Crows build steel into new backline

Kyle Hartigan, left, defends on Cameron Mooney in a VFL match. Picture: Colleen Petch. Source: Herald Sun

A YEAR on from watching Phil Davis follow Nathan Bock out of the exit lounge, Adelaide's key defensive stocks are looking fully replenished.

The Crows added VFL backman Kyle Hartigan with their sole selection in yesterday's AFL Rookie Draft, after selecting fellow key defender Sam Siggins in the national draft.

With Ben Rutten nearing the end of his career, the Crows will bank on a mix of Hartigan, Siggins, Sam Shaw, Luke Thompson and Andy Otten developing into long-term partners for emerging star Daniel Talia.

At 194cm and 93kgs and with three seasons of senior football under his belt, 21-year-old Hartigan has the potential to step in and play immediately next year if injury or form slumps strike.

A highly rated junior prospect, Hartigan earnt AIS selection as a 17-year-old and captained TAC Cup side Western Jets.

But he was overlooked in his draft year and has spent the past three years at Werribee honing his game under former Western Bulldogs midfielder Scott West.

"In some of those 18th years there's high expectations," Crows list manager David Noble said.

"Some of the guys are still growing and maybe don't look as accomplished as they did in their 17th year and for whatever reason their footy is a little bit off.

"But to his credit he's gone back and worked extremely hard to not give up."

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Hartigan, a favourite of Melbourne-based Crows scout Steve McCrystal, eventually earnt his opportunity by showing an ability to play on forwards of all sizes.

He has held his own in match-ups against James Podsiadly, Tom Hawkins, Matthew Bate, Jayden Post and Brendan Fevola in the past two years and played senior state football this season.

"He's played on quicks, he's played on mediums, he's played on talls," Noble said.

"Siggins, we know, is a longer-term prospect, but Hartigan is one, if opportunity creates itself, who could step in and play AFL footy next year. We're pretty happy to get him."

The Crows completed the process of returning Nick Joyce to their list yesterday by selecting him in the preseason draft.

Noble praised the attitude of the youngster, who had to be delisted because of a technicality that saw Kurt Tippett remain on Adelaide's list longer than the club wanted.

"Nick's handled himself extremely well and shown maturity beyond his years," Noble said.

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No concerns on Tippett's concussions

Kurt Tippett is finally a Swan. Picture: Sarah Reed Source: adelaidenow

SYDNEY coach John Longmire says Kurt Tippett's late-season resurgence means the club will enter next season unconcerned over the forward's concussion history.

Tippett's long and tortured journey to the Harbour City was completed yesterday when the Swans secured the former Crow with pick 11 in the pre-season draft.

His 11-match ban for his role in Adelaide's salary cap saga has overshadowed his struggles with several head knocks last season.

But Longmire said doubters only had to look at the Crows' last game of 2012.

"We saw the way he came back. Whilst he took a few weeks to get going, by the end of the year he was in really good form," Longmire said yesterday.

"Anyone who saw that preliminary final (against Hawthorn) last season when he kicked four goals and contributed to a number of others could see the impact (he had) and the condition he was in and we're confident that going forward he'll be a very important, key player for us.'

Despite Tippett's Swans debut unlikely to happen before Round 14, Longmire said the club was excited about the impact he would have in the long-term.

"What he brings ... he's only 25 years of age, a 202cm key position forward who this year had over 70 shots at goal," he said.

"We think he can add some real fire power in our front half and importantly not only do it next year, but the years beyond. We think he's got some good footy ahead of him."

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Greater Western Sydney threw a lifeline to delisted Carlton defender Bret Thornton, a year after doing the same with Thornton's former Blues teammate Setanta O'hAilpin.

Thornton, an 11-year 188-game veteran at Visy Park, was dumped by Carlton at the end of last season. The Giants also re-drafted veteran ruckman Dean Brogan, who was initially delisted to make room for Tippett.

Richmond signalled its intent for finals success next year by bringing in a bevy of recycled talent to Punt Road.

The Tigers yesterday added Ricky Petterd, Orren Stephenson and Sam Lonergan to its list after securing Chris Knights, Troy Chaplin and Aaron Edwards earlier in the off-season.

Collingwood took a chance on twice-retired ruckman Ben Hudson to support veteran Darren Jolly in a move that could prove critical to its premiership chances.

Hudson joins the Pies - where he will also act as ruck coach - after stints at Adelaide, Western Bulldogs and Brisbane.

Hawthorn also opted to boost its ruck stocks by taking Jonathan Ceglar after the delisted Collingwood big man had impressed the Hawks during pre-season training.

