AFL Draft: Geelong takes Geelong Falcons prospects Joe Pike and Xavier Ivisic in rookie draft

Geelong has taken two talents from its own backyard — including one from the Cats’ VFL program.

Geelong has taken two talents from their own backyard in the rookie draft, with Falcons prospects Xavier Ivisic and Joe Pike joining the Cats.

Ivisic, a Bell Park and Geelong Ammos junior, was taken with pick 12 while Barwon Heads product Joe Pike became a Cat with the third last selection at 31.

The Cats also added Oakleigh Chargers running machine Patrick Retschko, who took out the 2km time trial at the state draft combine

Geelong Falcons Ivisic and Pike are very different players and have very different stories.

Pike, an athletic ruckman with a basketball background, was interviewed by the Cats ahead of last year’s draft but was left on the board.

The 203 centimetre prospect improved his running dramatically in a pre-season with Geelong VFL and went to another level with the Falcons and the Cats, putting himself in mid-season draft contention.

Joe Pike is now a Cat. Picture: Mark Wilson

But Pike missed out again despite interest from several clubs including Essendon.

A year after he was initially overlooked, Geelong finally called his name.

Meanwhile, Ivisic couldn’t have done anything more in his 18th year but was left on the board after the national draft.

The skillful and hard-running midfielder-forward impressed for Vic Country, Geelong Falcons and Geelong Grammar this season, thoroughly earning his spot on an AFL list.

It brought the Falcons’ draft haul to five this year.

Falcons co-captain Lachie Jaques became a Bulldog with pick 29, River Stevens, son of North Melbourne champion Anthony, joined the Roos (pick 67), while earlier in the year Will McLachlan became a Brisbane player through the mid-season draft.

On night two of the national draft, Geelong lived up to its reputation of plucking players from relatvie obscurity.

None of the Geelong’s four selections on night two were among the 65 players invited to the national combine – a general indication that they have interest from at least four clubs.

The Cats took two South Australians to start in 190 centimetre forward Jay Polkinghorne (pick 44) and ruck-forward Jacob Molier (52).

They then successfully bidded on St Kilda Next Generation Academy defender Lenny Hofmann at pick 66 and powerful 188cm goalkicker Keighton Matofai-Forbes at 69.

Jay Polkinghorne was taken with Geelong’s first choice. Picture: Cory Sutton

“They weren’t dominant players necessarily for their states or able to do things that would have put them up into the first half of the draft, but we think that provided us with the opportunity to bring some exciting talent into the club that has got plenty of development left in them,” Geelong recruiting boss Stephen Wells said.

Geelong had been linked to Sturt ruckman Alex Dodson, who slid dramatically on the second night, but the Cats overlooked him with their first two selections and opted for his teammate SANFL U18 teammate Molier instead.

Dodson was snapped up with the very next pick by St Kilda.

Asked about whether there was debate around Molier and Dodson, Wells said: “There was a lot of debate around all of the picks that we made.”

“I think picking in the second half of the draft, it was a good even pool. We really think that Alex has got a great opportunity to be a good AFL player, and the same as Jacob and all the other players that we picked.

“Wish all the players that were picked by other club’s all the best and hope they have great careers, but the four that we got tonight, we’re very happy with.”

Molier is raw but possesses rare athleticism for a player standing 201cm, placing fifth in the 20m sprint at the state combine with a time of 2.92 seconds.

Jacob Molier at the state combine. Picture: Mark Brake/AFL Photos/via Getty Images)

Hofmann also has great closing speed, clocking the quickest 20m sprint at the state combine (2.86 seconds) and third best nationally

The intercept defender stood out at school level for Brighton Grammar and got better as the year went on for the Sandringham Dragons, culminating in 13 disposals and five intercept marks in their grand final win.

Polkinghorne had an injury interrupted season for Norwood but showed his high-flying traits with a miraculous hanger in the middle of the season.

He also finished the year in their reserves side, booting two goals and winning 17 possessions and eight marks in the Redlegs’ grand final win over Sturt.

Meanwhile, Matofei-Forbes earned a call-up for Vic Metro where he got plenty of opportunities in the biggest under-18 game of the year against Vic Country — kicking four behinds from nine touches and five marks.

The Western Jets product also kicked 11 goals in seven Coates Talent League games, including 14 disposals, eight marks and 3.3 against the Geelong Falcons in round 14 — his final game for the season

Don’t expect the immediate impact of Shaun Mannagh and Lawson Humphries from these players, but Wells remains excited about their potential into the future.

“More likely that they’ll take a bit of time to develop simply because they’re 18 and they’re just starting out on their footy journey I guess, as opposed to Shaun,” Wells said.

“But I don’t like putting limits on players and too much expectation, what we like to do is bring the players to the club and help them get to the best they can be as quickly as we can.”

Originally published as AFL Draft: Geelong takes Geelong Falcons prospects Joe Pike and Xavier Ivisic in rookie draft