Almanac Teams: Mid-season Draft

 

 

This week team is based on the Mid-season Draft – which is coming up this week.

 

There have been seven editions with four from 1990-1993 and then in 2019, 2021-2022 with none in 2020 due to Covid-19.

 

In the 1990s players could be delisted and picked up by another club.

 

The 1990 draft had 45 selections, but only 14 of them played seniors.

 

Pick 1 was Laurie Schache.

 

Dale Lewis and Scott Turner were most successful, both played over 100 games.

 

Other draft highlights were Phil Krakouer at Pick 7 to Footscray after quitting North Melbourne, Jamie Grant older brother of first year recruit Chris at Pick 22, ex-West Coast and future Melbourne President Glen Bartlett with Pick 36 to Brisbane.

 

The 1991 draft had 44 selections, only five of them played.

 

Pick 1 was Ashley Byrne from Box Hill to Brisbane who did not play a game.

 

The first pick to play a game was Brendan Parker at Pick 7 who played five games at Carlton. Steven Handley at Pick 24 played the most games with 73.

 

Other draft highlights were Fraser Murphy Pick 4 from Carlton to Collingwood, Athas Hrysoulakis Pick 5 from Collingwood to Richmond and Mark Naley Pick 6 from Carlton to Footscray, none played a game and Naley stayed in South Australia. Shane Fell went with Pick 18 to Richmond (zero games). Geelong had seven picks including the last four with Trevor Spencer and Steven Handley the only ones to play a game.

 

The 1992 draft had 49 selections and 14 of them ran out for their new club.

 

Pick 1 was John Parker from Frankston to Brisbane who played 3 games.

 

Matthew Febey was redrafted by Melbourne and went onto play 143 games and Daryn Cresswell who was originally drafted by Geelong was drafted by Sydney and played 244 games.

 

Other draft highlights were; Ian Herman from Carlton to Richmond with Pick 3, Jim West from Sydney to Adelaide with Pick 6 (though no games), David Johnston with Pick 9 from Essendon to Fitzroy, Damian Hampson from Carlton to West Coast with Pick 13, Andrew MacNish for 3 games at Pick 14 for Geelong, Brad Pearce with Pick 16 to Brisbane, Mark Attard the first player from the new Under 18 competition to North Melbourne with Pick 18, Ian McMullin with Pick 25 from Essendon to Collingwood, Brian McInnes with Pick 28 to Footscray who never played a game but was Number 1 in the 1996 Preseason draft for Fitzroy, Carlton redrafted David Glascott with Pick 35 though he did not add to his games tally, Paul Atkins (twin of Simon) Pick 44 to Sydney.

 

The 1993 draft had 32 selections, 13 of those played senior footy.

 

Anthony McGregor played the most games with 41 at Fitzroy.

 

Other draft highlights were; Future Adelaide premiership player James Thiessen with Pick 2 at Richmond, Anthony Harvey (brother of Robert) Pick 3 for St Kilda, Damian Bourke out of retirement as Brisbane ruck coach with Pick 4 to Brisbane, Danny Dickfos with Pick 10 at Fitzroy who would later play for Brisbane, Dale Kickett with Pick 11 at Essendon, Terry Keays from Richmond back to Collingwood with Pick 12 (zero games), Brad Fox with Pick 17 from Essendon to Richmond, Tom Kavanagh son of Brent Crosswell with Pick 22 to Fitzroy, Jamie Grant to Sydney with Pick 29 and Brad Hardie to Sydney with Pick 32 (he never joined).

 

 

The Mid-season Draft was bought back in 2019 though it was for state league and over-aged players in the TAC Cup only as clubs could not make any delistings beforehand. Selections could only be made for clubs with inactive players due to retirements or long term injuries.

 

2019 had 13 selections, eight played and four of the selections still on a list. They are Ryan Gardner, Will Snelling, Marlion Pickett and John Noble.

 

Pick 1 was Josh Deluca to Carlton who played six games after four from Fremantle but was delisted at the end of 2019.

 

Other draft highlights were Pick 3 Kyle Dunkley to Melbourne (brother of Josh) and Pick 11 Dillon O’Reilly to Fremantle who was son of Stephen.

 

The 2021 draft had 22 selections with 15 of them having played a game and 14 still on a list.

 

Pick 1 was Jacob Edwards who is still on North Melbourne’s list and though yet to debut is considered a long term ruck.

 

Matthew Parker at Pick 10 to Richmond was the only player that had played a game previously. Connor West at Pick 23 is the son of ex-West Coast player Robert.

 

The 2022 draft had 17 selections with ten of them having played a game so far and 14 of them are still on a list.

 

Pick 1 was Jai Culley who has shown promise with a Rising Star nomination before he ruptured his ACL. Only two players had played previously in Sam Durdin and Will Hayes – both recruited to Carlton.

