AFL draft 2019: Harrison Jones joins idol Joe Daniher at Essendon
Playing alongside Joe Daniher will be a “dream come true” for Harrison Jones and he wants his idol to stay at the Bombers. But the Dons have a forward who can take over in the goalsquare should Daniher try to leave again.
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Harrison Jones was just another Essendon fan hoping Joe Daniher would stay at the Bombers in the trade period.
But, Essendon’s newest key forward can tell Daniher face-to-face when he walks into the Hangar and meets some of his footy idols on his first day at the club.
Essendon made a trade with North Melbourne to secure the hard-running goalkicker at pick No.30 on Thursday night.
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It completed an unofficial father-son selection as Jones’ father, Craig, played for the Bombers’ under-19 side as a backman.
“It is a dream come true,” Jones said.
“I go to most of the games. I do enjoy watching the Bombers.”
Clearly, the Bombers hope the marking target can either work in tandem with Daniher, or take over from him in the goalsquare in the event he again tries to move to Sydney next year.
But if the 194cm Jones gets his way, Daniher will remain in red and black for life.
“He is a bit of an idol of mine as well, the way he plays,” Jones said.
“He is taller, but I like to watch the way he goes about it.
“I reckon he will stay (at Essendon), hopefully.”
The lightly built Jones will need to work hard in the gym to add size.
But the man who counts Sydney superstar Lance Franklin among his favourite players plans to try to use his huge tank and running power to work off his opponent.
“I think that is the main thing I try and do, outrun my opponents,” Jones said.
This was an important draft for the Bombers, even if they had already used their first-round pick as part of last year’s Dylan Shiel deal.
They went for height, hoping to find some diamonds in the rough.
After bidding for Brisbane Academy prospect Keidean Coleman, Essendon snared developing ruckman Nick Bryan at pick 38 to help prepare for life after veteran Tom Bellchambers.
The 202cm St Kevin’s student has a big leap and agility.
Clearly, he is a long-term prospect.
But Geelong is the club that picked the biggest mystery man of the night when it plucked Francis Evans at selection 41.
The 182cm small forward played only three games for Calder Cannons this year, having started the season playing for Brunswick NOBS in Division 2 in the VAFA.
In one game, Evans kicked eight goals, clearly showcasing his smarts.
The Cats caught everyone off guard when they took premiership defender Andrew Mackie with pick seven in 2002, and master list manager Stephen Wells last night went for another smoky with only a glimpse of exposed form at the top under-age level.
Originally published as AFL draft 2019: Harrison Jones joins idol Joe Daniher at Essendon