Rookie draft: Blues hand lifelines to Goddard, ex-Dee
Blues add experience while plenty of delisted player get second chance
CARLTON has thrown AFL lifelines to discarded pair Hugh Goddard and Tom Bugg in the rookie draft as it prepares to climb out of the competition cellar.
Goddard (pick one) and Bugg(19) both trained with the Blues in the lead-up to the drafts, following the same formula the club used before picking Cam O'Shea and Matt Shaw last year.
They weren't the only ex-AFL players recycled at new clubs.
Utility Josh Smith (West Coast, pick 34) and defender Tim Mohr (Hawthorn, 43) are back on AFL lists after being cut by Collingwood and the Giants, respectively.
Eighteen players were redrafted to the same club they were delisted from as promised, including Gold Coast quartet Michael Rischitelli, Jack Leslie, Brad Scheer and Harrison Wigg.
The rest were: Ryan Bastinac and Jacob Allison (Brisbane), Ethan Hughes and Ryan Nyhuis (Fremantle), Tim Broomhead and Sam Murray (Collingwood), Paul Hunter (Adelaide), Matt Dea (Essendon), Cameron Hewett (Port Adelaide), Kyron Hayden (North Melbourne) and Jacob Townsend and Mabior Chol (Richmond).
Retired pair Kurt Tippett (Sydney) and Will Langford (Hawthorn) were also picked up again, but purely for salary cap reasons and aren't expected to play in 2019.
Adelaide addressed its ruck depth behind Sam Jacobs with not only Hunter but also Port Melbourne big man Kieran Strachan, who attracted interest from several clubs this year.
The Kangaroos capped their strong draft day when they picked draft slider Tom McKenzie, a speedy half-back who was considered a chance to go in the top 30 of the National Draft.
Collingwood VFL footballer Tom Jok trained with St Kilda ahead of the drafts and impressed with his running ability, but it was Essendon that took him with the eighth pick of the rookie draft.
The Saints preferred 191cm North Adelaide defender Callum Wilkie five spots earlier, while Geelong and Richmond turned to VFL talent in Tom Atkins and Jake Aarts.
Several clubs still have list spots available and will be able to sign players via the new pre-season supplemental selection period between December 1 and March 15.
The Giants will use one of those spots on ruckman Shane Mumford, while the Bombers are set to bring ex-Docker Zac Clarke back into the AFL after a year playing in the WAFL.
Your club's rookie draft haul
Adelaide
Who they drafted: Kieran Strachan (Port Melbourne/South Bendigo), Paul Hunter (Adelaide), Jordon Butts (Murray Bushrangers)
Summary: The Crows addressed their need for ruck depth by adding 23-year-old Strachan. The 202cm ruck/forward has played six VFL games in the past two seasons and has won back-to-back best and fairests with South Bendigo. The Crows also re-rookied 200cm big man Hunter, who has spent the past three seasons on their rookie list. Swingman Butts, 18, is a strong intercept-marking defender and a good size at 195cm. The Crows had previously retained midfielders Cam Ellis-Yolmen and Patrick Wilson, and small forward Lachlan Murphy, on their rookie list. - Lee Gaskin
Brisbane
Who they drafted: Ryan Bastinac (Brisbane Lions), Jacob Allison (Brisbane Lions)
Summary: Brisbane originally delisted Allison and Bastinac to give itself more list spaces at the national draft but always intended to re-rookie the pair. Both had a year to run on their existing deals and had played senior footy in 2018. Allison is a speedy wingman with two years' experience under his belt and has proved that at his best he is a line-breaker capable of good senior footy. Bastinac spent most of last season in the NEAFL and is good for an improving midfield. - Michael Whiting
Ryan Bastinac will provide the Lions good midfield depth. Picture: AFL Photos
Carlton
Who they drafted: Hugh Goddard (St Kilda), Tom Bugg (Melbourne)
Summary: A couple of discarded AFL players made their way to the Blues, with former first-round pick Goddard and ex-Demon Bugg landing at Ikon Park. Goddard, a 196cm defender, adds depth to Carlton's backline after 10 games across four years with St Kilda. He was initially recruited to the club with pick No.21 in the 2014 NAB AFL Draft, but suffered a horror run with injury at the Saints. Bugg arrives with 96 games experience under his belt. After four years at Greater Western Sydney and three with Melbourne, Bugg was delisted at the conclusion of last season and will provide Carlton with another experienced body in the forward line. - Riley Beveridge
Collingwood
Who they drafted: Tim Broomhead (Collingwood AFL), Sam Murray (Collingwood AFL)
Summary: No surprises with Collingwood's two rookie selections. The club had committed to redrafting both players for different reasons. Broomhead badly broke his leg in a horrific incident back in round two and is progressing well in his recovery. Collingwood had committed to redrafting Murray, who is currently waiting on the results of his B sample from ASADA after testing positive to an illicit substance in a post-match test. It remains to be seen what roles the duo will play on-field in 2019 - Sarah Black.
Essendon
Who they drafted: Tuth (Tom) Jok Jok (Collingwood VFL), Matt Dea (Essendon AFL)
Summary: Jok made the headlines when he won St Kilda's time trial two weeks ago. The former Collingwood VFL winger had been invited to train at the Saints ahead of the draft, but after St Kilda took Callum Wilkie with its first rookie selection, the Bombers swooped. At 193cm, Jok's combination of height and speed can prove difficult to compete with and the former Dandenong Stingray will add a different element to Essendon's line-up. Defender Dea, who was originally a top-up player, has been given another chance after 12 games this year. While not the tallest or quickest defender, he competes hard and reads the ball well in the air. Will provide depth and experience - Sarah Black.
Fremantle
Who they drafted: Ethan Hughes (Fremantle), Tobe Watson (Swan Districts), Ryan Nyhuis (Fremantle), Jason Carter (Peel)
Summary: Freo redrafted Hughes after moving him off the primary list and brought Nyhuis back after the maximum three years as a rookie. Watson is a versatile 189cm defender from Swan Districts who was the club's Colts best and fairest in 2016 and held-down a League berth this year. He will provide cover as a general backman, while Next Generation Academy product Carter joins the club as a category B rookie. The wingman/defender is Freo's first NGA player and, while he has some rough edges still to shave off, his raw ability combined with line-breaking speed make him an exciting prospect. - Travis King
Ryan Nyhuis has played 12 games for the Dockers. Picture: AFL Photos
