Bendigo Pioneers hopeful a few players can be drafted after only one last year

The Bendigo Pioneers have one standout this year who could be a top-10 pick and there are several others in the frame to find AFL homes. Here is the state of play.

Tobie Travaglia is the Bendigo Pioneers best chance to be selected. Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images

While it might not land the number one draft pick this season the Bendigo Pioneers could be on track for their best AFL draft haul in years.

There could be up to five selected, the most since 2017 when the Pioneers had seven.

And it centres around Sandhurst’s Tobie Travaglia who could be a top-10 pick.

Travaglia’s name has risen up the ranks in the past few months and is one of a few defenders/midfielders rated highly by recruiters.

Pioneers coach Danny O’Bree said there was every chance he could be a top-10 pick.

The coach added his flexibility for the future was a major factor.

It also helps he won last year’s Bendigo Pioneers best-and-fairest, beating Harley Reid, who was the number one pick in the 2023 AFL Draft.

“He’s going to be a trustworthy player and quite versatile, which is really exciting,” O’Bree revealed.

“At 189cm he’s played predominantly across half-back.

“He’s an intercept mark and an elite runner.

“He’s in the elite category of high speed stuff but got incredible endurance.”

And there’s untapped potential of him being an inside midfielder in the future.

“Later on this year he played a lot of midfield and hit the scoreboard.

“It’s exciting that a club can sort of think in two to three years if he develops a bit more physically he can run through the midfield.

“It’s a pretty exciting prospect from a clubs point of view.”

Travaglia might not be the only Pioneer selected in the first round.

Jobe Shanahan, a 195cm key forward, could also be picked up early.

Jobe Shanahan is one of the leading forwards in the draft. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images

O’Bree said the Moama talent excelled in a tough year for the team.

“He’s had an incredible year,” he said.

“We haven’t been a significantly strong team from a win-loss point of view so he’s had to create a lot of opportunities himself.

“He’s got a lot of ball up the ground.

“He’s not only done it at national level but VFL level.

“He’s the best lead up mark in the draft, in my biased opinion.

“His skill set is ridiculously good and he’s worked hard on his contested game.”

O’Bree said three others were in consideration for being selected from the Pioneers.

This includes Archer Day-Wicks, James Barrat and Connor Evans.

Evans would be the story of the draft, if selected.

Earlier this year the Kangaroo Flat player had a car crash, when a truck ran into him, which impacted his season.

Connor Evans has had a tough season but could be drafted. Photo by Rob Lawson/AFL Photos

But O’Bree said the midfielder had the talent to succeed, he just needed a chance.

“Unfortunately he missed the nationals due to a car accident he had.

“He showed enough promise that if a club took the punt on him, he showed enough of his football (to do well).

“He can potentially surprise.”

O’Bree said Archer Day-Wicks is the most likely to be picked out of the three.

Archer Day-Wicks is one of a couple of Bendigo players who could be drafted. Photo by Rob Lawson/AFL Photos

The small forward, from Sandhurst, is set to attract attention with his highlights reel.

“In his last couple of years he’s had some incredible moments in some big names,” O’Bree said.

“He had a bit of an interrupted start to the year but found his feet at the end.

“An incredible athlete, incredible versatility.

“It’s exciting for a club to get someone of his calibre and can play in multiple roles.

But Barrat might also have suitors with his upside.

A lack of pre-season forced the Pioneers to play the tall in the forward line.

Over the season the 18-year-old impressed and improved.

“He played as a key forward as he had no pre-season due to a long term injury,” O’Bree said.

“He missed most of last year because of that.

“We had to keep him as a deep forward (but) as his fitness kept building we were able to move him up the ground a bit more.

“He played across half back and he just kept on coming up trumps.

“His running kept improving as the year went on.

“He’s one of the more exciting prospects because we haven’t seen him at his best yet.”

The AFL draft is on Wednesday November 20 and continues the next day.