 

 

FB:        Ryan Gardner (WB)                         Scott Turner (Rich)                     Jon Hassall (Coll)

 

CHB:    Matthew Febey (Melb)                     Steven Handley (Geel)                John Noble (Coll)

 

C:          Anthony McGregor (Fitz)                Daryn Cresswell (Syd)                Marlion Pickett (Rich)

 

CHF:    Sam Durham (Ess)                            Laurie Schache (Bris)                 Will Snelling (Ess)

 

FF:        Brent Heaver (Carl)                          Ashley Johnson (Coll)                Brad Pearce (Bris)

 

Ruck:    Damian Bourke (Bris)                     Dale Lewis (Syd)                          Jai Newcombe (Haw)

 

Interchange: David Johnston (Fitz), Dale Kickett (Ess), Patrick Parnell (Adel), Cooper Sharman (St.K)

 

Emergencies: Massimo D’Ambrosio (Ess), Tony Lynn (Carl), Trevor Spencer (Geel), James Thiessen (Rich)

 

 

 

Just some notes on why a couple of players not put in.

Danny Dickfos did not join Fitzroy, so I didn’t consider him despite the fact that he played 66 games later with Brisbane.

I added Brad Pearce as though he only played 2 games with Brisbane, he later joined Carlton with success.

 

 

Ryan Gardner

46 games Western Bulldogs (2019- )

Pick 6, 2019, aged 22

Gardner was originally drafted with Pick 59 in 2015 by Geelong but was delisted in 2018 without playing a game. Gardner was dropped and made an emergency for the 2021 Grand Final.

 

 

Scott Turner

144 games Richmond (1991-1999)

Pick 18, 1990, aged 20

Turner had spent time previously with Melbourne before he returned to Ararat. Turner is best remembered for the 1995 semi final when he was shifted from full back to centre half forward where he kicked two goals and applied a big bump on Gary O’Donnell.

 

 

Jon Hassall

50 games Collingwood (1994-1996)

Pick 47, 1992, aged 19

Hassall had been on Collingwood’s Under 19s but after the competition folded at the end of 1991 he did not make the senior list but impressed as a top up player in the reserves. Hassall won a Rising Star nomination and won Collingwood’s best first year player in 1994. He also played 44 games for Hawthorn from 1997-1999.

 

 

Matthew Febey

143 games Melbourne (1992-2000)

Pick 17, 1992, aged 22

Matthew was originally drafted with Pick 16 in the 1986 Draft while twin brother Steven went at Pick 3. Steven debuted in 1988, while Matthew suffered from injuries and was delisted and redrafted with Pick 55 in the 1989 Pre-season Draft and then broke his leg in a Reserves final in 1990, again at preseason training in 1991 – after being tackled by Steven. In the 1991 finals he broke his arm and was delisted and was playing at Rochester before being redrafted.

 

 

Steven Handley

73 games Geelong (1992-1996)

Pick 24, 1991, aged 20

Handley had played reserves for the Brisbane Bears before he went to Swan Districts in the WAFL. Handley played in the 1994 and 1995 Grand Finals and kicked three goals in 1995.

 

 

John Noble

79 games Collingwood (2019- )

Pick 14, 2019, aged 22

John is the son of former North Melbourne coach David. Noble debuted in Round 17, 2019, his second game was Round 22, 2019 and since then he has only missed two games.

 

 

Anthony McGregor

41 games Fitzroy (1993-1996)

Pick 28, 1993, aged 20

McGregor’s most games in a season was 16 in 1994 and he came third in the Lightning Cup Sprint in 1996.

 

 

Daryn Cresswell

244 games Sydney (1992-2003)

Pick 39, 1992, aged 21

Cresswell was originally drafted by Geelong with Pick 34 in 1988 but was delisted at end of 1989. Cresswell won a Best & Fairest in 1994, All Australian in 1997 and was in Sydney’s Team of the Century.

 

 

Marlion Pickett

67 games Richmond (2019- )

Pick 13, 2019, age 27

Marlion debut in 2019 Grand Final and is a dual premiership player in that game and 2020.

 

 

Sam Durham

36 games Essendon (2021- )

Pick 9, 2021, aged 20

Durham has missed only three games since his debut in Round 18, 2021 and kicked the winning goal against Richmond last week, whose VFL team he was playing for before being drafted.

 

 

Laurie Schache

29 games Brisbane (1991-1992)

Pick 1, 1990, aged 22

Schache was zoned to Essendon and played some Under 19s and Reserves for them. Schache was recruited from West Torrens by Brisbane. He was Brisbane’s leading goal kicker with 47 in 1991. Laurie sadly passed away in 2002 and his son Josh has played 73 games for Brisbane, Western Bulldogs and Melbourne.

 

 

Will Snelling

53 games Essendon (2019- )

Pick 7, 2019, aged 21

Snelling was drafted by Port Adelaide in the 2016 Rookie Draft and played 1 game. He was delisted at end of 2018 and was playing for West Adelaide when drafted. In 2020 Snelling came ninth in the Essendon Best & Fairest.

