Hawthorn, North Melbourne chase talls at draft table to address future needs

PREMIERS Hawthorn warehouses some “Next Generation” kids as North Melbourne also safeguarded its key position stocks.

AFL Draft - South Australia's top draft chance Sam Durin on his families Halidon property. Photo Sarah Reed.

PREMIERS Hawthorn had the luxury of warehousing some Next Generation kids as North Melbourne also safeguarded its key position stocks.

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Hawthorn’s three picks all had an eye to the future.

Hawks recruiter Graeme Wright secured Murray Bushrangers key defender Daniel Howe (pick 31), Geelong Falcons small defender Teia Miles (pick 49) and Oakleigh Chargers 201cm ruckman Marc Pittonet.

Geelong Falcons youngster Teia Miles has been drafted by Hawthorn. Picture: Mitch Bear

With free agent James Frawley and former No.2 draft selection Jono O’Rourke already at the club, Wright was able to pick players on pure talent.

“Daniel Howe played this year as a 19-year old in the TAC Cup and boarded at Xavier College. He is a 192cm half back who we think can play midfield,’’ Wright said.

“He has great courage and uses the ball well and ticks the boxes. Teia Miles won the best-and-fairest with Geelong Falcons and he’s only 180cm and 70kg but we think he can play as a small defender.

Daniel Nielsen tries to spoil Matt Rennie during a TAC Cup match.

“And we always planned to take a ruckman but we thought it would be in the rookie draft. Pittonet is 201cm and 106kg and (ruck coach) Damien Monkhorst liked him so we were happy to get him.”

Miles is the son of Geoff Miles, who played 122 games with Collingwood, West Coast and Geelong.

Like Hawthorn the Roos addressed key needs during free agency by securing key forward Jarrad Waite and half forward Shaun Higgins.

Ed Vickers-Willis was a draft steal for North Melbourne.

It meant recruiter Bryce Lewis could go to work on 197cm ruck-forward Sam Durdin (pick 16), 193cm defender Daniel Nielson and Melbourne Grammar school captain Ed Vickers-Willis.

Durdin was best-afield in the SANFL under-18 Grand Final as a ruckman but the Roos see him as a power forward.

“I guess that’s the beauty of it. Cameron Joyce our list manager did a terrific job with Shaun and Jarrad. It allows us to address some needs and I can still come here and try to pick the talent,’’ Lewis said.

“Drewy (Petrie) is getting towards the end and we think Sam is a genuine contested marking player.

“Nelson is a last-line defender who we haven’t been able to draft for a while. He is a big powerful boy with closing speed and he’s aggressive.

“And we like Ed as a tall midfielder. He played on the wing with Sandringham with the ability to go inside. He’s a terrific young fella and has some versatility.”

Originally published as Hawthorn, North Melbourne chase talls at draft table to address future needs