The AFL has its Rising Star award. That’s all well and good. It’s for ‘rookies’ in the big time. Sort of, because we DO have a ‘sub category’ of listed players actually secured via the ‘Rookie draft’ and placed on each clubs’ ‘Rookie list’.
The rookie draft is an interesting beast.
It’s been used for International Rookies, most notably from Ireland, but now too for a Canadian and a lad from PNG.
The rookie draft has been used for the back door entry of NSW scholarship kids, especially in the case of Craig Bird at Sydney.
It’s been used as a ‘nursery’ for injured youngsters. It’s also been a chance for young men who may otherwise have missed the boat on an AFL career.
Shining examples include Dean Cox, Aaron Sandilands, Brett Kirk and Max Rooke.
So from the Rookie Draft of 2008, we saw a couple of standouts for The Roar AFL Rookie of the year.
The contenders:
Zac Dawson, a recycled rookie having been delisted by Hawthorn. Rookie listed by St Kilda, he accepted the challenge and managed 23 games for the season including playing on the last Saturday in September.
Liam Picken at the Western Bulldogs. With the baggage (good or bad) of his surname and family heritage, he has found his way into a meaner looking Doggies line up that went within a kick or two of playing off in a Grand Final. He also managed 23 games.
Robin Nahas from Richmond. He quickly took his jockey-sized attributes to the attention of firstly Richmond supporters, with his goal kicking abilities and nippy-zippy play, and then Andrew Demetriou on Brownlow night.
19 games was a fine return in an otherwise bleak year at Punt Rd.
Freo provide a double of Greg Broughton with 15 games and Matthew De Boer with 17 games. Coming from Freo, I know all about these lads.
Broughton came as a ‘mature age’ (22-23 yr old) recruit from Subiaco out of the WAFL. De Boer turned 19 this year and also came from the WAFL via Claremont.
Other highlighted Rookies include Irishman Michael Quinn at Essendon, Canadian Mike Pyke up in Sydney and young Jeff Garlett with the Blues.
So who wins the 2009 The Roar AFL Rookie of the year? That’s up to you.
Who’s in your ultimate team? Pick the best team and compete with other fans for daily prizes on Draftstars. For the best odds on the game try out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Think. Is this a bet you really want to place? Set a deposit limit.
Essendon captain Zach Merrett says he would have relished extra time to decide a winner on Anzac Day, while Collingwood coach Craig McRae felt…
Cooper Simpson and his mum both welled up as he told her he'd been named to debut against the Western Bulldogs.
"You want your key forward to be a beast."
Pendles wasn't expecting that!
Does he have a point?
The Blues have truly stood up and are a genuine flag threat in 2024 and they have their younger brigade of troops to thank for it.
