AFL Tasmania set its national draft target at two – an aim that was achieved thanks to the Brisbane Lions’ recruiting department.
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Glenorchy tall defender Josh Watts and his running defender mate from Lauderdale Josh McGuinness went to the Lions with the club’s only two live picks at 65 and 81 last night.
‘‘We’re are really rapt at that, as at the start of the year we thought it could have been a pretty barren year for us,’’ State Academy coach Adam Sanders said last night.
‘‘It might not sound like much, but in a competitive market like the AFL, to get two boys drafted from Tasmania is fantastic, as a lot of TAC Cup sides don’t get two picked up.
‘‘I think these boys have done well and the program has done well and the clubs that they have come from have done well also.’’
Watts and McGuinness’s recruitment makes it five Tasmanians at the Lions, with the recently traded-in Mitch Robinson [originally from Lauderdale], Clarence’s Josh Green and Glenorchy’s Ryan Harwood already at the Gabba.
While Watts and McGuinness were the only two drafted from the Tasmanian program, Queensland-based Lachie Weller’s selection by Fremantle at pick 13 made it three players who started their football journey in this state finding an AFL home.
There is a strong North-West flavour now at the West Australian club, with the midfielder joining fellow former Burnie Docker Brady Grey and Devonport’s Alex Pearce at the club.
For the players who missed out, including Western Storm duo Matt Hanson and Tim Jones, the focus now turns towards Wednesday’s preseason and rookie drafts.
’‘‘Fingers crossed one or two more can get an opportunity,’’ Sanders said.
‘‘This time last year we were really happy [after six players were drafted] – I was on the phone to Eli Templeton [who would later go to St Kilda in the rookie draft] to tell him that ‘one door may be closed but another one could open, so there’s not much point getting too down in the dumps until after that’.
‘‘There are so many champions of the game who have come through the rookie draft system, so while that door is still ajar there is still hope.’’
There was also a Tasmanian connection at the pointy end of the draft, with No.1 pick Patrick McCartin having been born in Hobart before moving to Victoria when he was four.