THE FACT that Melbourne’s four new rookies had been training with an AFL club played a part in their drafting, according to coach Mark Neeld.
The Demons drafted Jai Sheahan, Tom Couch and Leigh Williams, who had trained with the club in the lead-up to the final draft of the year. James Magner had also been training with St Kilda before Melbourne selected him.
Neeld said that watching these players in an AFL environment, before they were drafted, was pivotal in the decision-making process.
“We all like finality in things, and we know now the group of players we’ll be working with from today until the end of next season, so that’s exciting,” he said.
“We also know that all three of the boys taken in the National Draft are in full training, and we know that the four players we drafted today are already part of AFL systems.
“James has been down at St Kilda, and the other three boys have been here, so they’re all ready to go. They’ve all been doing AFL pre-seasons, and that certainly played a part in their selection.”
Neeld said it was important to gain a handful of experienced players for the club.
“With the seven new players coming into the club, there is a mixture of mature-age bodies,” he said.
“Tom and James are two mature-age mids and we drafted James Sellar with pick No.54 in the National Draft as a mature-age key position player, plus a mix of kids.
“It’s an opportunity and I suppose there is a message from me to our current playing group that you’re going to have to earn your games - it’s as simple as that.”
On a personal level, Neeld said he gained plenty from being involved in his first drafting period.
“It was a terrific educational experience to see the depth that the recruiting group goes to, and the outstanding knowledge that they have of the footballers in the country,” he said.
“We’ve challenged them at times and they’ve been up to the task, which has been great.
“There was a period there where we felt we needed to balance our list a bit, in terms of age and height.”
The Demons drafted Jai Sheahan, Tom Couch and Leigh Williams, who had trained with the club in the lead-up to the final draft of the year. James Magner had also been training with St Kilda before Melbourne selected him.
Neeld said that watching these players in an AFL environment, before they were drafted, was pivotal in the decision-making process.
“We all like finality in things, and we know now the group of players we’ll be working with from today until the end of next season, so that’s exciting,” he said.
“We also know that all three of the boys taken in the National Draft are in full training, and we know that the four players we drafted today are already part of AFL systems.
“James has been down at St Kilda, and the other three boys have been here, so they’re all ready to go. They’ve all been doing AFL pre-seasons, and that certainly played a part in their selection.”
Neeld said it was important to gain a handful of experienced players for the club.
“With the seven new players coming into the club, there is a mixture of mature-age bodies,” he said.
“Tom and James are two mature-age mids and we drafted James Sellar with pick No.54 in the National Draft as a mature-age key position player, plus a mix of kids.
“It’s an opportunity and I suppose there is a message from me to our current playing group that you’re going to have to earn your games - it’s as simple as that.”
On a personal level, Neeld said he gained plenty from being involved in his first drafting period.
“It was a terrific educational experience to see the depth that the recruiting group goes to, and the outstanding knowledge that they have of the footballers in the country,” he said.
“We’ve challenged them at times and they’ve been up to the task, which has been great.
“There was a period there where we felt we needed to balance our list a bit, in terms of age and height.”
