AFL national draft: a string of Dandenong Stingrays left disappointed after missing out

“You get more kicks in the arse than you get licks of the ice cream,’’ Stingrays assistant coach Rob Railton said after the AFL drafts.

FOR new Dandenong Stingrays coach Nick Cox, the AFL national and rookie drafts brought conflicting emotions.

Cox, who served as the Stingrays’ midfield coach in their 2018 premiership season, was chuffed six players were called up to AFL lists.

But he was “shattered’’ for others who were legitimate draft contenders and were overlooked.

It’s the kick-in-the-guts side of the draft that TAC Cup coaches and region talent managers must deal with.

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Going into the drafts Cox had said he would “put the house’’ on Sam Sturt, Bailey Williams, Will Hamill, Sam Fletcher and Toby Bedford being drafted. He said Riley Bowman, Zac Foot, Mitch Riordan, Jai Taylor, Matt Gahan, Lachlan Young, Campbell Hustwaite and Lachie McDonnell were “thereabouts’’.

Sturt, Williams, Hamill, Bedford and Foot were taken in the national draft. Young followed in the rookie draft.

Midfielder Fletcher and ruckman Bowman were in this year’s AFL Academy. Co-captain Hustwaite won the best and fairest comfortably, was equal third in the Morrish Medal and like Fletcher was in the TAC Cup team of the year. All told the Stingrays had 18 players attend the combines for testing.

Sam Fletcher playing for Vic Country.

“Tough night,’’ Cox said.

“A lot of disappointed players and disappointed families too. They’d spoken to clubs, their form was great, they tested well, they play the game well, they carry themselves well, and they didn’t get drafted.

“I just said I felt for them, as a coach and a friend. When things settle down we’ll have a chat about what the future holds. But at the same time things happen really quickly.’’

Stingrays assistant Rob Railton said on Twitter: “You get more kicks in the arse than you get licks of the ice cream … the sun always comes up.’’

Riley Bowman wins a tap for the Dandenong Stingrays.

Many of the Stingrays have been training at Frankston and the players who missed out on the draft are likely to play in the VFL.

One or two may also return to the Rays as 19-year-old players if the club assesses injuries hampered their draft hopes.

Young was a 19-year-old player this year and also had a run with the Dolphins.

“Hats off to him,’’ Cox said. “Six months ago he was playing at Mt Eliza. He wasn’t even in the Stingrays side. So he’s a great story and it shows that it (19-year-old rule) can work.’’