The 2009 AFL Draft was heavily used to elevate rookie players to the senior list. This was either done by teams to reward players for their continued improvement or simply as a list management strategy. Either way, lets find out who the lucky players were.
Player Name: Matthew Suckling.
Club: Hawthorn.
Pick Used: 70.
Summary: Matthew Suckling was re-drafted to Hawthorn at the end of 2008 after spending his first two years on their rookie list. He made his debut for the Hawks in round one of 2009 but failed to make any other appearances for the remainder of the season. He is a medium sized defender with a good kick, and is also reasonably good when the ball is contested. The Hawks used pick 70 to elevate him to their senior list for 2010, and he will be hoping this means he will see more senior game time in the future.
Player Name: Sam Jacobs.
Club: Carlton.
Pick Used: 72.
Summary: Sam Jacobs was given his chance at senior level in 2009 after spending the previous two years playing with Carlton’s VFL affiliate the Northern Bullants. He played the first four games of the 2009 season after playing well in the NAB Cup. His efforts were enough for the Blues to use pick 72 to elevate the young 200cm ruckman to their senior list. I would expect to see a bit more of him in 2010.
Player Name: Brodie Martin.
Club: Adelaide.
Pick Used: 74.
Summary: Brodie Martin may have only played two senior games for Adelaide but they were clearly not his worst performances given he has been upgraded to the senior list. He has already experienced a win and a loss, as well as a season ending injury. After his second senior appearance the young wingman had scans on his knee that revealed he had a complete tear of his ACL, requiring a full knee reconstruction. Martin hopes to return to playing late in the 2010 season.
Player Name: Greg Broughton.
Club: Fremantle.
Pick Used: 79.
Summary: Greg Broughton was given a lifeline by Fremantle when they picked him up in the 2009 NAB AFL Rookie Draft as a mature age rookie. The medium sized defender made his debut in that same year and excelled, managing a total of 15 games for the season. He averaged 22.9 disposals in 2009, and played in every game after round 10. His elevation in the 2009 AFL Draft was just a formality, having actually been elevated all the way back in March of 2009 after impressing in the NAB Cup.
Player Name: Cruize Garlett.
Club: North Melbourne.
Pick Used: 80.
Summary: After impressing in the pre-season Cruize Garlett earned a call up for the North Melbourne vs Carlton NAB Cup game. He impressed but unfortunately succumbed to injury and was not seen in the senior side until Round 12 of the 2009 season after he had returned to the VFL with some impressive performances. He was rewarded with an elevation to the senior list and managed 5 games in the second half of the season. Prior to 2009 Cruize Garlett was on the North Melbourne rookie list having been selected in the 2007 Rookie Draft.
Player Name: Daniel Stewart.
Club: Port Adelaide.
Pick Used: 82.
Summary: Daniel Stewart did not make a single senior appearance for Port Adelaide but his performances at SANFL level with North Adelaide must have been enough to convince the selectors he was worth a spot on the senior list. He is a tall forward or ruckman and can definitely kick a few goals. He was overlooked in the AFL Draft two years in a row (2006 and 2007) before he was picked by Port Adelaide in the 2008 Rookie Draft. He will probably rotate between the ruck and forward line should he make senior selection.
Player Name: Aaron Joseph.
Club: Carlton.
Pick Used: 83.
Summary: Aaron Joseph was selected by Carlton in the 2008 NAB Rookie Draft and spent his first two season at the club as a rookie. He was given the chance at senior level during the 2009 NAB Cup and was faced with Gary Ablett Jnr. but did reasonably well. From there on he debuted in Round 1 of 2009 and didn’t miss a game for the rest of the year. His performance was rewarded with an elevation to the senior list at pick 83 of the 2009 AFL Draft.
Player Name: Liam Picken.
Club: Western Bulldogs.
Pick Used: 86.
Summary: Liam Picken is one of those names that if you didn’t recognise now you will at the end of next season. He finally made the cut when he was selected by the Western Bulldogs as a rookie after training with them for two pre-seasons. He debuted in round 2 of the 2009 season and didn’t look back playing 23 games for the year, including 3 finals. He is an exciting fast midfielder who made somewhat of a name for himself in 2009 and was rewarded with an elevation to the senior list at pick 86.
