Players who were “recycled” through the 2009 Pre Season or Rookie Drafts

The National, Pre Season and Rookie Drafts are a good place for delisted players to find another home and continue their careers. Let’s find out who was lucky enough to get that second (or third) chance…

Pre Season Draft

Player Name: Joel Macdonald.
Old Club: Brisbane.
New Club: Melbourne.
Pick Used: 1.
Summary: Joel Macdonald has been thrown a lifeline by Melbourne after suffering the wrath of Michael Voss’ “spring clean” at the conclusion of the 2009 season. He managed to play 22 games, taking his tally to 80, and despite solid performances he was delisted by the Lions. Melbourne clearly saw something in him they could use and decided he was a better choice than fellow Brisbane delistee Daniel Bradshaw. Read more…

Player Name: Adam McPhee.
Old Club: Essendon.
New Club: Fremantle.
Pick Used: 3.
Summary: Adam McPhee is headed back to where he started his career after he and Essendon could not agree on new contract terms. Mcphee started with Fremantle after being drafted to Fremantle in the 2000 National Draft. He played 25 games before being traded to Essendon where he continued his career and took his total games to 159. At the conclusion of the 2009 season Essendon could not offer McPhee a contract that he would accept and he walked away from the club and nominated for the Pre Season Draft. He started training with Fremantle and they happily selected him with their first pick (3rd overall) in the Pre Season Draft.

Player Name: Daniel Bradshaw.
Old Club: Brisbane.
New Club: Sydney.
Pick Used: 4.
Summary: Daniel Bradshaw is another one of those players who got caught up in Michael Voss’ “Spring Clean”. During the 2009 trade week he was offered up as trade bait in order to try and get Brendan Fevola to the Lions. When a deal could not be struck he was set to stay at Brisbane but it was soon announced that he was to leave the club and nominate for the Pre Season Draft. It would seem Bradshaw did not want to play for a club that clearly was fully committed to him, and Sydney took advantage of him being available selecting him with their first pick (4th overall) in the Pre Season Draft.

Player Name: Scott Harding
Old Club: Brisbane.
New Club: Port Adelaide.
Pick Used: 6.
Summary: This is going to sound like a broken record but Scott Harding is another player delisted by the Brisbane Lions thanks to Michael Voss’ “Spring Clean”. He was drafted to Brisbane in the 2005 National Draft and between 2006 and 2009 he played a total of 48 games. At the conclusion of the 2009 season he was told his services were no longer needed and he nominated for the Pre Season Draft. His wish to continue playing AFL was granted when Port Adelaide selected him with the second last pick (6th overall) in the Pre Season Draft.

Rookie Draft

Player Name: Daniel Harris
Old Club: North Melbourne.
New Club: Gold Coast.
Pick Used: 1.
Summary: Daniel Harris was originally selected by North Melbourne in the 2000 National Draft at pick 14 and over the next 9 years he played 149 games for the club. At the end of 2008 he requested to be traded to another club but a deal could not be struck. This lack of commitment to the club clearly left a rift between him and the selectors as he went from playing every game in the previous 4 seasons to just 10 games in 2009. Upon the expiration date of his contract he refused all renewal offers and left the club, nominated for the Pre Season and Rookie Drafts, and was selected by the new Gold Coast team with their first pick.

Player Name: Sam Iles.
Old Club: Collingwood.
New Club: Gold Coast.
Pick Used: 3.
Summary: Sam Iles is a recycled player despite the fact he didn’t play in 2009. He spent 2009 playing in the VFL for the Box Hill Hawks after being delisted by Collingwood at the end of 2008. At his new club he won the club best and fairest in his first year, and was third in the VFL best and fairest. He was also selected in the VFL Team of the year. Read more…

Player Name: Daniel Stanley.
Old Club: Collingwood.
New Club: Gold Coast.
Pick Used: 5.
Summary: Daniel Stanley was selected in the 2005 National Draft by Collingwood and was viewed as a solid midfield prospect. Unfortunately for Stanley, despite his consistent form in the VFL he was simply unable to perform at the right level for AFL senior football. Consequently the Pies delisted him after the 2009 season after 4 seasons with the club and just 5 senior games. He nominated for the Pre Season and Rookies Drafts and was given a lifeline by the Gold Coast and put on their rookie list.

Player Name: Wayde Skipper.
Old Club: Western Bulldogs.
New Club: Hawthorn.
Pick Used: 13.
Summary: Wayde Skipper is a big ruckman who was delisted by the Western Bulldogs after 9 seasons with the club (2001-2009), and he didn’t debut until 2003. He managed just 45 games in that time and never really held a consistent spot in the senior side. He failed to record a senior appearance in 2009 no doubt contributing to his delisting. Hawthorn saw enough potential in the big man to give him a chance when they selected him with pick 13 in the 2009 Rookie Draft, no doubt hoping he could fill their ruck gaps.

Player Name: Cameron Cloke.
Old Club: Carlton.
New Club: Port Adelaide.
Pick Used: 41.
Summary: Cameron Cloke is heading to the third club of his career, and most would say he was on his last life. Originally he was selected by Collingwood under the father-son rule in the 2002 National Draft but did not debut until 2004 after spending a year in the reserves to develop. After just 21 games he was delisted after the 2006 season, but he was given a second chance by Carlton when they selected him in the Pre Season Draft. After three more years at AFL level he had still managed just 57 games and Carlton delisted him also. He has been given one last chance by Port Adelaide when they selected him with pick 41 in the Rookie Draft.

Player Name: Jarrad Oakley-Nicholls.
Old Club: Richmond.
New Club: West Coast.
Pick Used: 53.
Summary: Jarrad Oakley-Nicholls is one of those players who hasn’t seemed to be able to catch a break with injuries. He has spent 4 years at Richmond after he was selected at pick 8 overall in the 2005 National Draft, but has only managed 13 games in that time. After failing to have a single pre season in his time at Richmond, he has probably never really hit his full potential. He has been thrown a lifeline by West Coast and will spend time on their rookie list no doubt hoping to overcome his injury concerns.

NOTE: I have ignored players that were re-drafted by the same club.

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