Robbie Gray to play a role for Port Adelaide at the 2019 AFL Draft
Robbie Gray has a passion for scouting and recruiting and is now set to have a big involvement in Port Adelaide’s 2019 Draft night.
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Port Adelaide fans are hoping Robbie Gray has a few more years on the field left on him, but a potential role for the Power star post-playing continues to gather pace.
Gray will be at Wednesday night’s NAB AFL Draft in Melbourne, presenting guernseys to the newest Power players as part of the next step in his interest in scouting and recruiting talent.
“I’ve done a little bit of work with our list manager, head of recruitment and recruiting team over the past couple of years around looking at vision (of potential recruitments),” Gray told The Advertiser.
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“It’s something for me possibly in life after footy … I like having a look at the kids and seeing what talent is out there and possibly coming to our club.
“I haven’t actually been to a draft so I’m really excited about that it will be really good to see how it works.”
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Last year Gray’s glowing endorsement played a part in the Power taking Zak Butters with their No. 12 pick – with the 31-year-old’s praise for the Victorian youngster justified by an exciting debut year for Butters.
“I think so (whether he can provide a different perspective to looking at players), I suppose being a player and knowing what goes into a game of footy, knowing what you need to do to perform and going through that junior system myself I can reflect back on that a bit,” he said.
He said there were a couple of players he would like Port to take with its three first round picks (12, 16 and 18).
“I think having three picks in that first round opportunity to get some really talented players in,” he said.
“It’s a tough one (how Port should attack the draft) especially when you have picks that high you look at taking the best available player and you look at spreading it around the ground.
“I don’t think there is a glaring need (for the Power) obviously I think it has been spoken about that we might look at some mid-forward players but I think a lot depends on what happens before our picks at the draft.”
One player in this year’s draft pool has actually been compared to Gray, who will return to full pre-season training at Alberton on Friday, is skilful Gippsland midfielder/forward Caleb Serong.
But he might be off the board by the time the Power are up.
Another player that has caught Gray’s eye is Glenelg’s Premiership defender and SA under-18 captain Will Gould – who looms as an intriguing prospect as to what pick he will be drafted at as AFL recruiters continued to be polarised about his potential upside because of his size.
Gray said Gould’s achievements should speak for themselves.
“To win a senior premiership in the SANFL (at his age) is super impressive as it’s a very tough competition,” Gray said.
Gould could be facing off against Gray in a Showdown, as he has been linked to the Crows at picks 22 and 23 if he still available at that time.
The 192cm Gould, whose size, maturity and game style have had him compared to West Coast premiership captain Shannon Hurn when he was drafted from SANFL club Central District in 2005, said he wouldn’t mind where he ends up.
“(But) I grew up a (Geelong) Cats fan all my live and my best mate from Lucindale is also a Geelong supporter and he lives in Geelong now so that would be pretty awesome if I went there,” he said.
“But AFL has been the dream so wherever.”