"We just felt that we needed more ruck depth and Jonathon fills that," recruiting manager Graham Wright said.

West Coast opted for delisted Demon Jamie Bennell, despite the small forward still recovering from a knee reconstruction.

The Eagles had been interested in Bennell as a teenager before he was drafted by Melbourne in 2008.

"It's great to get another opportunity and I am really looking forward to it," Bennell said.

"I am about five months down the rehabilitation path after a reconstruction on my left knee, and after training on my own it will be good to get into a professional environment."

Among those to miss out on pre-season and rookie selection were talented, but troubled teen Dayle Garlett, Brent Prismall, Cameron Wood and Josh Toy. Delisted Port pair Steven Salopek and Jacob Surjan were also overlooked.

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Cachia heads back to the Blues

Jaryd Cachia, right, tackes Port Adelaide's top draft pick, Ollie Wines. Cachia has been draft back to Carlton. Picture: Sarah Reed Source: The Advertiser

ONE year after being delisted by Carlton and told to work on his outside game, tough-nut midfielder Jaryd Cachia is this morning back at Princes Park.

His rookie draft selection yesterday capped a 12-month mission to force his way back into the AFL and more specifically, at Carlton.

The bonus is he picked up a SANFL premiership with Norwood and lifelong mates along the way.

Within three hours of being rookie listed by the Blues for the second time, Cachia took a phone call from new coach Mick Malthouse and was on a plane back to Melbourne.

He starts training with his former club today, confident he's got a clean slate to work with.

"I'm looking forward to a fresh start," said Cachia, who was rookie listed by Carlton in 2010 but delisted without playing a game two years later.

"I got a call from Mick (Malthouse) who said he was excited to get things going and start training.

"I wanted to come over (to SA) and prove to other people and also myself that I could play at the highest level.

"When you get delisted you can get pretty down but I always thought I was good enough."

The 21-year-old starred for Norwood in its premiership season and finished equal fifth in the Magarey Medal.

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He has revealed he spoke to Carlton recruiters throughout the year and two phone calls in the past fortnight all but sealed his fate, despite spending this month training with Port Adelaide.

"I was on the phone to family before and I said `I'm really going to miss Norwood' because I may never get to experience a senior premiership again," Cachia said.

"It's been a fantastic year and I can't thank them enough for all the hard work they've done for me."

Cachia was one of six SANFL players taken in yesterday's rookie and pre-season drafts.

The big surprise was Central District ruckman Jack Hannath who landed at Fremantle when the Dockers pounced with Pick No.8 in the pre-season draft.

Hannath was in Darwin training with Melbourne but the Demons, without a selection until the rookie draft, were trumped by the Dockers.

Other SA rookie selections included Glenelg's Nathan Stark (No. 3 to Melbourne), Eagles' Nick Hayes (No. 6 to Brisbane), North Adelaide's Mitch Clisby (No. 19 to Melbourne) and Port Magpies' Justin Hoskin (No. 20 to the Power).

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Young Lion takes a 'massive step'

Brisbane Lions rookie Jordon Bourke. Picture: Andrew Brownbill Source: The Courier-Mail

BRISBANE Lions rookie Jordon Bourke says he cannot afford to remain idle when his teammates take their Christmas break next week.

The 19-year-old AIS-AFL Academy graduate has been training with Lions for the past fortnight and plans to work out on his own over Christmas to help match the fitness levels of his new peers.

"It's a massive step up from anything I've done," the former Morningside forward said.

"I'm going up against AFL superstars in training so this has been a big reality check for me and I realise it only gets harder from here."

Profiles of every recruit in our draft tracker

The son of former Geelong and Brisbane Bears ruckman Damian Bourke is the first member of the Lions Academy to join the club's list, which was further strengthened in yesterday's rookie draft by former Woodville-West Torrens forward Nick Hayes.

Callum Bartlett was re-drafted with pick No.21.

Queenslanders fared well in the rookie draft after being largely overlooked in the national draft.

Broadbeach's Andrew Boston, an under-18 All-Australian selection this year, was recruited by the Gold Coast Suns while Redland's Adam Oxley is off to Collingwood.

The Suns used their second selection to recruit 22-year-old backman Leigh Osborne.

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Recruits join Swans' blood brothers

Kieran Jack, celebrating after the 2012 grand final, will be joined by brother Brandon at the Sydney Swans. Picture: Phil Hillyard. Source: Herald Sun

THE Jack and Richards brothers will be racing each other to break a 23-year drought after the Swans yesterday drafted the younger brothers of star midfielder Kieren Jack and All Australian defender Ted Richards.

