MELBOURNE could pull a surprise or two in Tuesday’s NAB AFL Rookie Draft, according to coach Dean Bailey.
Although keeping his cards close to his chest, Bailey said the Demons have cast their net far and wide, as they prepare to add six players to their list.
“The rookie draft, you’re looking at blokes who have got enough talent or have showed enough,” he said.
“[We’ll select the] best available player in the rookie draft and there might be a couple of surprises in there.”
Melbourne has picks 14, 31, 48, 63, 75 and 83 in the final draft, before AFL lists are finalised for 2011. Versatile tall Michael Newton has been retained as a second-year rookie.
Bailey said recruiters Barry Prendergast and Gary Burleigh had been tireless in their pursuit to cover all bases in the rookie draft.
“Barry Prendergast and Gary Burleigh and our recruiting team have worked really hard,” he said.
“To go really deep in the rookie draft, we’re going to have to go really inventive or innovative in some of our selections.
“They’re still pouring over videos and finalising everything, rather than watching anyone new. They’re making sure that the character and the type of person that we’re after fits.
“Hopefully we’ll get a chance to call those names out.”
Although keeping his cards close to his chest, Bailey said the Demons have cast their net far and wide, as they prepare to add six players to their list.
“The rookie draft, you’re looking at blokes who have got enough talent or have showed enough,” he said.
“[We’ll select the] best available player in the rookie draft and there might be a couple of surprises in there.”
Melbourne has picks 14, 31, 48, 63, 75 and 83 in the final draft, before AFL lists are finalised for 2011. Versatile tall Michael Newton has been retained as a second-year rookie.
Bailey said recruiters Barry Prendergast and Gary Burleigh had been tireless in their pursuit to cover all bases in the rookie draft.
“Barry Prendergast and Gary Burleigh and our recruiting team have worked really hard,” he said.
“To go really deep in the rookie draft, we’re going to have to go really inventive or innovative in some of our selections.
“They’re still pouring over videos and finalising everything, rather than watching anyone new. They’re making sure that the character and the type of person that we’re after fits.
“Hopefully we’ll get a chance to call those names out.”
