North Melbourne will retain Majak Daw through the AFL rookie draft as the ruckman’s rape trial continues.
The Kangaroos delisted Daw on October 29, but said at the time that their aim was to retain him as a rookie-listed player.
They confirmed on the eve of Friday’s draft that remains the case.
Daw has pleaded not guilty to three counts of rape, with the allegations dating back to 2007.
The rookie draft has become increasingly important, especially since free agency was introduced in 2012.
Clubs are using the rookie draft to recruit mature-age players and those delisted from the AFL.
Last year, former Adelaide ruckman Shaun McKernan went to Essendon as a rookie selection and the year before Maverick Weller went from Gold Coast to St Kilda.
It is also a crucial fallback for players who missed out at Tuesday’s national draft in Adelaide.
Gach Nyuon, who was named All-Australian ruckman after the under-18 championships, is a strong chance to join a club on Friday.
While key position players dominated the early picks on Tuesday, clubs are less inclined to take ruckmen in the national draft and Nyuon looms as more of a project player.
Calder Cannons midfielder Nick O’Kearney and West Adelaide onballer Will Snelling could also be taken after they were rated strong chances to be recruited at the draft.
Darcy MacPherson, whose Dad Stephen played nearly 200 games for the Western Bulldogs, is not a father-son nomination.
But he also could join a club as a rookie-listed player after strong form this year for the Northern Knights and VFL side Footscray.
The rookie draft will be held at the AFL from 11am (AEDT) on Friday, with clubs lodging their selections remotely.
The league advised late on Thursday that there would be no pre-season draft, because all eligible clubs advised they would not participate.
Meanwhile, Carlton also announced on Thursday that they had recruited delisted free agent Matthew Wright.
The midfielder played 94 games for Adelaide after he was recruited through the 2009 rookie draft.
Paul D
Guest
Jeez. Ok then. I was originally just replying to the comment saying Daw was going down, to point out there could be an alternative story at play. High handed moral outrage has no impact on me by the way.
TomC
Roar Guru
Wow. Truly disgusting. I think this'll have to be the end of our discussions on this site, Paul. I didn't realise what sort of person you were.
Macca
Guest
When thr girl testified Daw had r@ped one of her friends and then her friend testified that she wasn't r@ped by Daw it surely calls into question the accuracy of the girls statement. Throw in the fact that Daw was 16 when it happened and the girl nor any of the other witnesses came forward for 6 years Paul at least has the scope to raise the possibility/
Paul D
Roar Guru
You're not getting anything more than a shrug from me Tom. It is what it is. Certainly it has happened before. http://www.theroar.com.au/2011/03/10/the-end-of-st-kilda-sex-scandal/
TomC
Roar Guru
'This case has hallmarks of a girl crying wolf,' Whoa. Not cool, Paul.
Paul D
Roar Guru
Talk about putting words in someone's mouth - footy mole and asking for it, that's your words, not mine.
Penster
Guest
The "hallmarks of crying wolf", you know Paul, maybe she was "asking for it", maybe she's a "footy mole". Her testimony and witness statements are not worth mentioning, but you'll happily publish his side of events. Nice one.
Franko
Guest
Hmmmm yes, a real he said she said...... ""I heard screaming and crying…I walked towards it," she said. "I saw Majak on top of her. "There was definitely a hand on her chest area, like a restraining sort of position… (she) was squirming…she was screaming, a mixture of screaming and crying." The girl's leggings had been pulled down and her top pushed up, the witness told the court. She said after throwing a bottle at him, Mr Daw stood up and "adjusted himself" before running back towards the party. "I was just in shock…(the alleged victim) was still hysterically crying," the witness said.
Paul D
Roar Guru
Highly doubt it. This case has hallmarks of a girl crying wolf, after she was found by one of her friends having sex with Daw when he was 16 and she was 15. Daw is claiming she initiated the encounter, then changed her tune after one of her friends found her with him, and she claimed she had been raped afterwards by way of explanation. That’s his defence anyway. I doubt very much based on how cases like this pan out, where it’s a case of he said, she said, that there will be enough evidence to convict him. North wouldn’t be standing by him if they thought he was going to be found guilty, clearly they think he will be declared not guilty, otherwise why draft him.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Can't believe no other club picked up a fringe AFL player with a pending rape case hanging over him...
Sir Tony Abbott - Ambassador to Russia
Guest
Might be spending the next 3 to 8 years in H.M.P. Barwon, so hope North is patient.