Nineteen-year-olds Xavier Richards (from Sandringham in the VFL) and Brandon Jack (Pennant Hills) trained with the Swans for the first time yesterday as part of the club's list after six players were promoted to the rookie list.

If Brandon Jack or Xavier Richards is able to crack into the Swans' primary list and play a game in the AFL next season, they will be the first brothers in the senior side since The Daily Telegraph's Neil Cordy and his brother Graeme played alongside each other for the Swans in 1989.

The two new recruits have a mountain to climb to make the Swans' top 22 players, but the club did promote 2012 rookie list player Harry Cunningham for their opening-round clash against the GWS Giants this year - demonstrating that there is a pathway for them.

If both sets of brothers do play together, it will be the first time the Swans have played double brother duos on the same team in 32 years.

Paul Morwood, Tony Morwood, Michael Wright and Stephen Wright all played alongside each other in 1980.

Profiles of every recruit in the Draft Tracker

However, Swans coach John Longmire said it does not necessarily have to be in 2013 that Brandon and Xavier make their debuts in the AFL because the club is allowed to retain players on its rookie list for two full seasons.

"If they improve without playing senior footy, that will give them the best possible chance of being on the list the following year," Longmire said.

"As a rookie-listed player you only get a one-year contract, but if they're showing signs of improvement during the year, that's a good sign.

" Brandon Jack has got elite speed. I think he's even quicker than Kieren, even though Kieren will probably dispute that. So he gives some real bite to us.

"Xavier Richards is a young key-position player who can help bolster our key-position stocks. Brandon Jack is part of the famous Jack name up here in Sydney. He joins his brother here, which is a great story."

In a bumper day for the Swans, the club also added Jake Lloyd (North Ballarat Rebels), Dane Rampe (University of NSW), Daniel Robinson (NSW scholarship player from Mosman) and Sam Naismith (North Shore) to its rookie list.

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Tigers primed for top four: King

Former Bomber Sam Lonergan is one of three recycled players picked up by Richmond in the pre-season draft. Picture: Jon Hargest. Source: Herald Sun

RICHMOND should be aiming for a top-four finish after yesterday's dramatic influx of recycled players, former assistant coach David King says.

"They need a slice of luck and they need some midfield players to come along with Trent Cotchin, but they are certainly in very good shape to attack the top four," he said.

"If (Reece) Conca and (Dustin) Martin spike up and become good players the world is their oyster."

Richmond, which has not made the eight since 1991, yesterday rookie-listed former Geelong ruckman Orren Stephenson, ex-Essendon midfielder Sam Lonergan and delisted Melbourne forward Ricky Petterd.

The Tigers also picked up Adelaide half-forward Chris Knights and key defender Troy Chaplin as free agents and swapped pick 74 for North Melbourne forward Aaron Edwards in the trade period.

The club last night warned against outlandish expectations, however.

Head of football Craig Cameron said the Tigers were simply adding experience to a team that was at times close to the youngest in the competition last year.

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"Apart from the expansion sides last year we were either the youngest or second-youngest list, depending on which side we played," he said.

"In the last four years we have been keen to improve our average games of experience and bringing some more mature players in helps.

"We have brought a whole heap of younger players in over the last four years, including four 18-year-olds at the national draft, and one more 18-year-old as a rookie yesterday.

"So we have looked after our future in terms of the national draft and we have taken (experienced players) as rookies."

King believes the club should dare to dream big, given the new acquisitions and Richmond's recent recruiting successes.

"The number one thing is their list has improved and that brings a level of expectation," he said.

"The list rebuild has been done very wisely but with the guys they have got in, if they can get similar output from the fresh faces as they did last year they are every chance to shoot for the top four."

Richmond, which has set as its goal a finals berth next year after 11 consecutive barren Septembers, also took Murray Bushrangers midfielder Cadeyn Williams.

Stephenson has been taken as back-up for first-choice ruckman Ivan Maric but Petterd has been a dangerous forward when injury-free and Lonergan will add midfield depth.

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It's Goodes news week for Brett

Western Bulldogs pick up Brett Goodes, the brother of dual Brownlow Medallist Adam, at the pre-season and rookie draft.

Brett Goodes, brother of superstar Swan Adam Goodes, is now a Bulldog. Picture: Michael Klein. Source: Herald Sun

REMINDED that people love a fairytale, Brett Goodes chuckles. "I suppose that's what some people are calling it," he says.

"Yeah, I suppose that's what some people are calling it," Goodes said yesterday.

The 28-year-old journeyman has copped enough knockbacks and years of being ignored by the top level to know it's much less magical than that.

