He re-drafted Dea as a 5th rookie…to be depth for a part of the field that we are already chock-a-block with young options coming through…and in doing so, shut the door on any participation in this mid-season draft.
I reckon, having pick 9 in this draft, or probably earlier if any other clubs below us are stupid enough not to participate, would have been a very handy option…
They are saying that majority of lower league players are going to have nowhere near the fitness needed to cope at being thrown straight into AFL. On top of time in learning game plans etc.
And the selections are more likely going to be used to get a head start on conditioning for players for 2020 seasons.
To be clear, I’m not trying to fill a list need for this 2019 season. My interests in this draft are all for the long-term…try to get the next Matt Parker or Guelfi onto our list…or the best 18/19 year old who was passed over in the draft, but has started their season well…
For all we know, the AFL could invent more priority picks at the end of this season for mature age players. Suddenly, it’s a part of the draft pool that we can’t get top end access to…but maybe we could have, at this mid-year draft.