TAC Cup: Daniel Mott, Brodie Newman, Sam Ramsay top draft prospects from Calder Cannons
Runner-up in last year’s Calder Cannons best and fairest, midfielder Daniel Mott looms as one of the club’s leading draft prospects of 2019.
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Runner-up in last year’s Calder Cannons best and fairest, midfielder Daniel Mott looms as one of the club’s leading draft prospects of 2019.
The Brunswick junior made his TAC Cup debut in 2017 as a 16-year-old and featured in 15 matches for the Cannons last year, averaging 19.8 disposals, 3.7 tackles and 2.4 marks per game.
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Mott finished the 2018 campaign in superb form, gathering a season-high 29 possessions in Round 16 against Geelong Falcons.
“We dropped Daniel halfway through the year because he needed to work a lot on the defensive side of his game,” Cannons coach Ross Smith said.
“He did that, came back, and starred.”
Half-back flanker Sam Ramsay (Gisborne) and key-position prospect Brodie Newman (Aberfeldie) are other top-age players the club expects will attract attention from recruiters.
“(Ramsay) missed some of last year and he had some foot issues and injury issues which have held him back in games,” Smith said.
“He appears to be over that now.
“Brodie Newman is one of the guys that is going to be close to the leadership group.”
Five players from last year’s TAC Cup squad have been invited back as 19-year-olds, granted another chance to showcase themselves to AFL clubs.
Mid-sized forward Josh Kemp (Aberfeldie), halfback Sam Graham (Gisborne), utility Tye Browning (Craigieburn), Essendon father-son Mason Fletcher (Aberfeldie) and Jesse Taylor (Riddell) have returned to Highgate Reserve.
Fletcher was restricted to three matches last season due to injury and opted not to nominate for the 2018 draft.
Smith said the key backman and son of Essendon games record holder Dustin had been “spending a fair of time at the Bombers” and would likely return to the Cannons in February.
“(They’re) guys that were all close to being drafted,” he said.
The Cannons invited 88 players to be part of their initial summer training squad and Smith said he was set on about 35 who would be listed.
“Those 50 other kids will take part in quite a bit of the intraclubs and certainly the first two practice games,” Smith said. “We want to give everyone a couple of games to show their wares and make a decision on them.”
Ben Levens (Fitzroy), Harrison Minton-Connell (Aberfeldie), Ned Gentile (Essendon Doutta Stars), Jacob Martin (Aberfeldie), Matthew Allison (Strathmore), Seb Bell-Bartels (Gisborne) and Tom Belleville (Riddell) have been standouts during Calder’s pre-season.
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