Press Release - Gippsland Power
By Bryan Mitchell
The outstanding 2005 TAC Cup season culminated for Gippsland Power with the NAB AFL National draft last weekend. As if anything could have topped the amazing achievements of the regular season, the draft put the final seal of approval on the Power's year when five players were selected out of 64 selections made and 3 players were chosen in the top 5 spots.
Much was expected of this incredibly talented group of players as they have moved through the highly respected Power development program and in 2005 they continued to deliver exceptional results as a team and individually. The premiership was the ultimate team highlight but, 11 players in the state team, two All- Australian selections, 3 awarded TAC Cup team of the year honours and third place in the Morrish Medal and Coaches award rounded off an incredible set of individual achievements.
That is, until the draft, where Dale Thomas, Xavier Ellis, Scott Pendlebury, Trent West and Jay Neagle capped of the club's "dream season" with draft selection. Obviously five selections is a club record but having those choices taken within the first 39 selections simply confirms the quality of the young men involved.
Taken at number 2, by Collingwood, the mercurial "human highlight reel" Dale Thomas has had every kids dream year with a place in the state team, All-Australian selection, TAC Cup team of the year and a premiership with best on ground honours, just to cap it all off. Xavier went at number 3 and will join former team mate Jarryd Roughead at Hawthorn. Although he had few TAC Cup games due to school commitments, he made a huge impact with All-Australian and TAC Cup team of the year selection and an outstanding finals series.
Dale will be joined at the Pies by number 5 pick Scott Pendlebury who has been rewarded for a brave choice to give up an exceptional elite basketball career to pursue his AFL dream. His unique skills and incredible athleticism make him an exciting prospect. Wonthaggi ruckman Trent West went at pick 31 and, although Trent has only had one season in the TAC Cup, his progress has been phenomenal. He dominated in the ruck during the season and has been selected by the Cats, the team he has supported all his life.
Rounding off the draft for the Power was Jay Neagle who was taken earlier at pick 39 under the father and son rule. He has already started the work required to prepare for the rigours of the AFL and is making a big impression with his raw talent.
Power regional manager Peter Francis is like a very proud "parent" with the clubs 2005 successes and now the incredible draft results. He has worked extremely hard to set in place and refine a highly effective talent identification structure to feed into the development programs and deserves a great deal of credit for the achievements of the team and the individual players.
Despite losing bottom age players of the calibre of Xavier, Scott and Jay, the club still has 8 bottom-age boys who were in the premiership team and who know what it takes physically and mentally to succeed at the highest level. Players such as Delphine, Eddy, Hansen, Johnson, Ross, Ryan, Vernon and Youlle are already great role-models and, along with another 10 or so who have played in the 2005 season, will form the strong nucleus of the team for next season.
When you add the highly talented bottom age boys moving on from the under 16 development squads, it's not hard to see why Peter, coach Paul Hudson and the staff at the Power have a very positive outlook on the 2006 season prospects and a continuation of the high standards of team and individual achievement of 2005.
Last Modified on 26/05/2008 12:04