GIANTS, Swans Draft Wrap

GWS did as expected, and snared Tom Boyd and Josh Kelly with the Draft’s first two picks, with both youngsters widely tipped to be future stars.

Boyd was earmarked as the cream of 2013’s footballing crop more than a year ago, the 200cm and 104kg key forward from Melbourne’s eastern suburbs becoming the third No. 1 pick on the Giants’ list, following in the footsteps of Jonathon Patton (2011) and Lachie Whitfield (2012).

Kelly is a skilful midfielder with an enormous engine, who cemented his standing as the best young on-baller in the country with an impressive under-18 National Championships, which was rewarded with a place in the All-Australian side.

Like Boyd, he’s 18 and hails from Melbourne, and with his renowned aerobic capacity, he’ll add plenty to the GIANTS’s running brigade.

 

 Above: Josh Kelly and Tom Boyd. Image: ABC

“There’s been a lot written, but until we get here, our names read out, it’s hearsay and speculation, so I’m just super-excited to get started with the GWS Giants, who are obviously a budding and really exciting club,” Boyd said after receiving his Giants jumper from new coach Leon Cameron.

“I’m just really humble to be picked before some of these guys who I respect so much, and whose ability, in my opinion, probably supersedes my own in some regards.”

 

 Above: Leon Cameron and Tom Boyd. Image afl.com.au

GWS also picked up the youngster considered the second best tall in this year’s group, Cameron McCarthy, who was taken with pick 14.

McCarthy has played the majority of his junior football as a key forward, but he might find a home at the opposite end of the ground at the GIANTS, with list manager Stephen Silvagni hinting the club may look to utilise McCarthy’s ‘outstanding work rate’ in the back line.

Ruckman Rory Lobb was the GIANTS’ No.29 pick, with the Swans Districts 20-year-old to add to the club’s plethora of big men, alongside the likes of Shane Mumford, Andrew Giles, and Tom Downie.

NSW zone selection Jake Barrett began training with the GIANTS last week, so it was a formality when he was drafted by the club with pick 97, the nuggetty midfielder set to add extra grunt to the GWS engine room.

Sydney’s charge to this year’s Preliminary Final meant their first selection didn’t come until pick 15, which the Swans used to snaffle highly-rated utility Zak Jones.

Above: Swans recruit Zak Jones. Image: Herald Sun

Here’s the run down of the Swans’ draft night.

What the club says
“We were keen to bolster the midfield and we were keen to find a guy that could play down back as that smaller defender. We needed to bolster our ruck department and we were keen, if the opportunity was there, to find a potential defender that can come through with Teddy (Richards) and Reg (Heath Grundy) getting a little bit older. Like everybody, we’re pleased with how it’s panned out.” – Kinnear Beatson, Sydney Swans list manager

Pick 15 – Zak Jones
“He’s uncompromising, he’s hard as nails. He can play back and then he showed in the second half of the year that he can actually play in the midfield so he’s got a couple of strings to his bow.” – Kinnear Beatson

32 – George Hewett
“He’s close to the youngest player in the draft, but we just think he’s got some class. Dual-sided player, just finds his way out of packs. There was one game when he was playing for Prince Alfred he really stood out – it was just his ability to get the ball at stoppages and then he pushed forward and kicked a couple of crucial goals.” – Kinnear Beatson

35 – Toby Nankervis
“He’s aggressive in the air and he’s good at ground level. We needed to bolster our ruck stocks and we thought we needed another one. There were three that we rated and Toby was one of them, and we were lucky enough to get him at pick 35.” – Kinnear Beatson

44 – Aliir Aliir
“We just think he has that athleticism required to play as a defender. We’ve been really pleased with how he’s progressed – this was the first year he actually played in defence. He’s got stuff to learn and we’ll give him every opportunity.” – Kinnear Beatson

53 – Pass

69 – Pass

80 – Brandon Jack (promoted rookie)

90 – Dane Rampe (promoted rookie)

Above: Swans recruit Aliir Aliir. Image: Courier Mail 

Next week’s rookie draft and the pre-season draft which follows will be the Swans and GIANTS’s last chance to add to their lists before the 2014 NAB Challenge kicks off in February.