 

 

Brent Heaver

64 games Carlton (1992-1996)

Pick 10, 1992, aged 21

Heaver started his career at Melbourne and played 12 games in two seasons before he was delisted at end of 1991. Heaver returned to Epping in 1992 before he was picked up mid-season by Carlton. His best season netted 48 goals in 1993. Heaver was traded to Port Adelaide in 1996 for Ben Nelson and Andrew Balkwill and played 16 games in two seasons.

 

 

Ashley Johnson

17 games Collingwood (2022- )

Pick 3, 2021, aged 24

Johnson is the brother of Adelaide’s Shane McAdam and Fremantle’s Roy Beening. Since his debut Johnson has only missed two games and has kicked 25 goals.

 

 

Brad Pearce

2 games Brisbane (1993)

Pick 16, 1992, aged 20

Pearce started his career at St Kilda Under 19s before he played in 1991-1992 for South Launceston. Pearce played two games at Brisbane before he was delisted. Pearce was Pick 32 for Carlton in the 1994 Pre-season Draft and played 77 games from 1994-1999 including the 1995 premiership – a season when he kicked 52 goals.

 

 

Damian Bourke

22 games Brisbane (1993-1995)

Pick 4, 1993, aged 28

Bourke played 102 games for Geelong from 1983-1992 and was captain from 1987-1989. Bourke retired due to constant injuries and moved to Brisbane for work and took up a part time role as ruck coach. Bourke was convinced to come out of retirement and help a young Brisbane side. Damian’s son Jordon played six games for Brisbane in 2014-2015.

 

 

Dale Lewis

182 games Sydney (1990-2001)

Pick 2, 1990, aged 21

Lewis was recruited from North Ballarat though he did play two summer seasons with St Marys in the NT. Lewis played in Sydney’s 1996 Grand Final side.

 

 

Jai Newcombe

39 games Hawthorn (2021- )

Pick 2, 2021, aged 19

Newcombe was recruited from Box Hill (Hawthorn VFL) via Poowong. Newcombe came third in the 2022 Rising Star Award and second in Hawthorn’s Best & Fairest.

 

 

David Johnston

25 games Fitzroy (1992-1994)

Pick 9, 1992, aged 23

Johnston played 41 games for Essendon from 1987-1992 with his debut season 1987 his best with 11 games. Johnston played Round 1-2 in 1992 for Essendon before he was sacked and debuted in Round 18 for Fitzroy.

 

 

Dale Kickett

8 games Essendon (1994)

Pick 11, 1993, aged 25

Kickett had played 36 games in three seasons at three clubs for 1990-1992. After being delisted by St Kilda Kickett was rejoined Claremont and despite being drafted he stayed there for 1993. Kickett was traded to Fremantle at end of 1994, and he played 135 games there from 1995-2002.

 

 

Patrick Parnell

14 games Adelaide (2021- )

Pick 4, 2021, aged 19

Parnell was recruited from Albury Tigers via Murray Bushrangers and has shown promise as a midfielder with a big leap as evident in Round 9 against St Kilda.

 

 

Cooper Sharman

17 games St Kilda (2021- )

Pick 21, 2021, aged 20

Sharman was drafted from Woodville-West Torrens and debuted in Round 19, 2021. He played the last five games of 2021.

 

 

Massimo D’Ambrossio

13 games Essendon (2022- )

Pick 3, 2022, aged 19

Massimo continues Essendon’s success since this draft was introduced. Having picked Snelling in 2019 and Durham in 2021, Essendon added D’Ambrossio and Menzie in 2022 and both have been contributors. D’Ambrossio – like Durham – was recruited from Richmond’s VFL side, and he played eight of the last ten games in 2022.

 

 

Tony Lynn

27 games Carlton (1994-1996)

Pick 6, 1993, aged 25

Lynn played six games for Brisbane in 1988. He joined Central Districts in the SANFL and won a Best & Fairest in 1992, in 1993 won the Fos Williams Medal for South Australia against Western Australia and was also Best on Ground for Queensland/Northern Territory against Tasmania. Lynn played 20 games in 1994.

 

 

Trevor Spencer

10 games Geelong (1991)

Pick 11, 1991, aged 25

Spencer played 31 games for Essendon from 1985-1989 and 3 games for Melbourne from 1990-1991. He played for Melbourne in Round 6, 1991 before he was delisted. Spencer debuted for Geelong in Round 18 and played the last ten games of the season – including the three finals. He injured his knee in 1992’s pre-season and never played another game.

 

 

James Thiessen

7 games Richmond (1993)

Pick 2, 1993, aged 19

Thiessen played the last seven games of 1993 but did not play a game in 1994. He joined Norwood in 1995 where he played in a premiership in 1997. Thiessen was drafted by Adelaide in 1997 and played 44 games from 1998-2000 including the 1998 premiership.

 

 

 

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