Richmond coach Damien Hardwick with Tigers draftee Nick Vlastuin. Picture: Chris Hyde. Source: Getty Images
FOOTBALL shuffled out of the Gold Coast yesterday full of hope and promise, because that's what the draft is all about: selling hope.
Kevin Sheedy of Greater Western Sydney dominated, because the Giants had the first three picks, but there was barely a table at the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition centre last night that wasn't happy with their lot.
Richmond coach Damien Hardwick, an Essendon and Port Adelaide premiership player, told The Advertiser he was as confident as he had been since taking the job at Punt Rd.
"I think we're finally ready to do something," he said, having been teased that Richmond seems to have been forever teasing the game and their supporters.
The bottom line when it comes to AFL drafts is that no matter how grandiose the statements are, how delighted the clubs are with their picks, it will take years before we really know who was the winner of each draft.
More urgent questions: Who is likely to play straight away? Who is likely to have an immediate impact?
The consensus among recruiters is that midfielders are likely to play sooner, and that they are happy to wait for a year or two to reap the benefits of snapping up a bigger player.
Out of the five players drafted by South Australia's two clubs, Ollie Wines, the No. 7 pick, is the most likely to play a role next year.
The Echuca-raised midfielder seems as balanced as they come at his age, and he is big enough to suggest he's ready for senior football.
Port recruiter Geoff Parker said the Power would be patient with all of its recruits, but agreed Wines was a strong chance to play in his first year on Port's list.
"Key position players take a bit longer, as you know, but you've seen Ollie and we expect him to play pretty early," Parker said.
Adelaide, which conceded its first two draft picks as it works with the AFL while being investigated for salary cap breaches and draft tampering, was happy to have played a role at all in Thursday's draft.
List manager David Noble took a minute to think about what could be expected from the Crows' two picks: Sam Siggins, a tall backman from Lauderdale in Tasmania, and Calder Cannons best and fairest Rory Atkins, "I don't know; it's a hard one," Noble said.
"It's difficult because pre-season is up and running. I always think this period of time is a bit awkward for them, to come over and find their feet.
"For them to understand the level of intensity of training. But Sam Kerridge came over last year and played in our NAB Cup Grand Final.
"So we won't put any restrictions on them. Are they both going to be ready next year?
"It's unlikely, but you never know. We're just pleased that we've been able to add some 18-year-old talent in the door after the circumstances earlier in the week," he said
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