2012 NAB AFL Draft Success for Tassie
Tasmania enjoyed an excellent return at the NAB National Draft last night, with three new players drafted to AFL clubs and two rookie listed players promoted to their club’s senior lists.
Congratulations to Jesse Lonergan - Launceston Football Club and AFL Tasmania State Academy and AIS-AFL Academy graduate - pick # 13 GOLD COAST SUNS
Congratulations to Jackson Thurlow - Launceston Football Club and AFL Tasmania State Academy graduate - pick # 16 GEELONG
Congratulations to Sam Siggins - Lauderdale Football Club and AFL Tasmania State Academy graduate - pick # 62 ADELAIDE
Congratulations to promoted rookies Ian Callinan #95 ADELAIDE and Andrew Phillips #97 GWS
Significantly all three clubs used their first selections to draft the Tasmanians, underlining their importance to each of their club’s lists. Both the Gold Coast Suns and Geelong used their first selections to draft Lonergan and Thurlow which, whilst acknowledging the priority 17 year-old selections of Maverick Weller and Luke Russell to the Gold Coast in 2009, is the first official selection of two Tasmanians in the first round since 2006 when Mitchell Thorp (Hawthorn, selection #6) and Jack Riewoldt (Richmond, selection #13) were taken.
Sam Siggins was selected by Adelaide with its first pick after giving up selections 20 and 54 as a gesture of goodwill to the AFL over the resolution of the Kurt Tippett saga.
The promotion of both Ian Callinan to Adelaide’s senior list and Andrew Phillips to Greater Western Sydney’s list is recognition of the contribution both player’s made to their clubs in 2012 and consolidates their careers in the medium term.
Tasmania fared the best of the Division 2 states in the National Draft, with no players drafted from New South Wales and only one player drafted from both the Northern Territory and Queensland.
Last Modified on 06/06/2013 14:18