Geelong Falcons: Two top age stars revealed for mid-season draft

Two Geelong Falcons players have been picked as possible mid-season draft prospects and will play in the Young Guns exhibitions ahead of May 31. Find out what their ‘draftable attributes’ are here.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - APRIL 02: Paul Corrigan, head coach of the Falcons talks to his players during the NAB League Girls Semi Final match between Dandenong and Geelong at Skybus Stadium on April 02, 2022 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Mike Owen/AFL Photos/Getty Images)

Falcons coach Paul Corrigan says he is proud to have two of his players selected for a mid-season representative showcase as the AFL world begins to turn its attention to the mid-season draft.

Geelong Falcons will have two highly-rated top-aged talents playing in the Young Guns exhibition matches ahead of the draft on May 31, with AFL recruiters picking the side to play Vic Metro on Sunday and Vic Country next weekend.

Newtown & Chilwell’s Archie Sinnott and Grovedale’s Hamish Pierson will both ply their trade in the selected representative side, with the two games set to be played over the next two Sundays in Sandringham.

Corrigan said the pair of Falcons had been rewarded for their consistency so far in 2023.

“They’ve both come back in as 18, 19 year olds and put in really good pre-seasons and consistent years so far,” he said.

“Both Hamish and Archie had some school commitments last year so they couldn’t really find consistency at the Falcons, so it’s been great to see them come back and have another crack.

Archie Sinnott of the Geelong Falcons. Picture: Graham Denholm

“You never know with the mid-season draft and what clubs are looking for, but they both have draftable attributes that could be really attractive for clubs.”

Pierson, one of the Falcons’ co-captains, is a 195cm key defender who can play on the bigger bodied forwards as well as the lighter frames, with an impressive ability to shift focus between beating his man in a one-on-one and peeling off for an intercept opportunity.

Sinnott is stationed on a wing, with a booming left foot, a turn of speed and quick decision making allowing him to be a damaging threat going inside forward 50.

He has averaged 15.5 disposals, two marks, 2.3 tackles and 2.5 inside 50s per game, while Pierson has conceded just five goals in the four games.

Hamish Pierson of the Geelong Falcons. Picture: Graham Denholm

Corrigan, who will coach against the pair of Falcons in the second match on May 14, said the pair had been important for Geelong this season.

“Hamish has really come on this year, his size means he can play on some of the bigger bodies and really challenge them, but he’s really agile as well so he can go up against a medium forward and try to play the high ball a bit differently,” he said.

“His ability to really make the aerial contest a 50/50 is great, plus he can also come off his man and intercept well, and then his ball use is really good for us moving into an attacking position.

“Archie is really damaging when he gets the ball, he’s worked hard into the season and our last game against the Bushrangers it really came together, the ball came through his wing a lot and he found plenty of it.

“He’s got a long left foot kick and can be a real linebreaker for us, he’s one of those players that is a 50-70m player.”

Originally published as Geelong Falcons: Two top age stars revealed for mid-season draft