Our two WA golf equipment took uncooked ruck giants amongst their crop of draftees because the motion concluded on day two. Here’s who Freo and West Coast recruited.
WEST COAST
South Australian ruckman Harry Barnett mentioned he was “lost for words” after being snapped up by West Coast in one other draft shock.
Having already recruited two midfielders – East Perth’s Reuben Gibney and Swan Districts’ Elijah Hewett – as first spherical alternatives on Monday, the Eagles didn’t have to attend lengthy for his or her first decide on day two.
With Pick 23, West Coast took West Adelaide’s Barnett as they eye a long-term substitute for Nic Naitanui.
202cm Barnett mentioned he was blissful to maneuver to Perth to get his alternative and mentioned working alongside Naitanui could be huge.
“I’m lost for words. This is silly,” he mentioned.
“Obviously Nic Nat is a massive role model.
“To actually learn from him is unreal. It’s second to none.”
Barnett has already performed senior SANFL soccer and comes with large wraps.
“We liken him to Brodie Grundy,” AFL Talent Ambassador Kevin Sheehan mentioned.
“He takes a thumping mark up forward. his ruck craft is developing. he’s the perfect size to get across to the West Coast Eagles and maybe be helped along by Nic Naitanui.”
The Eagles then chosen Victorian midfielder Coby Burgiel at decide 29. The speedy onballer is about to provide West Coast one other dimension within the midfield alongside Gibney and Hewett.
“There’s another targeted move,” Draft professional Mick Ablett mentioned.
“They’ve gone for leg speed. He’s going to love the quick deck at Optus Stadium.
“He’s the sort of player you want getting it forward of centre.”
West Coast then added small ahead Noah Long, who overcame damage this season to get drafted from nation Victoria.
Long had a knee damage throughout the pre-season after which suffered a collarbone damage. That compelled the onballer to be taught to play as a ahead upon return.
But Sheehan mentioned he had the power to be greater than a ahead within the AFL.
“I liken him to Dion Prestia or Luke Ball,” Sheehan mentioned.
“He’s got power and speed and goalkicking ability.”
FREMANTLE
Fremantle have strengthened their key defensive shares with their first decide of the draft, drafting Claremont’s Hugh Davies with decide 33.
Having sat out the primary evening of the draft, the Dockers lastly entered the motion within the second spherical and opted to remain native.
And after dropping Griffin Logue to North Melbourne within the low season, the Dockers turned to the important thing defender for reinforcements.
The Tigers star has labored carefully with former Eagles backman Eric Mackenzie and like him, Davies can play on the opposition’s second or third tall and likewise makes use of the ball properly.
“He showed fantastic improvement from last year after getting dropping out of our State 18s summer program,” WA Football Commission state expertise supervisor Adam Jones mentioned earlier this yr.
“He worked his way back into the winter program squad and his intercept marking has been fantastic and his ability to play proactively as a defender.
“He had some injuries late so he didn’t get to test but I’m very hopeful that he’ll get an opportunity.”
At decide 41, Fremantle granted Sturt Football membership ahead Tom Emmett an early birthday current.
Set to show 21 on Wednesday, the mature ager examined on the South Australian mix after attracting some critical AFL curiosity.
It caps off a exceptional 4 years for Emmett. Then 16, Emmett was recognized with a uncommon type of most cancers after months of feeling unwell.
Emmett overcame the well being scare and made his SANFL debut this yr and is now a Docker, overcoming adversity to grow to be one of many draft’s feel-good tales.
One decide later, the Dockers drafted Gippsland Power large man Max Knobel.
Knobel is the son of Tiger, Saint and Lions ruckman Trent, who performed towards Fremantle coach Justin Longmuir 5 occasions.
The 206cm ruck large looms as the right substitute for Rory Lobb.
Fremantle added to their defensive shares at decide 57, drafting former North Melbourne and Melbourne 19-gamer Corey Wagner.
Wagner, 25, was first drafted to the Kangaroos in 2015 earlier than starring for VFL aspect Port Melbourne in 2022 after shifting to half-back.
The operating machine averaged 22 disposals for Borough within the VFL in 15 video games and 28 within the closing 5 matches to be named within the 40-player VFL Team of the Year Squad.
Fremantle handed on their remaining alternatives.
