Two months into the new season, Sportal's Matt Burgan casts an eye over the first players selected by each club at the 2003 National's AFL Draft to see how they're settling-in.
ADELAIDE – Fergus Watts:
Selection No.14, Height 197cm, Weight 86kg, From Wesley College/Sandringham Dragons
Entered the season with a groin injury and subsequently missed the opening three rounds. Has played the past four matches with the Eagles in the SANFL and impressed last round with three goals against West Adelaide. A key forward with a promising future, he could taste AFL football in the latter part of the season, but he is being groomed to take over from the likes of veterans Wayne Carey and Mark Stevens.
BRISBANE LIONS – Llane Spaanderman:
No.18, 198cm, 99kg, East Perth
Spaanderman has only just resumed his football career in 2004 after a shoulder injury stymied his first pre-season with the Lions. He underwent a reconstruction in October last year after injuring it in a WAFL colts’ preliminary final for East Perth. He has since played three games for the Suncoast Lions in the AFLQ after missing the opening four rounds due to the injury. He kicked two goals against Morningside last weekend.
CARLTON – Andrew Walker:
No.2, 189cm, 83kg, Bendigo Pioneers
Despite having knee surgery over the pre-season, Walker managed to play the opening three rounds with the Northern Bullants in the VFL before he made his AFL debut in round-five in spectacular fashion. He won the National’s AFL Rising Star round-five nomination after claiming 26 kicks and nine handballs. Coach Denis Pagan said after that game: “I can’t remember a young player making a debut and playing like he did today”.
COLLINGWOOD – Billy Morrison:
No.17, 192cm, 98kg, Tasmania
After injuring his shoulder last year and virtually missing the entire 2003 season, Morrison has managed to play every game thus far for Williamstown in the VFL this season. He booted two goals last weekend against Port Melbourne and is viewed as a long-term key forward prospect. Although he is an outside chance to make his debut late in the season, he is a developing tall who will be given every opportunity down the track.
ESSENDON – Kepler Bradley:
No.6, 196cm, 90kg, West Perth
Played the opening game of the season against Port Adelaide, but after the Bombers lost their opening game of the season by 96 points, he was one of six changes – four enforced – for the second round match against St Kilda. He claimed five touches in his one and only game so far, but he has been named an emergency on two occasions since. He is likely to taste further senior football in 2004 but looms as an exciting long-term prospect.
FREMANTLE – Ryley Dunn:
No.10, 184cm, 83kg, Murray Bushrangers
Made his AFL debut in round one against Carlton and gained six touches, while he held onto his spot for the Dockers’ second-round clash against Sydney at the SCG, before the classy midfielder was sent back to East Fremantle in the WAFL the following week. He has since been an emergency in round-four, while he should gain further opportunities in 2004. The classy midfielder will be one to watch in the future.
GEELONG – Kane Tenace:
No.7, 182cm, 82kg, Murray Bushrangers
Behind Adam Cooney, Tenace has played the most matches of any first round selection from last year’s National AFL Draft. The classy midfielder has played every game since round two where he kicked a goal with his first kick in league football. He was also rewarded with a National’s AFL Rising Star nomination in round-six after his fine game against Adelaide.
HAWTHORN – Harry Miller:
No.25, 174cm, 77kg, Port Adelaide Magpies
The promising small forward and the cousin of exciting Kangaroos youngster Daniel Wells, is progressing with the Box Hill Hawks in the VFL. Kicked five goals in an intra-club match during the pre-season but is likely to spend the rest of the season in that competition as a development player, particularly with the recent form of improving goalsneak Mark Williams. He missed round-five in the VFL with a broken toe.
KANGAROOS – David Trotter:
No.9, 185cm, 83kg, Calder Cannons
A life-long Kangaroos supporter who got his wish last year when he was drafted by the club, Trotter has played every game thus far for Port Melbourne in the VFL. A versatile type who can play forward or back, he has shown some good form for the Boroughs and is not without a chance of making his AFL debut in the latter part of the season. He was among Port Melbourne’s best players against Werribee in round-five.
MELBOURNE – Colin Sylvia:
No.3, 184cm, 84kg, Bendigo Pioneers
The midfielder/forward was eased through the pre-season period and the early stages of the 2004 due to a serious groin injury. He played in the Sandringham reserves for the first few rounds but was unleashed for his first full game of the season in the Sandringham firsts last weekend and didn’t disappoint, booting five goals – including three in the third quarter. He is set to make his AFL debut later in the year.
PORT ADELAIDE – Troy Chaplin:
No.15, 196cm, 89kg, North Ballarat Rebels
Chaplin made his AFL debut in round-four against Melbourne at the MCG after he was a late replacement for the injured Chad Cornes who withdrew with a corked thigh. He has since been an emergency on two occasions – including last week against Adelaide. He is a promising key defender, who has shown good form for Sturt in the SANFL and looks set to taste further AFL football in 2004.
RICHMOND – Alex Gilmour:
No.21, 184cm, 77kg, Tasmania
The youngest player in the AFL, who was eligible by just one day for last year’s National AFL Draft, Gilmour is very much seen a long-term prospect for the Tigers. An in-and-under type, he is honing his skills via the Coburg Tigers where he has played every game in the VFL in 2004. With added size and further development to his game, he looms as a promising prospect but appears more likely to make his AFL debut in 2005.
ST KILDA – Raphael Clarke:
No.8, 188cm, 78kg, St Marys
The younger of the talented Clarke brothers at St Kilda, Raphael has yet to make his AFL debut, despite entering the AFL ranks with a highly decorated junior career. Clarke missed the first round of the VFL season with Springvale with a knee injury, yet he has since played every game for the Scorpions, which included a three-goal haul against Frankston two weeks ago. The athletic forward is almost certain to debut during 2004.
SYDNEY – Josh Willoughby:
No.16, 176cm, 70kg, Glenelg
Skilful rover who looms as a long-term prospect in Sydney’s midfield, Willoughby is forging his career via the Swans’ reserves in the AFL Canberra competition. An AFL debut is more likely in 2005 although a late year appearance is not out of the question. He won the Kevin Sheehan Medal – along with fellow Swans’ teammate Tim Schmidt – for the best player in the National AFL under-16 championships in 2002.
WEST COAST – Beau Waters:
No.11, 187cm, 87kg, West Adelaide
Made his AFL debut in round three against Essendon, where he gained 10 touches in the thrilling clash at Telstra Dome. Waters is an emerging, hard-at-it defender who held his spot in the senior side until the end of round-five. He has also been an emergency on two occasions, including last week against Melbourne at the MCG and is certain to again feature in the Eagles’ 22 throughout the course of the season.
WESTERN BULLDOGS – Adam Cooney:
No.1, 186cm, 81kg, West Adelaide
The first player selected in last year’s National AFL Draft hasn’t disappointed in his first season thus far, playing every game for the Bulldogs – the best effort from this group of first selections at each club – after making his AFL debut against West Coast in round-one. Impressed against Melbourne in round-three, where he notched up 14 disposals – his best effort so far – but looms as an outstanding midfield prospect in the years to come.
