Dandenong Stingray Greg Bentley is ready to be drafted, according to Stingrays football manager Darren Flanigan.By Glen Atwell
WHEN the curtain falls at the completion of the AFL Draft next Saturday, many young AFL hopefuls will step off an emotional roller coaster, with only a handful having realised their dream to play AFL football.
For those not fortunate enough to be recruited, it will be back to the training track to start over and begin their AFL quest all over again.
This year’s draft is one of the most even to date with no clear standout players, but instead a group of talented footballers, AFL ready, that have the potential to play crucial roles in their debut seasons.
Gippsland Power football manager Peter Francis said a number of Power players had a real chance of being drafted.
“Jay Neagle has already gone to Essendon under the father-son rule and there are a number of potential round-one picks at the club,” he said.
Francis said Xavier Ellis and Dale Thomas were extremely likely to figure in the early stages of the draft.
“There’s been talk of Ellis going as early as pick number-two, which is in Collingwood’s hands,” he said.
“Thomas also looks like another first-round pick.”
Ellis is a classy left-footer, who plays off the half-back line.
His terrific season in the TAC Cup this year was rewarded with All-Australian selection.
Thomas was awarded best on ground in the TAC Cup grand final for his four-goal effort and was also selected for the All-Australian side.
Francis said playing in the TAC Cup grand final elevated many Power players into the spotlight and gave them a chance to play on the biggest stage.
“Historically speaking, around six players from grand final will be selected,” he said.
“When we played in 1999 there were five and history has repeated itself over the years.”
Francis said Thomas had a knack for taking the golden opportunities to shine.
“Both at the national championships and in the grand final Thomas stepped up, it puts him in good stead for an early selection,” he said.
But Dandenong Stingrays football manager Darren Flanigan believed grand-final performances weren’t entirely responsible for draft selections.
“The AFL clubs have enormous amounts of information, video and analysis of the players on their radars and not just the ones who played in the grand final,” he said.
Nathan Jones is the standout Stingray likely to be recruited in the first round of selection, according to Flanigan.
“Every club I’ve spoken to rates Jones as an AFL player and I’m confidant he will go and possibly in the first round,” he said.
Other Stingray hopefuls were Greg Bentley and Ryan Cook, both ready-made AFL players.
“They’ve both settled on the verge of selection and are notable chances,” he said.
Both Flanigan and Francis agreed that this year’s draft was one of the most balanced.
Flanigan said the players in the number 30 to 40 bracket were better than ever.
“Players in that range could very well play 200 games for an AFL club,” he said.
