Johann Wagner expected to win AFL contract via The Recruit

SPEED demon Johann Wagner will have a clutch of AFL clubs to choose his destination from if he is crowned the inaugural winner of The Recruit tonight.

11/07/14 - Johann Wagner, 23, from Port Lincoln is SA's representative on new Fox Footy Show the Recruit. Pictured at Adelaide Oval. Photo Tom Huntley

SPEED demon Johann Wagner will have a clutch of AFL clubs to choose his destination from if he is crowned the inaugural winner of The Recruit tonight.

The Port Lincoln product is a raging favourite to take out the AFL rookie contract on offer from the reality television series and will be given the unique opportunity to pick his club through a sanctioned AFL draft meeting.

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Those close to Wagner believe Melbourne and Port Adelaide are strong chances to secure for the 23-year-old, while Gold Coast, GWS and St Kilda could also make bids.

Fremantle has also tracked the show closely.

Johann Wagner, Bradie Foster & Chris Moreland. Photo by Martin Philbey.

All 18 clubs will attend tonight’s draft — live on FOX8 from 7.30 — at Crown and vote 3-2-1 in a secret ballot on the three finalists head coach Michael Voss hand-picked last week.

Wagner is competing with AIS volleyballer and project player Bradie Foster and Geelong West-St Peter’s midfield star Chris Moreland.

The winner of The Recruit will receive pitches from clubs which want to draft him. He may only select a club which declares interest in listing him.

Voss urged every club to pitch, declaring it a “free hit” with The Recruit’s salary to sit outside the cap unless he is promoted to the senior list and plays AFL games.

Clubs are hopeful Wagner — on Central Districts’ SANFL list — can emulate fellow forward Patrick Ambrose’s transition to AFL.

The Recruit final three, Bradie Foster, Johann Wagner and Chris Moreland, with AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan ahead of the live draft announcement. Picture-Nicole Cleary

Ambrose won 16 games with Essendon after being rookies from Old Xaverians.

Wagner’s blistering speed sets him apart but recruiters yesterday said he still needed to tidy up his kicking.

He slotted eight goals for SA country against WA last year and former Crow Michael Doughty told him to nominate for The Recruit.

Foster has represented Australia in volleyball while his dad played for Fitzroy.

He finished this season playing five games with Gold Coast’s reserves, impressing coach Josh Fraser.

Moreland has three clubs interested.

Irishman Padraig Lucey and WA basketballer Reece Maxwell — both delisted from the show last week — have also attracted strong AFL interest and can be signed as Category B rookies.

Originally published as Johann Wagner expected to win AFL contract via The Recruit