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TASMANIA had a national draft night that exceeded all expectations, with four players having their AFL dreams realised in Adelaide on Tuesday.
As expected Clarence running defender-midfielder Mitchell Hibberd and Tigers’ ball-magnet Kieran Lovell both found football homes, but not in the order that was predicted.
Lovell was the first to go, in the first round to reigning premiers Hawthorn with pick 22, before Hibberd, who was touted as more likely to be selected at that point, went to the club that he barracks for, North Melbourne, at pick 33.
There was more to come, with Tigers’ Mackenzie Willis at the age of 20 becoming a mature-age choice for Gold Coast at 52, before Geelong took Burnie key defender Ryan Gardner with the 59th selection, their first entry into the draft after their busy trade period.
State Academy coach Adam Sanders said AFL Tasmania was ecstatic with the outcome.
‘‘To have three boys come straight out of the academy, and certainly Mackenzie has gone through there in the past, that is fantastic for us,’’ Sanders said.
‘‘I hope people can acknowledge the hard work that people have put in, and it is a good product that allows kids to chase their dreams.
‘‘It is really good to see that four really good young men have been given the opportunity to fulfill their dreams.’’
The new homes for Lovell, Hibberd, Willis and Gardner all have a strong Tasmanian connection.
The first two will get a chance to play in their home state with Hawthorn and North Melbourne at Aurora Stadium and Bellerive Oval, with Grant Birchall and Zac Webster in the brown and gold and Ben Brown at North.
Gold Coast’s population features Tasmanian Rodney Eade as coach and Kade Kolodjashnij, Luke Russell, Henry Schade, Aaron Hall and Jesse Lonergan on their playing books.
That’s not to mention recruiter Scott Clayton who is also from this part of the world.
At the Cats, Gardner will join Launceston duo Jackson Thurlow and Jake Kolodjashnij.
‘‘I’ve got a message tonight from Kade about Mackenzie, and sent one to Jake Kolo and Jackson about looking after Ryan, so it’s nice there is that connection,’’ Sanders said.
‘‘But it is also good, for example, that Geelong know they can pick up some real quality young men from Tassie, and that it helps these guys behind them.’’
For those who missed out, including Lauderdale’s Nick Dodge and Isaac Franks and Glenorchy’s Mitch Rainbird, their next chance comes on Friday in the pre-season and national rookie drafts.