NOMINATIONS for this year's GWS mini-draft closed on Wednesday with WA pair Jack Martin and Jesse Hogan heading the list of hopefuls.
By the time the 2pm deadline passed, 16 players whose birthdays fall in the window of eligibility between January 1 and April 30, 1995, had registered for inclusion in the mini-draft pool.
GWS has two picks remaining, which it can trade with other clubs for the right to select a player from the pool during this year's trade period (October 8-26), with clubs able to make their selection at any time once the trade has been completed, up until the last day of the exchange period.
The Giants were given four picks to auction over a two-year period, which the successful bidders can use to select the best young players who aren't yet old enough to nominate for the national draft.
GWS received a package of first-round picks last year from Gold Coast and Adelaide, with those clubs then able to select coveted midfielders Jaeger O'Meara and Brad Crouch respectively.
Martin, a quick and skilful midfielder from Geraldton, enhanced his credentials as a star of the future with a string of excellent performances at this year's NAB AFL Under-18 Championships that saw him named his state's most valuable player.
At 193cm and 91kg, Hogan is widely considered one of the most exciting key position prospects in the country. He took 32 marks in five games at the national carnival and impressed with his strength overhead.
Both players earned All Australian honours for their efforts at the championships.
While Martin and Hogan will attract plenty of interest from AFL clubs, there are several other nominees who could elevate themselves into contention with a big finish to the year, including Victorian pair Josh Kelly and Matt Crouch, brother of Adelaide's Brad, and South Australians Luke Dunstan and Dwayne Wilson.
The players to have nominated are:
Player | School/Club | State |
---|---|---|
Nicholas Bourke | Kolora-Noorate, Geelong Falcons | Victoria |
Jason Cooke | Sunbury Lions, Calder Cannons | Victoria |
Matthew Crouch | Beaufort, North Ballarat Rebels | Victoria |
Tom Cutler | Greythorn JFC, Oakleigh Chargers | Victoria |
Luke Dunstan | South Clare, Woodville-West Torrens | South Australia |
Billy Hartung | Mornington FC, Dandenong Stingrays | Victoria |
Jesse Hogan | Marist JFC, Claremont | Western Australia |
Joshua Kelly | Brighton Grammar, Sandringham Dragons | Victoria |
Jack Martin | Towns FC, Claremont | Western Australia |
William Maginness | Glen Iris JFC, Oakleigh Chargers | Victoria |
Isaiah Miller | Sandhurst FC, Bendigo Pioneers | Victoria |
Luke Reynolds | North Haven, Port Adelaide Magpies | South Australia |
Dominic Sheed | John Paul College, Subiaco | Western Australia |
Lewis Taylor | Terang-Mortlake FC, Geelong Falcons | Victoria |
James Tsitas | Grovedale, Geelong Falcons | Victoria |
Dwayne Wilson | Murray Bridge Imperials, Sturt | South Australia |