the most dangerous midfield. Especially when the names read as Tom Scully (#1), Jack Trengove (#2), Jordan Gysberts (#11) and Luke Tapscott (#14). What I like about the midfielders is that they are different types of players that will supplement each other nicely.
Their next picks at #34 and #50 were on 208cm ruckman Max Gawn and ruck prospect Jack Fitzpatrick who could play key position if needed.
North Melbourne
Topped up on their forward line with Aaron Black who slid to #25 and then mid sized forwards Ayden Kennedy (#41) and Brayden Norris (#53) which should see them kick more goals in years to come.
However im excited by their midfield picks of Ben Cunnington (#5) and Ryan Bastinac (#21) who will add excitement and toughness to the new Kangaroos midfield.
Jamie Macmillan (#37) will add depth and versatility while Cruize Garlett was promoted from the rookie draft.
Port Adelaide Power
They did use their #82 and #88 picks but on the elevation of rookies Daniel Stewart and Wade Thompson.
John Butcher (#8) will replace Warren Tredrea which is a steal for someone who was fancied to be #1. They then over looked Melksham for Andrew Moore (#9) and then picked up rebounding kicker Jasper McMillan-Pittard at #16.
Richmond Tigers
Richmond used their #3 on Dustin Martin who will add to their improving midfield and then most of their other picks where on forward prospects in Ben Griffiths (#19), David Astbury (#5) who finished in the top 10 in the kicking test and Matthew Dea (#44), Troy Taylor (#51) and Ben Nason (#71) who also play forward.
They upgraded Robin Nahas and Andrew Browne from the rookie draft and at pick #67 picked up mature age Jeromey Webberley who is an rebounding defender who can kick the ball.
St Kilda Saints
Zac Dawson and Luke Miles earned rookie promotions and most of their other picks where on other mature age players or players picked from other clubs which will continue to add to their immediate premiership hunt.
Nicholas Winmar was their first pick at #32 and then they recruited Jesse Smith (#60) who will add midfield depth and Adam Pattison (#64) to provide ruck support with King and Gardiner aging.
Their next pick at #71 was on mature age defender Will Johnson who can play senior footy next year.
Lewis Jetta was indeed over looked by the Eagles but not the Swans
Sydney Swans
The Swans imo are the winners of the draft and while having two first round picks helps, I hope the Swans hierarchy now realise the benefits of keeping them.
They added bite to their forward line who could all play senior footy next year in Gary Rohan (#6) who along with the slider Lewis Jetta at #14 could be anything and then you add in Trent Dennis-Lane (#55) who kicked 50+ goals in the WAFL this year.
Sam Reid (#38) will provide coverage for a key defense position and Bryon Sumner (#54) will also add depth and pace to their midfield.
West Coast Eagles
There were two mysteries of the draft, one) where would Luke Ball go and 2) who would West Coast pick and the late mail was right in Brad Shepperd (#7) going at #7 instead of Jetta.
West Coast recruited for their needs, Brad Shepperd looks set to play the new Hodge position of a rebounding defender. Koby Stevens (#23) is as hard as they come and will be a nice complement to Daniel Kerr and co and Gerrick Weedon (#22) is the small forward they are missing in their attack.
Western Bulldogs
The Bulldogs pulled several surprises in their picks, including relatively unknown Christian Howard at #15 and followed that up with Jason Tutt at #31. However reading the feedback its obvious they were after kids who can kick the ball rather than athletes, which I think is a smart move.
They upgraded two rookies Liam Picken and James Mulligan and their other two live picks were again surprise packets in mature age reruits in Lukas Markovic (#63) a ready-made backman and x-factor Shane Thorne (#76).
Your Thoughts of the 2009 National Draft
What club do you support and how did they go? Did you get what you wanted? If you have any stories or vents please leave them in the comments section below.
I personally am an Eagles fan and I must admit im still undecided on over looking Jetta for Shepperd but im happy with the picks of Gerrick Weedon and Koby Stevens.
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