"You look back at it and a lot of the people you played footy with didn't persevere," Goodes said. "So I suppose it's a great reward for a lot of hard work. I think it can be a bit of a right place, right time industry. I think in this case it's certainly one of those situations."

A dream Goodes had given up on long ago became a reality yesterday when the Western Bulldogs plucked him with its sole pick in the rookie draft.

"I was pretty excited just to tell some family members who know how hard it's been over the years to finally get an opportunity," he said.

A brother of Sydney superstar Adam, Goodes' road to the AFL has been a long one.

He started with North Ballarat Rebels in the TAC Cup, spent a year at Port Adelaide in the SANFL, went to VFL club North Ballarat Roosters, trained with North Melbourne, went back to North Ballarat and travelled to Darwin to work for AFL NT and play at the NT Thunder.

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In a story eerily similar to James Podsiadly at Geelong, Goodes had been employed by the Dogs since last year as their player wellbeing manager while playing VFL with Williamstown.

But that job description started to change on the Dogs' trip to London for last month's exhibition game.

"I had a brief, informal, chat with Macca (coach Brendan McCartney) in London and he just said, 'Have you ever thought about maybe having a run around with us?'," he said.

"I was a little bit shocked but I just thought, 'What do I have to lose?' It was a win-win situation.

"I'm out on the track a bit anyway in my role, and as long as the players and coaches were happy for me to do it, I was happy.

"It all eventuated ... I had a good two weeks and I think they were surprised with how well I was testing and then it all started to become a bit more real."

A running defender with excellent foot skills, Goodes will add aggression to the Dogs' back half after a VFL season in which he won state honours and a place in the team of the year.

He beat former Essendon midfielder Brent Prismall to the rookie spot. It emerged last night Prismall was under consideration for Goodes' player welfare position.

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Garlett wrecks chance to be a Bomber

Dayle Garlett, left, in action for WAFL club Swan Districts. Pcture: Kerris Berrington. Source: PerthNow

A LEADERSHIP group decision on Monday night and a 4am bender in Fremantle last weekend combined to dash Perth teenager Dayle Garlett's hopes of being drafted by Essendon.

Garlett trained with the Bombers last week and, while his form did not overwhelm them, they were still considering him until his weekend exploits.

The Bombers were aware Garlett's return to Perth at the weekend would be a test of his dedication.

But Garlett, whose reputation has tarnished his exceptional talent, effectively sealed his fate with his night out on the town.

Essendon's leadership group was consulted and voted against Garlett being given a place on the list.

The Bombers instead selected Gippsland Power midfielder Will Hams after a brilliant 2km time-trial performance and put delisted forward Ariel Steinberg on the rookie list.

Another Perth teenager, Shannon Taylor, impressed Essendon with his character, but because of his fitness he will play for WAFL club Claremont next season in the hope of making the AFL in 2014.

Profiles of every recruit in the Draft Tracker

AFL recruiters across the league are saddened by the lack of progress of a band of junior WA players who seemed likely to set the competition alight until their progress flat-lined in recent seasons.

They include Garlett, Taylor, and Chris Yarran, who was awarded the Kevin Sheehan Medal at the 2010 Under-16 Championships but was not taken in any draft this year.

One AFL recruiting boss yesterday suggested AFL multicultural boss Jason Mifsud catch the first plane to Perth to investigate the continuing problems with indigenous recruitment.

But Mifsud said last week it was untrue to say AFL clubs had gone cold on indigenous talents.

"It is a bit narrow isolating it to indigenous players because I think, equally, there would be other talented players who are being asked to improve their level of dedication and discipline," he told the Herald Sun.

"It is only 20 years ago that AFL lists were made up of one per cent of indigenous players.

"We should not forget we've come a long way in a short period of time."
 

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Tippett's the best since Barry

Kurt Tippett is potentially the best Swans forward since Barry Hall, says coach John Longmire. Picture: Michael Dodge. Source: Getty Images

STAR recruit Kurt Tippett will be the biggest forward for the Swans since Barry Hall, coach John Longmire said after the club yesterday completed its pre-season draft heist.

The Swans have not had a player kick more than 50 goals in a season since Hall booted 78 in 2006.

The Swans believe they now have a player capable of breaking that drought, with Longmire agreeing the controversial former Adelaide power forward is capable of kicking 50 majors in a year.

The reigning premiers would not have endured such a drawn out recruitment process and offered a four-year-deal worth $3.55 million if they didn't believe in Tippett's ability to win games.

Tippett kicked 39 goals from 70 scoring shots this year, suggesting he is more than capable of following in Hall's footsteps.

