The opportunity to play regular AFL football has seemingly presented itself to four 2015 VFL draftees involved in Saturday’s NAB Challenge match between Essendon and Geelong.
Last year’s Geelong VFL best and fairest winner Tom Ruggles (pick no.44, Rookie Draft - pictured) made his first appearance for the AFL Cats in Saturday’s 87-point victory over Essendon in Shepparton. The 23-year-old looked assured in defence with 15 disposals (14 kicks) at 87 per cent efficiency, seven marks and four rebound-50s in 71 per cent game time. A spot in Geelong’s back six could now be open for Ruggles with running defender Jackson Thurlow suffering a season-ending knee injury against the Bombers.
Former Sandringham key-position player Mitch Brown (pick no.54, AFL Draft) was the player involved in the contest in which Thurlow innocuously tore his ACL. The 25-year-old was quieter than he was in Essendon’s previous NAB Challenge match against Carlton, having just nine disposals in 87 per cent game time.
Two of Brown’s new teammates, ex-Essendon VFL small defender Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti (pick no.22, Rookie Draft) and former Coburg key defender Michael Hartley (pick no.68, AFL Draft), also played their second pre-season matches on Saturday.
McDonald-Tipungwuti, 22, looks in line to be elevated to one of two available spots on Essendon’s primary list (as a result of suspensions stemming from the club’s supplements saga) after impressing with 12 disposals at 92 per cent efficiency and five tackles from 74 per cent game time. Hartley, 22, again held down a key post in defence, recording six disposals, six one-percenters and three tackles.
Related stories:
- VFL draftees in NAB Challenge week 1
- VFL draftees in NAB Challenge week 2
- VFL draftees in NAB Challenge week 4
Last Modified on 15/03/2016 14:12