CHANGES 2005: THE NAB ROOKIE DRAFT

by The Oracle

Youth was the byword of the Melbourne Football Club's recruiting push at the end of 2005. Apart from Byron Pickett, aged 28, who was came to the club in trade deal with Port Adelaide in October, the remaining eight newcomers are teenagers. Three of the four draftees in the 2005 National Draft are 17 year olds, the other (Simon Buckley) is aged 18. The club decided against picking up any recycled players through the Pre Season or Rookie drafts and went with three more 18 year old rookies plus Zebra Daniel Hughes who has only just turned 19 last week.

Unlike last year when finances were tight, the Demons were able to select a full complement of rookies. They opted for Jace Bode from Sturt, Daniel Hughes from Sandringham Zebras, Shane Neaves from Calder Cannons, and Andre Gianfagna from the Northern Knights. They join Matthew Warnock who is serving his second year in rookie ranks.

The selection of Bode was something of a coup in that he was an All Australian winger at the National Under 18 Championships in July. At the time, Kevin Sheehan commented about him as follows:-

"Jace Bode (South Australia) - 17 years, 186cm, 84kg, Sturt/Kenilworth

Medium midfielder who was South Australia's leading possession winner against Vic Country and Western Australia averaging 21 disposals. Works hard to win the ball and runs well to link up. Among his side's best few players in games against Vic Country and Western Australia."

His drafting means that the club has picked up two current All Australian midfielders (the other is Nathan Jones) and that’s always handy given the Demons play their home games on the MCG. Inside Football magazine quoted Steve Rechner, Sturt's development manager as follows:-

“Jace is a half back-wingman who is very strong, has a penetrating left foot and he's a bit quicker than people might think.�

Bode had a great national carnival averaging 21 disposals in the three games. He spent most of 2005 in the SANFL reserves but broke through for a senior game late in the season. He was also an elite junior athlete.

It seems that Melbourne did its level best to keep Daniel Hughes out of the limelight in the weeks leading up to the Rookie Draft. Hughes is a lightly built player who broke through for four games with the Zebra seniors in 2005. His coach, Mark Williams, described him in Inside Football: -

Daniel Hughes (Sandringham) Height: 183cm Weight: 81kg DOB: 10-Dec 1986

"Daniel's a flanker-forward who is a strong mark, hard at the footy, has some pace and neat skills. He's doing a pre-season with Melbourne and won our reserves best and fairest."

Another National Carnival representative to be rookied by the Demons was right footed ruckman Shane Neaves who fought a tough battle to overcome a fractured collarbone before cementing a place in the 2005 Victoria Metro side where he played all three games as a second string ruckman to Fremantle draftee Robert Warnock, brother of fellow Demon rookie Matthew.

Shane Neaves (Calder Cannons) Height 198cm 97kg DOB: 11-May 1987

"Played in the ruck at the national carnival his size means he will create some interest. Has plenty of improvement to come." - Calder Cannons regional manager, Chris Gleeson in Inside Football.

Neaves was a member of the Cannons' 2004 premiership team where he was a team mate of Lynden Dunn. He went to the 2004 Draft Camp but wasn't selected in the draft and returned to the Cannons for 2005. His 2005 TAC season was affected by that collarbone fracture suffered in Round 4. He has also represented his state in junior cricket ranks.

Andre Gianfagna celebrated his 18th birthday on 4 December and less than a fortnight later was a Demon rookie. The left footer was regarded as the quickest player in the TAC Cup competition this year, was an AIS/AFL scholarship holder in 2003 and represented Australia against Ireland Under 17's in 2004 where he was a teammate of Richmond's Brett Deledio. He is a multi-talented sportsman having played cricket and competed in athletics at the elite junior level.

The drafting of the four rookies closes the club's list for the 2006 season. For the final word on the rookie draft this is what MFC General Manager of Recruiting and List Management Craig Cameron said: -

"We're happy with the players that we selected in today's draft and hopefully with some development and guidance they will prove to be good footballers.

"Both Jace Bode and Andre Gianfagna are very quick players, with Jace already playing senior football at Sturt. We've seen Daniel (Hughes) play some very good football with the Sandringham Zebras and we know he's very clever. And big Shane Neaves is a great mark and has good skills. He will need some time to develop as they all will."

MELBOURNE FOOTBALL CLUB - PLAYING LIST (SEASON 2006):

SENIOR LIST:

Matthew Bate, Daniel Bell, Clint Bartram, Clint Bizzell, Nathan Brown, Cameron Bruce, Simon Buckley, Nathan Carroll, Aaron Davey, Lynden Dunn, Ryan Ferguson, Simon Godfrey, Brad Green, Ben Holland, Mark Jamar, Chris Johnson, Paul Johnson, Travis Johnstone, Nathan Jones, James McDonald, Brock McLean Brad Miller, Brent Moloney, Shannon Motlop, Michael Newton, Heath Neville, Alistair Nicholson, Byron Pickett, Phil Read, Jared Rivers, Russell Robertson, Nick Smith, Colin Sylvia, Daniel Ward, Paul Wheatley, Matthew Whelan, Jeff White, Adem Yze.

VETERAN LIST:

David Neitz.

ROOKIE LIST:

Jace Bode Andre Gianfagna Daniel Hughes Shane Neaves Matthew Warnock