GWS Giants reveal video of their successful AFL Draft bounty

The GWS Giants have given a revealing insight into their successful AFL draft. And while their chief recruiter likes one bold Carlton move, he wasn’t sure about another. VIDEO

Adrian Caruso, head recruiter of the Giants. Pic: Getty Images

It’s the draft-day vision all footy fans want to see — and the GWS Giants have delivered with a unique behind-the-scenes video detailing their successful hit-and-run mission at the AFL national draft.

On Monday the Giants released a short video detailing their draft haul that saw them snap up six of the best juniors in Australia.

The clip, seen below, features the Giants’ recruiting team planning for the draft and shows pre-draft meetings, including questions from senior coach Leon Cameron about players.

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The Giants nailed each of their three picks heading into Thursday night’s first round before seemingly an equally-fruitful day 2.

Speaking on Tuesday, GWS national recruiting manager Adrian Caruso acknowledged the video may not have been released had the Giants’ two-day draft hopes not panned out — and granted there may have been some “creative editing” — but the final product shows a hugely successful two days for GWS.

Go inside the meetings and be there as Leon Cameron and the GIANTS recruiting team prepare for and execute their plan at the NAB #AFLDraft.#BeGIANT pic.twitter.com/2jn2L3hFsF

— GWS GIANTS (@GWSGIANTS) November 26, 2018

Caruso said the draft posed plenty of tough decisions, the revered talent scout revealing he might have gone another way had GWS possessed Carlton’s No.1 pick.

“It’s an interesting one,” Caruso said.

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“I would have taken Izak Rankine, but it’s easy to say that.

“If you actually had the No.1 pick and you were weighing up (Sam) Walsh and Rankine, in the end would you just go the safe bet in Sam Walsh?

“That would have been the hard one, but I think I’m pretty bold, so I probably would have stuck with Izak Rankine ... it’s hard to find players who have that level of ability.”

GWS recruiting boss Adrian Caruso.

Gold Coast’s Izak Rankine at training on Monday. Pics: Getty Images

Caruso told SEN he believed Port Adelaide had drafted well on the night, but said “everyone’s happy” immediately after the event.

“Everyone likes certain players, it’s all different,” he said.

“Connor Idun, we liked him and we would have picked him a lot earlier if we had an earlier pick, whereas every other club passed on him.

“So no-one’s right and no-one’s wrong right now. The funny thing about recruiting is you pick these players and you bring them in but it’s 4-5 years down the track.”

The Giants were thrilled to snare Xavier O'Halloran, Jye Caldwell and Jackson Hately. Pic: Getty Images

One selection that grabbed headlines was Carlton’s bold decision to “trade up” late in the first round and grab highly-touted midfielder Liam Stocker — a move Caruso liked.

“I thought the Carlton trade was a really good trade,” he said.

“They’ve backed themselves to have a really good year next year, so trading out their future first rounder to get Adelaide’s back and then getting in a player this year that they wanted.

“I think they’ve actually copped a bit for it but I actually don’t mind it because if they rate the player and they want to get him in now and they back themselves to be good next year, then I don’t think that’s a bad one.”

Originally published as GWS Giants reveal video of their successful AFL Draft bounty