Melbourne's 2011 NAB AFL Draft picks
Selection No.36: Rory Taggert
Height: 188cm
Weight: 87kg
DOB: 22/6/93
Club: North Ballarat Rebels
A versatile player, Taggert is capable of playing forward, back or in the midfield. He is strong overhead, good one-on-one, and an impressive decision maker. He is solid on the right foot and a gooa user of the ball. Taggert represented Vic Country at the NAB AFL U18 Championships.
What Barry Prendergast told melbournefc.com.au ...
“He’s from the North Ballarat Rebels and he’s a versatile player being able to play in all areas of the ground.”
“He’s plays a bit in the style of Dustin Martin, because he’s a penetrating kick and he’s got clean hands. He’s strong overhead. He’s got a pretty good package. He snuck under the radar a bit.
“He was rated as an under-16. I remember, I was an AIS selector in his year and his names came up for grabs in terms of that. He didn’t have the best year as an under-17, but he’s from Horsham and relocated to St Pat’s [Ballarat] last year I think that really helped him and his footy. He finished off the year really strongly.
“We saw him as a pretty good package and also a player we don’t have a lot of - we’re getting some good contested ball players into our footy club. He’s a contested ball player and we’re getting in blokes of pretty good size.
“We think - as with all young players - that there is a fair bit of upsize and improvement in him in terms of improvement.”
Video Highlights
No.52: Josh Tynan
Height: 186cm
Weight: 76kg
DOB: 6/11/93
Club: Gippsland Power
Tynan is a disciplined, good decision maker. He represented Vic Country at the NAB AFL U18 Championships and averaged 15.6 disposals. He can play tall or small. Tynan can also provide good run and drive from defence. He is a cool and composed player, good overhead and one-on-one.
What Barry says ...
“Josh is a medium-tall from Gippsland Power, who had a really good national championship and was really brave in the air.”
“He played mainly as a key back for Gippsland Power during the year - through their absence of tall defenders - but he can play tall and he can play small. There is a limit to how tall he can play in the AFL system.
“But he kicks it quite well and he makes good decisions with the footy and he doesn’t overplay the situation. He might have scope in other areas of the ground as well, so we’re not just pigeon-holing him as a defender.
“At that pick, we just thought he was a pretty talented player at pick 52 in the draft. It’s the old saying, but we couldn’t believe he was there.”
Video Highlights
No.54: James Sellar
Height: 196cm
Weight: 98kg
DOB: 24/3/89
Games: 21
A ruckman, key forward/defender, Sellar was selected at No.14 in the 2006 NAB AFL Draft by Adelaide Crows. He played 21 matches for the Crows from 2008-11. He played five matches in 2011. Sellar was a highly-rated junior - at one stage he was touted as a possible No.1 pick. He is flexible and still only 22 years old.
What Barry says ...
“He had five years at the Adelaide Crows … we’ve sought Neil’s opinion and Todd Viney’s opinion, who have both coached him.
“Mark was keen to get another player who can prop us up in experienced talls. We’ve got a lot of young, developing talls and they’re not going to be able to play every week.
“It was just a matter that players are going to have to earn their game and it’s going to be competitive. We’ve brought in Mitch Clark and James Sellar and if the young talls want their positions, they’re going to have to earn their positions. That’s pretty much the philosophy that we’ll see from them, although I don’t want to speak for them.
“In terms of James … he’s a No.14 draft pick from five years ago and he’s got talent - we know that, so it’s a great opportunity for him and we’re really pleased with all three picks.”
