DARREN MONCRIEFF
Thursday, August 4, 2011
THREE talented young footballers are among 25 teenagers who will feature in this year's one-off mini-draft for AFL-club-to-be Greater Western Sydney.
Dayle Garlett (Swan Districts), Shannon Taylor (Claremont) and Christopher Yarran (Perth) head a quality list of 17-year-olds available to the Giants during AFL trade week.
The mini-draft allows GWS to basically have first dibs on those nominated but only four of the 25 can be drafted. But the four won’t be allowed to play in the AFL until the 2013 season because of their age. The Giants can use the remaining 21 players as trades to other clubs.
"Football is about grabbing your chances and taking your opportunities and this was a unique one presented to boys born in this particular age bracket," AFL talent manager Kevin Sheehan said this week.
"We're rapt that the highly credentialed, highly regarded young players from around Australia that were eligible for this mini-draft have actually nominated and made a commitment to go into it to try their luck.
"You need to be in it to win that professional opportunity and the time might be coming for between one to four of these boys."
Already the Giants have a number of Indigenous talented players on its list and that is likely to grow with the Northern Territory in the club's recruiting zone. Several more have been linked to the club.
On board at GWS now are Curtley Hampton, from Alice Springs, and WA pair Rhys Cooyou and Gerald Ugle.
Isiah Stevens, from the Kimberley, joined the Giants last year but he has struggled to adapt to life in the urban sprawl that is western Sydney. The club has granted him indefinite leave.
The Giants' mini-draft will be held on the final day of AFL trade week, which begins on the Monday following the Saturday, October 1, grand final.
AboriginalFootball@westnet.com.au
Last Modified on 04/08/2011 12:54