NATIONAL recruiting manager Jason Taylor says Friday’s NAB AFL Draft was “a good result” for the club as it finalised its entire squad for 2016.
Speaking to Dee TV, Taylor said the acquisition of mature-age rookie Josh Wagner from Aspley, Queensland and the reinstatement of Viv Michie onto the list were the finishing touches the club wanted to achieve. Joel Smith, who was selected as a three-year non-registered player, in October was also officially drafted by the club on Friday.
“It was a good result. We’ve brought in Josh [Wagner]. He’s a mature-age [player]. He’s 21 and he played some under-18 football and represented Queensland back then and showed a bit, but just got some injuries,” Taylor said.
“But his last couple of years have been pretty solid and he was in the NEAFL team of the year [in 2015]. He’s a left-footer and a rebounding defender, who can play on the wing and spend a bit of time in the midfield. We think he’s got the right attitude.
“And it was always a priority to redraft Viv. He finished off last season really well and he just adds some real grunt and depth in the midfield.”
Taylor said Melbourne was able to address some needs in the two drafts held this week.
“Since I’ve been at the club, [the list] has started to take shape in all areas of the ground,” he said.
“Being able to bring in some talls and also a young ruckman, we’ve started to put some depth in those key position areas and also in the midfield, by bringing in Clayton [Oliver] and Josh [Wagner], who gives us a bit of flexibility in defence and through the middle of the ground as well.
“I think there is depth in all areas now, which is pleasing.”
Taylor said the recruiting team would have a “breather” in January, but he said there was already an eye on next year’s crop.
“The national academy is in town now and is training. Next week we’ll follow them through and watch them go through their paces and sit down and interview all of those boys,” he said.
“Then the following two weeks after that – two of the academy players will train with us and we look forward to that, so we’re basically straight into next year.
“Then we’ll take a bit of a breather, cool the heels and come back and attack it from there.”
