AFL Rookie Draft 2021: Follow all the latest news and see who your club takes

One of the biggest shocks of the rookie draft came from, no surprise, Stephen Wells. Check out who your club picked, plus more on the Cats’ VAFA bolter.

Jordan Pinto, Andrew Capel and Dan Batten

3 min read

November 27, 2021 - 3:41PM

News Corp Australia Sports Newsroom

Levi Casboult will be drafted by Gold Coast in the rookie draft. Picture: Getty Images

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Geelong and the Western Bulldogs have pulled huge surprises in the AFL rookie draft on Friday as 24-year-old Williamstown defender Charlie Dean finally got his chance at the top level with Collingwood.

In the first shock of the online event, which saw all 18 clubs call in remotely, Stephen Wells and the Cats plucked Ollie Dempsey straight from Old Carey Grammarians in the VAFA at pick 15.

SCROLL DOWN TO SEE EVERY PICK FROM THE PRE-SEASON AND ROOKIE DRAFTS

The Bulldogs followed suit two selections later, taking Sturt’s Charlie Parker, who was playing amateur footy in Adelaide last year.

The first-grade cricketer turned league footballer said he was still coming to terms with playing SANFL league football with Sturt this year when AFL grand finalist the Western Bulldogs sensationally picked him.

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Sturt’s Charlie Parker was picked by the Bulldog’s in Friday’s rookie draft. Picture: Michael Marschall

Now the 24-year-old mature-age selection is taking his impressive, pacy, long-kicking game to the big league.

“It’s fair to say I am in a bit of shock,’’ Parker said minutes after seeing his name pop up on the AFL website as the 17th pick of the rookie draft.

“It’s just been an amazing year and this tops it all off.

“I’m still shocked that I played league footy this year and now this happens.

“It’s incredible that I’m in this position, very exciting, and I can’t wait to get started with the Bulldogs

The club also plucked another mature-ager from their VFL program in 24-year-old midfielder Robbie McComb.

Dean, a 196cm key defender, won the Fothergill-Round-Mitchell Medal as the VFL’s best young player this year, following the same path to the AFL as the past 14 winners of the award.

Giants forward Jake Riccardi won it last year, while Demons grand final hero Bayley Fritsch (2017) and triple-premiership Tiger Kane Lambert (2013) also claimed the medal before being drafted.

See ya Monday Chaz. pic.twitter.com/xwYnFZn0Vn
— Collingwood FC (@CollingwoodFC) November 26, 2021

Luke Nankervis is now a Crow. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images

The Magpies pounced after North Melbourne used the first selection to re-list Jared Polec.

A number of other familiar names, including Lochie O’Brien (Carlton), Ben Davis (Adelaide), Cam Ellis-Yolmen (Brisbane) and Lewis Taylor (Sydney) were relisted by their clubs, while, as expected, Levi Casboult (Gold Coast) and Trent Dumont (Port Adelaide) found new homes.

After being overlooked in the national draft, Ned Long (Hawthorn at pick 5), Karl Worner (Fremantle at pick 8), Patrick Voss (Essendon at pick 11) and Cooper Hamilton (GWS at pick 13) were the other new faces to be given their chance at the top level.

Earlier, Adelaide used the pre-season draft to pounce on athletic Sandringham wingman/forward Luke Nankervis, meaning the teenager, who had some interest on the second night, joins the Crows’ senior list.

Gold Coast used the only other pick in the pre-season draft to re-list defender Rory Thompson.