IN the lead up to the AFL’s Pre-season and Rookie Drafts on December 11, Football Nation’s senior contributing writer Brent Diamond takes a look at some of the prospects that AFL clubs are targeting.
Rookie Draft Targets
After spending two seasons on Collingwood’s list and failing to play a senior match, JONATHAN CEGLAR appears set to land at Hawthorn in tomorrow’s rookie draft with its one and only pick.
When Geelong selected him ORREN STEPHENSON became the oldest first-time draftee in AFL history. But after the Cats delisted him at the end of the 2012 season, his hopes to make it back to the AFL now lie with Richmond.
Collingwood has been identified as the front-runner for WAFL Sandover Medallist KANE MITCHELL.
Could forgotten ruckman JASON LAYCOCK make a comeback with Greater Western Sydney? Only his former coach Kevin Sheedy could formulate such a concept.
ADAM MARCON is a tough and long running midfielder, who has been labelled as a ready-made AFL player by coach Darren Harris since almost mid-way through last season.
Collingwood has shown some significant interest in recruiting Frankston on-baller KYLE MARTIN as a rookie in next week’s AFL rookie draft.
For some, moving to another state league to prove their talent works wonders for their careers. For CALLUM SINCLAIR, it has provided another string to his bow to play a dominant attacking ruck role for Subiaco in the WAFL.
Talk about Dane Swan and other players reportedly getting second chances at their clubs this week. How about former Hawk TRAVIS TUCK?
Straight after being told that he was no longer required by North Melbourne, BEN ROSS came out and had a blinder with Werribee in last year’s finals series.
ADAM COCKIE, a former West Coast rookie, is burning up the training track at St Kilda and may well find himself on someone’s rookie list.
Gold Coast has invited Frankston midfielder LEIGH OSBORNE to train with it in the lead up to the rookie draft but there is believed to be a number of clubs interested in him.
Collingwood is interested in Port Melbourne premiership midfielder SAM DWYER, who has been continually overlooked in recent AFL drafts.
Pre-season Draft Targets
After surprisingly going undrafted at last month’s National Draft, South Australian SAM COLQUHOUN has been training at two clubs over the last week and looks set to be picked up by Port Adelaide.
Delisted Fremantle defender NICK LOWER could be off to his third AFL club if he impresses the Western Bulldogs enough while training with them this week.
Unlucky to be delisted by Melbourne, utility MATTHEW BATE has shown enough at VFL level over the past two seasons to give himself every opportunity of a second chance.
It seemed that Bendigo skipper BEN DUSCHER’S AFL dream was over. But this year, the Bulldogs have again shown interest by inviting him to train with the club in the lead up to next week’s draft.
There is talk that BRETT GOODES, the brother of Sydney superstar Adam Goodes, is destined to be on the Western Bulldogs list next season.
For one reason or another, talented youngster DAYLE GARLETT was overlooked by every single club in the national AFL draft.