AFL national draft: Late interest in Dandenong Stingrays players, says Cox

Coach Nick Cox says the Dandenong Stingrays have nine players attracting AFL interest ahead of the AFL national draft.

Stingray Connor MacDonald at the AFL Draft training day at Trevor Barker Oval.

Ahead of this year’s NAB League Boys season, Dandenong Stingrays coach Nick Cox spoke about the club having a “few unknowns’’.

Ahead of this week’s AFL national draft, more is known about a few of them, and it appears the Rays will be well represented on the final boards.

Mac Andrew, Judson Clark and Connor MacDonald are attracting a lot of attention, but Cox says there is late interest in other players, including Will Bravo.

Bravo has known some disappointments, missing out on the 2020 drafts, training with Hawthorn earlier this year and then getting mentions but no taker in the mid-season draft.

Cox said the midfielder – who played as a 19-year-old this year – had kept persisting and there was interest in him.

“I’m a massive fan of the kids who keep getting knocked down but keep getting up and being resilient,’’ he said.

“He’s an inside bull with some power and some pace.

“A club could do a lot worse than have Will in their stable. As a 19-year-old you get marked a bit harsher but he pushed through all of that and if he gets an opportunity he’s going to be a real asset to a club.’’

Big Mac Andrew on the run for the Dandenong Stingrays.

As for Andrew, the 200cm ruckman and forward was one of the revelations of the season. He had 12 kicks, 10 handballs, 12 hit-outs, three marks and three tackles on his debut, prompting Cox to say he had “jumped out of the ground’’. He’s since jumped into top 10 calculations.

Andrew is one of seven children in his family and was born in a refugee camp in Egypt, his parents having fled South Sudan a few years earlier.

They came to Australia in 2005.

“He’s risen up the ranks and we think he’ll go quite high, possibly even the top five,’’ Cox said.

“Credit to him and his family. He’s worked at it. He’s come a long way and he’s still got a long way to go.’’

Speedy left-footer Judson Clarke has also earned attention, bursting to prominence with his five goals for Vic Country in a trial game against Vic Metro at Werribee.

The East Ringwood product has made an excellent recovery from an ACL injury he suffered late in 2019.

Cox said Clarke “always had that flashy talent’’ but this year had added consistency to his obvious strengths of his pace, goal sense and creativity.

MacDonald averaged 29.8 disposals from his four matches for the Rays.

“He just keeps turning up and winning the footy,’’ Cox said of the midfielder.

“There were question marks on him as a 16-year-old – he probably got exposed to the NAB League a little bit early and they make assumptions about players – but he’s worked on his deficiencies and he’s only going to get better with his ability to hurt sides.

“He’s got as real balance between his in and outside game, contested and uncontested footy.

Connor MacDonald playing for Vic Country in the Under 19 Challenge game at Windy Hill. Pic: Michael Klein

“As a junior he was an inside bull type but now he can be damaging running into spots where he can get the football and change the angles forward of the footy with his kicking.’’

He said MacDonald – an All Australian Under 15 selection in 2018 – didn’t stand out in any particular area “but he does everything well’’.

Cox also has high hopes for Miller Bergman, who is light but classy with his skills.

He had a dip in form during the season and lost confidence. However he dug in and was starting to rise again when Covid put paid to the season.

“That hurt him a little bit,’’ Cox said.

“But you just can’t buy talent and he’s got talent. Plays across half back, you can throw him forward or on to a wing and he’s got a real understanding of the way the game’s played. His decision-making and kicking are real standouts for Miller.’’

Tall defender Justin Davies was another who played for Vic Country against Vic Metro.

Davies got fit, tested well at the start of the year, gained confidence and had a strong season.

He stood the much-fanfared Sam Darcy at Werribee and held his own.

With his pace he’s also capable of playing on smaller types.

“He’s got a damaging left foot and he’s starting to get better with his attacking ability as a defender,’’ Cox noted.

“He might be another one who’ll get a chance.’’

Half forward Josiah Kyle, described by Cox as “probably the most talented player on our list’’, best and fairest James Cahill and 193cm Lachlan Robinson have also had some interest.

Cahill and Robinson may return as 19-year-olds next year if they aren’t drafted.

Kyle is one of the four players St Kilda has nominated from its Next Generation Academy.