Every year in the month of November, the lives of young men are changed forever when their names are called out at the AFL draft. They are signed up and given the chance to shine on the biggest stage in Australia’s premier sport.
Unfortunately, with the pleasure comes the pain of hundreds who miss out.
However, in more recent times, with the introduction of the Gold Coast and Greater Western Sydney sides, the remaining 16 teams have started looking elsewhere for talent. And with the introduction of the mature age recruit lifted from the previously capped age of 23, players are now more than ever keeping their dreams alive.
Week in, week out there are players running around state leagues and country and suburban grounds who should be on AFL lists. For whatever reason these young men have been overlooked by AFL clubs and have toiled away perfecting their craft in the state leagues.
Here are the top five players who clubs should consider at this year’s draft.
Chris Cain
Club: Port Melbourne
Age: 27
Give this man a contract. He was invited to the draft combine last year and was being courted by Fremantle but was overlooked for youngsters. Tough, skilled and an all round team player, it might be the last chance he gets to crack the big time.
Possible suitors
Gold Coast- His experience would help the developing mids and would ease the burden on Gary Ablett.
GWS- Let’s face it, the giants are going to be a scary opponent in years to come, but are lacking a big body midfielder at the moment.
St Kilda- Now that Saint Lenny Hayes is retiring, the hunt is on to find his successor. Similar in height, and both tough as nails, Cain would fit right in at Seaford.
Ben Cavarra
Club: Frankston
Age: 19
Small in stature, the fleet-footed left footer captained the Eastern Ranges last year in the TAC Cup, the same team that produced number one pick Tom Boyd.
Lightning fast, great decision maker and well balanced, Cavarra had been training with the Box Hill Hawks before going to Frankston for more senior opportunities, a decision that has paid dividends.
If the likes of Boomer Harvey and Jarryd Blair are to go by, expect him to be late draft pick, early rookie selection.
Possible suitors
Essendon- With senior coach Simon Goosey a part time recruiter for the Dons, and the club’s recent recruiting of Michael Hibberd, Mark Baguley and Dylan van Unen, don’t be surprised if Essendon uses one of its limited picks on him.
St Kilda- With youth being the forefront of coach Alan Richardson’s re-building of the club, the 19-year-old would fit perfectly in the young midfield and would add a little polish to what looks to be an exciting future for the Saints.
Shannon Taylor
Club: Frankston
Age: 21
Taylor is the excitement machine down at the Dolphins this season. The former Claremont speedster has excited locals down at the Bayside club, and with his life seemingly in order off the field, he will add another dimension to any club.
Taylor was added to the VFL state 25-man squad but was unlucky to miss selection in the final 22.
Possible suitors
Would fit in to any of the 18 clubs in the competition.
Daniel Toman
Club: Bendigo Gold
Age: 22
Has played in every game for the soon-to-be-extinct Bendigo Gold, and along with former Gold Coast player Alik Magin, the former Northern Blue has been a shining light for the winless club.
With Bendigo ceasing to exist at the end of the 2014 season it would be interesting to see if any AFL clubs venture up to Queen Elizabeth Oval on August 22, when the Gold plays its last game against Geelong.
Possible suitors
Carlton- Once the recruiting zone for the Blues, the gut running midfielders could be what they need once Judd retires.
Western Bulldogs- In a side littered with youth, an exciting future beckons for the sons of the west, and having plied his trade at state league level, Toman would complement the Bulldogs’ young brigade.
Collingwood- Nathan Buckley has looked to the VFL in recent years, and with the likes of Jack Frost and Sam Dwyer cementing their place in the 22, I wouldn’t be surprised if Toman is running around in the Magpie colours next season.
Sam Tagliabue
Club: Essendon VFL
Age: 23
The Bomber big man has been a revelation for Essendon this season. At times going it almost solo with injuries to Frazer Thurlow and the emergence of Joe Daniher in the big league, Tagliabue has battled on manfully and has been magnificent.
At about 28 hit outs per match the 204-centimetre former New South Welshman giant would fill the needs of any club looking to sure up its ruck stocks.
Possible suitors
West Coast- Now that Dean Cox is retiring, it leaves West Coast exposed with Nic Naitanui to take the number one mantle, and with only Scott Lycett and forward/ruck Callum Sinclair as support. Give Tagliabue 12 months in the WAFL to develop and he could be a massive coup for the club if all goes well.
Richmond- With Tyrone Vickery and Ben Griffiths playing predominantly up forward and Shaun Hampson’s faltering season, Tagliabue could be used as insurance and rookie listed if Ivan Maric happens to go down again.
Brisbane- Injuries have plagued the Lions big men this season, and with only two fit ruckmen left on the list for 2014, Justin Leppitsch should consider another at this year’s draft.
Adam Marcon
Club: Williamstown
Age: 22
After crossing over from the Northern Blues in the off-season, Marcon has been a stand out in the VFL this season and should be favourite for the J.J Liston medal. Averaging 24 disposals a game, the tough gut-running midfielder is a work horse and should feature in the rookie draft or a late round pick.
Possible suitors
Essendon- Could be seen as Jobe Watson mark two. His ability to find the ball and silky skills are reminiscent of the Bombers captain, and his work rate around stoppages wold please any coach.
St Kilda- Why not? Fits the age bracket of the young side and has played a long time at state league level, so could be a rookie list smokey here.
Collinwood- Like Toman, Marcon is a hard-running mid, and Nathan Buckley seems to have a keen interest in the VFL, so a rookie spot isn’t out of the question.
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