He will make the Swans' forward line one of the most feared in the competition alongside Sam Reid, Adam Goodes, Gary Rohan, Lewis Jetta, Ryan O'Keefe, Lewis Roberts-Thomson, Mike Pyke and Mitch Morton.

"We think he can add some real firepower in our front half alongside Sam Reid and the other blokes we've got in there and, importantly, not only do it for next year but do it for the years beyond that and we think he's got a lot of good footy ahead of him," Longmire said.

Profiles of every recruit in the Draft Tracker

"He has a lot of shots at goal and we think he has a lot of improvement. He's only 25 and he's hopefully coming into the better part of his career. Lewis Jetta kicked 45 goals this year and I'd love him to do that again next year, but that's a big ask for Lewis to do.

"(Tippett) is able to hit the scoreboard. That's what he's able to do. We're not guessing about that. He gets himself in position to be able to have shots at goal and we know also he can go in the ruck when needed. So that's a pretty flexible player you've got on your hands."

The 25-year-old, 202cm Gold Coast product will be unveiled to Swans fans at a media conference this morning and train with teammates for the first time after flying to Sydney yesterday.

But he will not play a game for his new team until their round-13 clash with Port Adelaide - when his 11-match suspension for being involved in salary cap breaches and draft tampering with the Crows ends.

He also has question marks surrounding his fitness after missing four games for Adelaide this year with concussion issues.

But Longmire said doubters only had to look at the Crows' last game of 2012.

"We saw the way he came back. Whilst he took a few weeks to get going, by the end of the year he was in really good form.

"Anyone who saw that preliminary final (against Hawthorn) last season when he kicked four goals and contributed to a number of others could see the impact (he had) and the condition he was in and we're confident that he'll be a very important player for us."

For all his issues and huge salary, Tippett still comes to the club at a steal, with the Swans only needing to use their No.11 pre-season draft pick to pull off one of the biggest AFL signings in recent years.

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Finals or bust for the Tigers

Former Demon Ricky Petterd is one of several recycled players snapped up by Richmond. Picture: Michael Klein. Source: Herald Sun

RICHMOND hasn't become the Visy Tigers because it is ready to win a premiership.

It has topped up with enough recycled players to make Jeanne Pratt proud because it can't even beat Gold Coast.

Kurt Tippett might have finally arrived at Sydney yesterday, but the headline act of the pre-season and rookie drafts was still Damien Hardwick's Tigers.

You can't recruit Sam Lonergan, Ricky Petterd and Orren Stephenson without immediately heaping expectation upon the AFL's most persistent underachiever of the past 30 seasons.

Richmond knows it and those Twitter wags yesterday suggesting a Visy sponsorship know it.

In all, Richmond has added six recycled players in the space of one

off-season hit, with Aaron Edwards lured in the trade period and Troy Chaplin and Chris Knights added through free agency.

Not even the reality the six players were effectively taken for the swapped No.74 pick it took to get Edwards will stop some from believing Richmond is getting ahead of itself.

But inside Punt Road this off-season, the reality is very different.

Hardwick was totally aware that as injuries finally hit Richmond in the last half of the 2012 season, they had no one left to turn to.

No back-up for Ivan Maric when his groins started screaming, no

second-forward option when Jack Riewoldt got sore and Tyrone Vickery busted up his shoulders.

Profiles of every recruit in the Draft Tracker

And no midfield depth when Dustin Martin was suspended and Nathan Foley's troublesome achilles flared up again.

It saw the Tigers win just three of the last eight games, unable to beat Gold Coast for a second successive year and only drawing the Round 23 clash against easybeats Port Adelaide.

Petterd and Edwards won't tear a game apart, but they might draw enough attention from Riewoldt to let him explode.

Ditto for Sam Lonergan and Knights in the midfield rotation, who will allow Brett Deledio, Martin and Trent Cotchin to spend more time forward of centre.

So while the recruiting spree will add heat to the Carlton-Richmond Round 1 clash, it is really about ensuring that first finals campaign since 2001, not the Tigers setting their sights on a flag.

If the pre-season draft was a total fizzer yesterday, it doesn't mean there weren't clubs strengthening premiership aspirations.

Collingwood's recruitment of Ben Hudson is inspired. He won't win it the flag through heroics, but he might just keep Darren Jolly fresh enough, or teach Brodie Grundy and Jarrod Witts enough as a ruck coach, to make that critical difference in September.

Sydney's dynamic forward line with Tippett has already been well-documented.

Put simply, they should be the short-priced flag favourites rather than Hawthorn.

Richmond might be the pre-season spruik given yesterday's efforts, but by Round 15, Tippett might already be worth every cent he was paid.

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