CHANGES 2011 - HELLO

CHANGES 2011 - HELLO by The Oracle

Last week's 2011 AFL National Draft was, as expected, a showpiece for the AFL's new franchise, the Greater Western Sydney Giants. For those of us who viewed the event on Foxtel, our screens were awash with the unfamiliar charcoal and orange colours of the new club, Kevin Sheedy seemed not only to be everywhere but he was almost embarrassed by the excessive amount of exposure he was receiving. They even trotted out Israel Folau for an unnecessary interview.

Unfortunately, I don't have a wide screen television receiver so I missed out on GWS's giant sized, expensive new recruiting guru but, given that I do attend the odd TAC Cup game or two, we'll no doubt bump into each other some time soon. I've even increased my private health cover for precisely that eventuality.

At some stage in the transmission, viewers were let in on the well kept secret that there were another 17 AFL clubs that also had personnel in attendance with a mission to draft players for their teams and finally, thanks mainly to the information flashed at the bottom of our screens while the Foxtel panel persisted with their interminable interviews of pimply-faced GWS draftees, we learned that Melbourne selected Rory Taggert (pick 36), Josh Tynan (52) and James Sellar (54).

None of the above were as well known or as fashionable in drafting circles as the young bucks being interviewed on our television sets. Indeed, the first reaction of my companion who was watching the draft unfold when Taggart was selected was, "Rory, who!"

At least we knew something of strongly built former Crow, Sellar, who was considered a potential top three pick at one stage leading up to the 2006 AFL draft but slid to 14 after a bout of illness late that season. He was recently delisted by Adelaide after five disappointing seasons that yielded only 21 AFL games.

For the edification of everyone, here are the  Herald Sun AFL National Draft Profiles of Melbourne's selections:-

36. RORY TAGGERT

Age: 18

Height: 188cm 

Weight: 87kg

From: North Ballarat Rebels

A medium-sized forward who won’t be beaten in the air and rarely misses. Knocks were endurance and work ethic but in an AFL system expected to flourish. Think Mark LeCras.

52. JOSH TYNAN

Age: 18

Height: 185cm

Weight: 76kg

From: Gippsland Power

Position: Defender

Composed and strong overhead, Tynan can play on talls and smalls and provides run and drive from defence.

54. JAMES SELLAR

Age: 22

Height: 196cm

Weight: 98kg

From: Adelaide

A ruckman/key position who played 21 games with Crows before being delisted at the end of the 2011 season. Originally taken at pick No.14 in the 2006 AFL Draft.

The jigsaw puzzle will be completed in about ten day's time when the club will select four rookies to add to its lists which currently appear like this:-

PRIMARY LIST:

Rohan Bail Clint Bartram Matthew Bate Jamie Bennell Sam Blease Mitch Clark Lucas Cook Aaron Davey Troy Davis Lynden Dunn Jack Fitzpatrick James Frawley Colin Garland Max Gawn Jack Grimes Jordan Gysberts Jeremy Howe Mark Jamar Neville Jetta Nathan Jones Liam Jurrah Joel Macdonald Stefan Martin Tom McDonald Jordie McKenzie Brent Moloney Cale Morton Ricky Petterd Jared Rivers James Sellar Jake Spencer James Strauss Colin Sylvia Rory Taggert Luke Tapscott Jack Trengove Josh Tynan Jack Watts 

VETERAN LIST: Brad Green

ROOKIE LIST:

Michael Evans Kelvin Lawrence Dan Nicholson plus four rookie draft selections