AFL clubs take a punt on state league picks in search of the next Tim Kelly
In the search for the next Tim Kelly, who was a revelation for Geelong last season, AFL clubs have mined the state leagues for more gold nuggets. Here are six players to look out for this year.
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This time 18 months ago, Tim Kelly was an apprentice electrician who played for South Fremantle in the WAFL in the hunt for a spark to ignite an AFL career.
Brody Mihocek was packing boxes and driving a forklift by day and pulling on the boots at Port Melbourne VFL training at night.
And Liam Ryan was still trying to shake a party-boy tag that scared off AFL clubs as he took hangers and kicked goals for WAFL side Subiaco week-in, week-out.
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Last year, Kelly finished second in Geelong’s best-and-fairest and Collingwood’s Mihocek and Eagle Ryan featured on the big stage of the MCG on Grand Final day.
The trio was the latest reminder to AFL recruiters of the immediate impact mature-age recruits can have and followed a long line of success stories including Matthew Priddis, Michael Barlow and Kane Lambert.
“I think that’s a really positive trend in sport,” Williamstown VFL coach and Hawthorn premiership great Andrew Collins says.
“You need to have a really strong squad to be successful at AFL level and Alastair Clarkson talks a lot about that.
“You can’t just have a lot of developing players on a list. It’s really good to have players who are ready-made come into your team and make your team better straight away.
“Mature-age recruiting has also shown that players are coming in with a drive and resilience to make it work. The pathway of these guys has made them more resilient and in many ways also more grateful for their opportunities.”
Through pre-draft concession selections, the national draft and rookie draft, a total of 25 players aged 19 or older were plucked from state leagues and community clubs around the country and listed by AFL sides.
Three of those players came from Williamstown. Midfielder-turned-small-forward Ben Cavarra found a new home at the Western Bulldogs and small forward Lachlan Schultz and onballer Brett Bewley both crossed the country to join Fremantle.
Collins believes Cavarra and Bewley will be putting their hands up for Round 1 selection at their new clubs.
Cavarra — taken at pick 45 in the national draft — is a particularly exciting prospect after he snagged 66 goals across the past two seasons with the Seagulls.
“I expect him to be everything he was for us and I’m sure Luke Beveridge has already seen he’s got great closing speed, phenomenal agility and he’s a great little tackler who’s got a great ability to put on pressure,” Collins says. “I believe he’ll be a better player for the Bulldogs than some of their departing players.”
A pair of players plucked from fellow VFL side Werribee — Sam Collins and Josh Corbett — are also tipped to be in the Round 1 mix with their new side Gold Coast. Both were pre-draft selections.
Collins, a key defender, was delisted by Fremantle at the end of 2017 having played 14 AFL games in two seasons. He then developed his game in the VFL last year to earn another opportunity.
“He had a great year with us, won our best-and-fairest and was in the VFL Team of the Year,” outgoing Werribee coach John Lamont says.
“He’s going to be a great acquisition to their club on and off the field, even as a first-year player.
“It won’t surprise me at all if he’s in the team Round 1, making a really strong contribution to their set-up.”
The Suns also picked up 22-year-old West Adelaide star Chris Burgess through the pre-draft selections. Burgess stands 194cm, can play either end of the ground and is also expected to earn plenty of chances this year.
Another to keep an eye on is Collingwood VFL product Marty Hore, a 22-year-old rebounding defender who was drafted to Melbourne.
And former Hawthorn recruiter Gary Buckenara believes 189cm midfielder Luke Foley might just be the pick of the bunch, having joined West Coast with pick 31 in the national draft after a year with WAFL outfit Subiaco.
“He to me probably has just been that little later developer and he could probably play straight away,” Buckenara says.
While Kelly’s debut season for the Cats will be hard to top, the message is to expect a few of the mature-age recruits to make their mark in 2019.
“Most of those out of the WAFL, SANFL, VFL — they’re capable of playing Round 1 if they’re needed,” Buckenara says.
“That’s the idea of the mature age guys, to use them to fill up your depth.”
SIX TO WATCH IN 2019
SAM COLLINS (Gold Coast)
A pre-draft selection by the Suns who shone for Werribee in the VFL last year. The 24-year-old key defender played 14 games over two seasons at Fremantle before being delisted at the end of 2017.
SUPERCOACH: $188,900 (DEF)
BEN CAVARRA (Western Bulldogs)
A Morrish Medal winner in the TAC Cup as a midfielder in his under-18 year who has gone on to morph into the best small forward in the VFL with Williamstown over the past two seasons. Stands just 172cm tall but kicked 66.51 across 2017-18 and was a strong pressure player.
SUPERCOACH: $117,300 (FWD)
LUKE FOLEY (West Coast)
A 19-year-old midfielder who stands 189cm and has strong endurance. Foley is a fine kick and won a Colts premiership withSubiaco in the WAFL last year. Played for Western Australia in the National Under-18 Championship and averaged 17.3 disposals, 7.7 tackles and 4.7 clearances per game.
SUPERCOACH: $117,300 (MID)
CHRIS BURGESS (Gold Coast)
A 22-year-old schoolteacher who was picked up by the Suns as a pre-draft selection from West Adelaide. A late bloomer who did not nominate for the draft when he was younger, the 194cm tall developed into a gun swingman in the SANFL who can play at either end of the ground.
SUPERCOACH: $123,900 (DEF/FWD)
MARTY HORE (Melbourne)
A 22-year-old defender who graduated from the Bendigo Pioneers TAC Cup program in 2015 and developed his game with Collingwood’s VFL side. Stands 189cm tall and played 33 VFL games over the past two years in which he led Collingwood in disposals, marks, contested marks and rebound 50s. Also a two-time back pocket in the VFL’s Team of the Year.
SUPERCOACH: $117,300 (DEF)
BRETT BEWLEY (Fremantle)
Midfielder who is an endurance beast, has a mature body and a booming and accurate left-foot kick. The 23-year-old spent the past five seasons with Williamstown in the VFL, where he was named in the league’s Team of the Year in each of the past two seasons.
SUPERCOACH: $117,300 (MID)
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