SUMMER TIME AND THE DRAFTING'S EASY – PART TWO

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SUMMER TIME AND THE DRAFTING'S EASY – PART TWO by Whispering Jack

Our draft guru Stevo gunned me down when I suggested that Melbourne should be aiming for a tall key position player with its first selection at number 12.

"That can wait until later in the draft", he told me.

"The Demons aren't that badly off in terms of forward talent for the future. They invested first pick in Jack Watts two years ago and would no doubt expect him to blossom over the next couple of seasons. They have Liam Jurrah and Matthew Bate and Cale Morton, who could take any number of roles might one day be a key position player. Then there's Jack Fitzpatrick and Max Gawn waiting and developing in the wings.

"A good marking forward would be handy but there are other priorities and a number of midsized players who present themselves as strong candidates for selection in this draft after Gold Coast's three initial picks".

Well, that was reassuring but Stevo also added recent history to back up his point. He reminded me of last year's national draft which produced the following top twelve and which included only one tall key position player who, due to injury, has yet to make his AFL debut:-

1. Tom Scully – Melbourne

2. Jack Trengove - Melbourne

3. Dustin Martin - Richmond

4. Anthony Morabito - Fremantle

5. Ben Cunnington - North Melbourne

6. Gary Rohan - Sydney

7. Brad Sheppard - West Coast

8. John Butcher - Port Adelaide

9. Andrew Moore - Port Adelaide

10. Jake Melksham - Essendon

11. Jordan Gysberts - Melbourne

12. Kane Lucas - Carlton

"The first six selections were predictable, West Coast went for a local and many had Port Adelaide, which had consecutive choices, down as the one to take a tall with one of those picks. In many respects, I don't see things going much differently this year but with the new player in the Suns going with a diverse range when they exercise four out of five selections between seven and eleven".

"As things stand, the Suns have already chosen a tall forward in their nominated top three which includes Sam Day. I haven't seen much of him but the glimpses I got during the National Under 18 Carnival games I attended suggested he's deserving of such high selection."

Stevo has left aside the medium sized players for the moment to look at those who might come in and break the mould. His first target is the enigmatic Jack Darling, an All Australian from West Perth who twelve months ago would have been considered a likely inclusion in the Gold Coast top three after his All Australian selection at centre half forward.

Stevo says Darling has him and several draft watchers completely stumped.

"He could go to West Coast at four or he could slide to Fremantle at twenty. The kid has been questioned on a number of issues, not the least of which has been his behaviour and attitude arising from an incident while still at school. He has also had injury problems, form slumps which saw him miss out on back to back All Australian honours at Under 18 level and incurred a fractured skull in an off field attack. There are some question marks as to whether he's tall enough to play key position at the highest level and he has also been trying to establish his versatility in the midfield. And all that time he became a useful performer at WAFL level.

"I think he has the makings of a star and the Eagles must be sorely tempted to select the player who many think is a round peg in a square hole."

Here's how his WAFL team football manager described him to Inside Football -

JACK DARLING - forward, West Perth, WA

Born: 16/6/92 Ht: I9lcm Wt: 94kg

"Jack is tracking pretty well and there's been a fair bit written about him because he had such a great national championships last year as a 17-year-old. He certainly wasn't as dominant this year but he's still very young and I think people forget that. He was a key forward in our senior side this season. He's really hard it, he runs well, he crashes packs and he takes good marks. Had a bit of groin soreness at the start the year which hampered him but there's been a lot of interest in him and there has been for a good couple of years now." - West Perth football manager Brad Lukosius

All Australian 2009. WA representative 2010.

And while Stevo is impressed with Darling's strengths, he feels those off field weaknesses will have deterred a few clubs, including Melbourne.

The others who Stevo considers are capable of breaking the mid size mould for a top dozen selection in this year's draft are Dandenong Stingray Tom Lynch South Australian pair Daniel Gorringe and Scott Lycett. All can play as tall forwards but the Croweaters have also cut their teeth as ruckmen. Stevo believes that Lynch and Gorringe are likely to be taken before Melbourne's pick at twelve (most likely by the Suns) and Lycett might not be a priority for the Demons even if available.

Here are the Inside Football pen pictures of this trio of talls:-

TOM LYNCH - forward, Dandenong Stingrays, Vic

Born: 31/10/92 Ht: 197cm Wt: 90kg

"When we saw him in pre-season we thought 'gee wiz, we've got a Nick Riewoldt look-alike on our hands' - just his size. He's got a great motor and first year in our program this year he just jumped out of the ground and had some fantastic performances after getting injured early. Great below his knees for his size, workrate outstanding, hands terrific and came third in our best and fairest when he only played 10 games. Tall forward who presents up like Riewoldt. Played really well in theTAC Cup finals against good opposition. An accurate kick from shorter range but not a long, penetrating kick. If he's not a top 10 pick I'm not breathing."

- Dandenong Stingrays coach Graeme Yeats

Vic Country representative 2010.

SCOTT LYCETT - ruckman, Port Adelaide Magpies, SA

Born: 26/9/92 Ht: 202cm Wt: 95kg

"Scott's a ruck/tall forward who broke into the league side this year and did OK. A big unit who will likely take time, I would have thought considering his size, but has an enormous upside. A country boy from out Ceduna way who relocated a couple of years ago." - Port Magpies development manager Julian Farkas

SA representative 2010.

TO BE CONTINUED