Its National Draft Day

[labrooy]

The day has finally arrived. Ashley Brown on the AFL website has written an interesting article.

http://afl.com.au/default.asp?pg=opinion&spg=display&articleid=127183

I particularly like the comment toward the end where he wrote:

"Some clubs will nail the draft; others will get it wrong. But the naysayers who will jump on to talkback radio and the message boards to bag their club’s draft picks afterwards really will have no clue."

I think this sums up a lot of posters on this board quite nicely. I say lets give whoever is drafted a chance before we put the boots in.

[Donny]

Your guide to the draft
Compiled by Rebecca Williams - Fox Sports
November 22, 2003

When and where
The AFL draft begins at 11am at Melbourne Park Function Centre on Saturday, November 22

TV coverage
A one-hour delayed package on Channel 10 at 3pm

Web coverage
Check back here for details as they become available. The draft will also be broadcast live on afl.com.au

Draft order
All clubs must have a minimum of three selections
Adelaide : 14, 31, 58, 67.
Brisbane Lions : 18, 23, 33, 49, 61, 68.
Carlton : 2, 57, 63, 69, 72, 75, 78, 80.
Collingwood : 17, 32* (B. Shaw), 35, 48* (H. Shaw), 60.
Essendon : 6, 13, 28, 44.
Fremantle : 10, 12, 19, 27, 43* (B. Peake).
Geelong : 7, 22, 38* (M. Blake), 42, 54.
Hawthorn : 25, 41, 51.
Kangaroos : 9, 24, 40, 56, 66.
Melbourne : 3, 5, 36* (C. Johnson), 52.
Port Adelaide : 15, 30, 34, 39, 46.
Richmond : 21, 37* (T. Roach), 53, 64, 70, 73, 76, 79, 81, 82, 83.
St Kilda : 8, 55, 65, 71, 74, 77.
Sydney : 16, 29, 45, 47, 59.
West Coast : 11, 20, 26.
Western Bulldogs: 1, 4, 50, 62.
Total selections : 83.
* Father-son selection.

Possible Top 10
1 W.Bulldogs Adam Cooney Midfielder West Adelaide, 18, 186cm, 81kg
2 Carlton Andrew Walker Midfielder Bendigo Pioneers, 17, 186cm, 83kg
3 Melbourne Colin Sylvia Midfielder Bendigo Pioneers, 18, 183cm, 82kg
4 W.Bulldogs Farren Ray Midfielder Peel Thunder, 17, 181cm, 73kg
5 Melbourne Brock McLean Midfielder Calder Cannons, 17, 182cm, 86kg.
6 Essendon Kane Tenace Midfielder Murray Bushrangers, 18, 181cm, 80kg
7 Geelong Kepler Bradley Tall forward West Perth, 18, 198cm, 88kg
8 St Kilda Raphael Clarke Midfielder/forward St Marys, 18, 189cm, 78kg
9 Kangaroos Ryley Dunn Midfielder Murray Bushrangers, 18, 182cm, 80kg
10 Fremantle Beau Waters Midfielder West Adelaide, 17, 185cm, 83kg

Delisted players hoping for another chance
Adelaide: Andrew Crowell, Ben Marsh, Daniel Schell, Matthew Smith
Brisbane Lions: Shane Morrison, Jarad Wright
Carlton: Andrew Eccles, Simon Fletcher, Scott Freeborn, Glenn Manton, Andrew Merrington, Jim Plunkett
Collingwood: Rupert Betheras
Essendon: Jordan Bannister, James Davies, Rob Forster-Knight
Fremantle: Anthony Jones
Geelong: Ben Finnin, Brent Grgic
Hawthorn: Glen Bowyer
Kangaroos: David Bourke, Rod Crowe, Shannon Motlop, Dylan Smith
Melbourne: Daniel Breese, Gary Moorcroft, Aaron Rogers
Port Adelaide: Che Cockatoo-Collins, Paul Koulouriotis, Steven Paxman
Richmond: Craig Biddiscombe, Marc Dragicevic, Andrew Mills, Daniel Sipthorp
St Kilda: Craig Callaghan, Steve Lawrence, Daniel Hunt, Chris Oliver
Sydney: Amon Buchanan, Brad Seymour
Western Bulldogs: Brent Colbert

Already drafted
Six players have already been taken under the father/son rule.
Collingwood: Brayden Shaw pick No.32, Heath Shaw No.48.
Fremantle: Brett Peake No.43.
Geelong: Mark Blake No.38.
Melbourne: Chris Johnson No.36.
Richmond: Thomas Roach No.37.

What they earn
Base salary for draftees in first year
First round: $44,300 plus $2150 match payment for each senior game.
Second round: $40,200 plus $2150 match payment for each senior game.
Third round: $38,100 plus $2150 match payment for each senior game.
Bonuses: 1-5 games $2000, 6-10 $2000, 11+ $2000.
The maximum a draftee can earn in his first season: $97,600 ($44,300 + 22 matches @ $2150 + $6000 for playing more than 11 games).

Quick facts
The draft age is 18 years at June 30, 2004.
About 1600 players have nominated for this year's draft.
More than 2000 players have found a home at an AFL club through the draft since it was first held in 1986.

[labrooy]

I find the number of nominees is incredible!! I wonder how many of them are serious.