Player Name: Zac Dawson.
Club: St Kilda.
Pick Used: 87.
Summary: After playing just 14 games in five seasons at Hawthorn Zac Dawson was delisted and many thought his career was over. That was until St Kilda threw him a lifeline in the 2009 NAB Rookie Draft, and he did not disappoint. He played 23 games for the juggernaut St Kilda side in 2009 and seemed to keep improving as the season progressed. It was no surprise that the Saints rewarded him with an elevation to the senior list at pick 87.
Player Name: Wade Thompson.
Club: Port Adelaide.
Pick Used: 88.
Summary: Wade Thompson is a fast small forward who has the ability to break games open. He only managed two senior appearances in 2009 but the Power clearly saw potential in the young kid and awarded him with an elevation to the senior list for the 2010 season. He will be hoping he can break into the side for regular appearances and reward the faith the club has shown in him. He should be a similar player to Alwyn Davey or Cyril Rioli.
Player Name: Robin Nahas.
Club: Richmond.
Pick Used: 89.
Summary: Robin Nahas was a shining light for a Richmond side that struggled in 2009. The light framed (he only weighs in at 67kg) small midfielder/forward managed to play 19 games for the tigers in 2009 and really impressed with his speed. Despite his small frame he has managed to have an impact on games, and the Tigers clearly agree having elevated him to their senior list at pick 89 in the 2009 AFL Draft.
Player Name: Kristin Thornton.
Club: Sydney.
Pick Used: 89.
Summary: Kristin Thornton has been in the AFL system since 2006 after being drafted to the Sydney Swans in the 2005 NAB AFL Draft. He didn’t play any games in his first two seasons before he had to have a full knee reconstruction leading into his third season (2008). Sydney dropped him to the rookie list in 2009 to give him another chance and he managed 8 games, enough to earn himself a promotion back into the senior list.
Player Name: James Mulligan.
Club: Western Bulldogs.
Pick Used: 90.
Summary: James Mulligan is name that most people will not recognise, mainly because he is yet to debut for the Western Bulldogs. He was selected as a rookie in the 2007 Rookie draft and used 2008 as a developmental year having recently converted from rugby. At 199cm he has the potential to play key position or ruck and with his rugby background he is a big powerful unit.
Player Name: Luke Miles.
Club: St Kilda
Pick Used: 93.
Summary: Luke Miles is a medium sized player who is yet to play a senior game with the Saints. He was selected in the 2008 Rookie Draft, and although he spent half of last year out with injury he impressed upon his return to the VFL. He posted the fastest times in the 20 meter sprints and the agility tests in the 2007 WA State Screening sessions. His improvements in 2009 earned him an elevation to the St Kilda senior list but he will have to keep improving should he want to break into the senior side.
Player Name: Andrew Browne.
Club: Richmond.
Pick Used: 94.
Summary: Andrew Browne is more of a developmental player for Richmond, but did manage to debut in the first round of the 2009 season. Unfortunately for him that was his only senior appearance but his efforts throughout the year in the reserves must have been enough to earn him his elevation to the senior list. He is a 205cm ruckman who has great potential, but like most ruckman he will take time to develop.
Player Name: Pearce Hanley.
Club: Brisbane.
Pick Used: 95.
Summary: Pearce Hanley is another young Irish recruit to convert from Gaelic Football to AFL. He was recruited by the Brisbane Lions in late 2007 on a two year international rookie contract and spent his first season learning the ropes. In 2008 he was promoted to the senior list on a temporary basis to replace Nigel Lappin who was placed on the long term injury list, and made his senior debut in round 21. He managed to hold his spot and played his second game in the following round to finish the season. In April 2009 he was again elevated to the senior list when youngster Kieran King was placed on the long term injury list. He only managed one more senior game having experiencing an injury prone season, but it was enough for the Lions to give him a permanent elevation to the senior list.
