Eight NSW/ACT players rookie listed
AFL NSW/ACT is pleased to announce eight NSW/ACT players have been rookie listed by AFL clubs taking this year’s total number of newly listed players to 19.
In another successful year for the AFL NSW/ACT Joss Talent Program, there have now been 53 players listed by AFL clubs in the past five years.
At Tuesday’s NAB Rookie Draft, Wagga Wagga local Harry Cunningham was listed by the Sydney Swans with the 49th pick. Cunningham, a pacey 18-year old midfielder, had an impressive under-18 carnival with the NSW/ACT RAMS and tested well at the State Draft Combine. The Turvey Park teenager was overlooked in last month’s NAB AFL Draft, but has been training with the Swans for the last three weeks.
The Swans also recruited Sydney-local and key position player Jack Lynch with selection 66. Lynch – who stands at 190 centimetres – joined the Swans on a NSW Scholarship in 2009, having only played Australian football for a few seasons. He was spotted by the Swans while playing for the NSW/ACT RAMS and was offered a scholarship.
Corowa-raised and former NSW/ACT RAMS player Tim McIntyre was selected as a mature age player by Adelaide with their third round selection, number 41. McIntyre, 22, played for the Murray Bushrangers, topping the Club’s goalkicking in 2006 before relocating to Adelaide three years ago in a bid to further his career.
Athletic defender Richard Newell was rookie listed by Brisbane with selection 57. Newell was first signed to the Lions as a 15 year-old back in 2008 as part of the NSW Scholarship program, before moving to Brisbane at the end of 2010 to play with the Lions Reserves in the NEAFL competition.
Carlton snapped up Byron Bay junior Matt Lodge with pick 67. The running defender picked up 25 touches in an under-18 championships game against South Australia earlier this year.
Key defender and Penrith-raised Michael Hartley, who kept No. 1 Draft pick Jonathon Patton to one goal when the NSW/ACT RAMS played Vic Metro earlier this year, was rookie-listed by Collingwood with pick 87.
Two players were also re-listed at the NAB Rookie Draft including former Western Bulldog and Sydney-raised Malcolm Lynch who was taken by North Melbourne with pick 46. While Sydney Hills Eagles junior Trent Stubbs was rookie-listed by Collingwood after spending the past 12 months on their primary list.
Another Corowa junior, Tim Segrave, also became an official Greater Western Sydney GIANTS rookie listed player following Tuesday’s Draft.
General Manager – AFL NSW/ACT Tom Harley said the Joss Talent Program continues to provide opportunities for home grown players to make it at the elite level.
“The Joss Talent Program in collaboration with the local football communities have done a tremendous job providing opportunities for all 19 players listed by AFL clubs this year,” Harley said.
“The talent pool in NSW and the ACT is certainly growing and with the establishment of the Sydney Swans and GWS GIANTS Academies we can expect to see even more locals on AFL lists in the coming years.”
Rookie-listed players
Pick 41: Tim McIntyre, Sturt
Club: Adelaide Crows
DOB: 9/4/1991
Height: 189cm
Weight: 85kg
Info: Midfielder who takes the ball cleanly and knows where the goals are. Tim played really well for Sturt this year and as Nick Duigan and Paul Puopolo (from the same club) showed this year, those sorts of players can step straight in at AFL level if required.
Pick 46: Malcolm Lynch, St Ignatius’ College, Riverview
Club: North Melbourne
DOB: 16/03/1988
Height: 178cm
Weight: 68kg
Info: Left footed medium forward on the improve who has the ability to set up scoring opportunites. Member of Port Melbourne’s premiership side in 2011.
Pick 49: Harry Cunningham, Turvey Park
Club: Sydney Swans
DOB: 6/12/1993
Height: 181cm
Weight: 71kg
Info: Cunningham, a pacey 18-year old midfielder, had an impressive under-18 carnival with the NSW/ACT RAMS and tested well at the State Draft Combine. The Turvey Park teenager was overlooked in last month’s AFL Draft, but has been training with the Swans for the last three weeks.
Pick 53: Trent Stubbs, Sydney Hills Eagles
Club: Collingwood
DOB: 26/3/1992
Height: 187cm
Weight: 78kg
Draft History: 2010 AFL National Draft 5th round selection (Collingwood) No. 77 overall.
Info: Played six VFL games for Collingwood in his first season on the senior list in 2011, kicking two goals. He was delisted in October, but has trained with the club ahead of the Rookie Draft. He is a medium sized forward who was originally on Hawthorn’s NSW Scholarship program but the Hawks opted not to promote him to their playing list. The Magpies drafted him with their fifth selection in the 2010 National Draft, but injuries blighted his 2011 campaign.
Pick 57: Richard Newell, Newtown/East Sydney/North Shore
Club: Brisbane Lions
DOB: 23/3/1993
Height: 186cm
Weight: 82kg
Info: Newell was first signed to the Lions as a 15 year-old back in 2008 as part of the NSW Scholarship program, before moving to Brisbane at the end of 2010 to play with the Lions Reserves side in the NEAFL competition. He received a Rising Star nomination in just his fourth match, and went on to represent Queensland in the 2011 U18 National Championships. Newell was regularly listed among Queensland’s best players throughout the championships, making a name for himself as a tough and courageous tagger who could also find plenty of the ball.
Pick 66: Jack Lynch, St Ignatius’ College, Riverview
Club: Sydney Swans
DOB: 7/9/1993
Height: 190cm
Weight: 84kg
Info: Lynch – who stands at 190 centimetres – joined the Swans on a NSW Scholarship in 2009, having only played Australian football for a few seasons. He was spotted by the Swans while playing for the NSW/ACT RAMS and was offered a scholarship.
Pick 67: Matthew Lodge, Byron Bay
Club: Carlton
DOB: 22/6/1993
Height: 186cm
Weight: 85kg
Info: Lodge is a defender with a very good kick. He relocated to Sydney when he joined the Blues through the NSW Scholarship program and now gets his first opportunity on the Blues’ rookie list. The running defender picked up 25 touches in an under-18 championships game against South Australia earlier this year.
Pick 87: Michael Hartley, Sydney University/Penrith Swans
Club: Collingwood
DOB: 7/6/1993
Height: 196cm
Weight: 78kg
Info: Tall defender who joined Collingwood’s NSW Scholarship list in 2008 as a 14-year-old. Learned the game with the Penrith Swans before joining Sydney University. Represented the RAMS at the 2011 U18 National Championships where he successfully blanketed Greater Western Sydney’s No. 1 draft pick Jonathon Patton. Has a strong basketball background which has enabled him to have stints in the ruck during his junior career. Played in four of the last five games of the VFL season for Collingwood where he impressed as a key defender.
Pre-rookie-listed: Tim Segrave
Club: GWS GIANTS
DOB: 03/02/1992
Height: 193cm
Weight: 88kg
Info: Segrave came through the AFL NSW/ACT Joss Talent Program representing the RAMS at both under 16 and under 18 levels. He also played for the Murray Bushranger at TAC Cup level. A key defender with speed, Segrave impressed recruiters with his rebound out of defence and closing speed but battled injury for the majority of the GIANTS 2011 NEAFL campaign.
