It was the last chance for this year’s crop of AFL draft hopefuls at Monday’s rookie selection meeting.
There was joy for some, but heartbreak for most, with limited spots available.
One player granted his wish was Western Jets’ utility Oscar Junker.
Junker, originally from Werribee Districts, landed at North Melbourne in the second round of the rookie draft.
Jets’ coach Torin Baker was impressed with the versatility Junker displayed on the field and his leadership as co-captain during a season in which he finished second in the club best-and-fairest behind Brodie Romensky.
“He can play in all positions,” Baker said. “I think he’ll end up being more of a back and a midfielder.
“He’s a natural footballer, a highly skilled player and excellent character.”
For every good news story coming out of the draft, there are downsides for scores more.
Romensky is the Jets’ hard-luck story, missing out on the draft despite playing at a high level in the TAC Cup all season.
“I don’t think Brodie could do any more than he’s done this year,” Baker said. “He won our best and fairest by a long way, performed well at national championships and played well in a couple of VFL games for Williamstown.”
There were some left bemused when Williamstown gun midfielder Michael Gibbons went undrafted in the same year he won the Liston Trophy for best and fairest in the VFL.
Former Seagull Andrew Gallucci at least got another chance to prove himself at Carlton.
Meanwhile, the Western Bulldogs have opted for tall timber with their first round selections at both the national and rookie drafts.
The Bulldogs swooped on Tim English in the national draft – the highest rated underage ruckman in the land, who comes out of Pingelly in Western Australia.
The premiers also picked up ruck-forward Nathan Mullenger-McHugh (Eastern Ranges) in the rookie draft.
Others to join the Bulldogs include dynamic forward Patrick Lipinski (Northern Knights), key forward Lewis Young (Sturt) and midfielder-forward Fergus Greene (Bendigo Pioneers), while Josh Prudden was retained as a rookie.
