Alex Docherty reviews the list changes, from lowest to highest on the 2014 ladder.
The trades have been made and free agents secured or lost. Draft picks, from the raw talented kids to mature age recruits, selected. Rookies have been added, some of them merely staying at the same club albeit under a different designation. And even the international project players identified and given an opportunity in a new sport.
That’s all folks, AFL team lists are now finalised for season 2015 and BigFooty is here to asses how your team, along with the 17 others, fared.
ST. KILDA
In:
Delisted Free Agency: Tim Membrey (From Sydney)
Drafted: Patrick McCartin (Pick 1), Hugh Goddard (Pick 21), Daniel McKenzie (Pick 22), Jack Lonie (Pick 41)
Rookie Drafted: Jack Sinclair (Pick 1), Ahmed Saad (Pick 19), Brenton Payne (Pick 37), Adam Schneider (Pick 54)
Rookie Elevations: Darren Minchington, Cameron Shenton, Eli Templeton, Maverick Weller
Out:
Traded: Rhys Stanley (To Geelong)
Retired: Lenny Hayes, Beau Maister
Delisted: Clint Jones, James Gwilt, Sam Dunell, Trent Dennis-Lane, Adam Schneider (Rookie-Listed), Terry Milera
Overview: After shopping around the number one pick in the trade period, the Saints held onto it and selected power forward, Patrick McCartin, who I believe will make a very fine replacement for Nick Riewoldt for when he eventually retires. They were rapt when they saw key defender, Hugh Goddard slip down the draft order to the Saints’ next pick at 21. Daniel McKenzie has very good athleticism and could play almost anywhere on the ground, while Jack Lonie will give the Saints a small crumbing forward that was left vacant since the retirement of Stephen Milne back in 2013. Delisted free agent, Tim Membrey should see some game time for the Saints after just one game in two years at Sydney.
MELBOURNE
In:
Traded: Sam Frost (From GWS Giants), Heritier Lumumba (From Collingwood), Jeff Garlett (From Carlton)
Delisted Free Agency: Ben Newton (From Port Adelaide)
National Draft: Christian Petracca (Pick 2), Angus Brayshaw (Pick 3), Alex Neal-Bullen (Pick 40), Billy Stretch (Pick 42, Father/Son Selection), Oscar McDonald (Pick 53),
Rookie Draft: Aaron Vandenberg (Pick 2), Mitchell White (Pick 20)
Rookie Elevation: Neville Jetta
Out:
Traded: Mitch Clark (To Geelong)
Free Agency: James Frawley (To Hawthorn)
Retired: Shannon Byrnes, Dom Barry
Delisted: Dan Nicholson, Mitchell Clisby, Sam Blease, James Strauss, Alex Georgiou, Luke Tapscott, Domenic Barry
Overview: Melbourne fans should be pleased with the club’s overall recruiting this off-season. Key defender Sam Frost shows a lot of promise, while Jeff Garlett and Heritier Lumumba should be automatic selections in Melbourne’s best 22 for 2015. They landed two of the best midfielders in the draft in Christian Petracca and Angus Brayshaw with their first two picks – picks two and three respectively – on draft night. Melbourne fans should look forward to seeing both these promising young stars in action in 2015. Damaging midfielder Alex Neal-Bullen was a surprise slider, ending up at Demonland with pick 40. The club rates Father/Son selection Billy Stretch highly and kept the family connection vibe going at their next pick (53) by bringing in tall defender Oscar McDonald, brother of Tom.
GWS GIANTS
In:
Traded: Joel Patfull (From Brisbane), Ryan Griffen (From Western Bulldogs)
Drafted: Jarrod Pickett (Pick 4), Caleb Marchbank (Pick 6), Paul Ahern (Pick 7), Patrick McKenna (Pick 23), Jack Steele (Pick 24, Academy Selection), Jeremy Finlayson (Pick 85, Academy Selection)
Out:
Traded: Jonathan O’Rourke (To Hawthorn), Kristian Jaksch (To Carlton), Mark Whiley (To Carlton), Tom Boyd (To Western Bulldogs), Jonathan Giles (To Essendon), Sam Frost (To Melbourne)
Retired: Stephen Gilham, Josh Hunt
Overview: The Giants might have offloaded half a dozen of talented players, but they got some very good players and future stars in return. Ex-Bulldog captain, Ryan Griffen will help out the young midfield group immensely, while dual best and fairest winner from Brisbane, Joel Patfull will do likewise in the Giants’ back-line. Jarrod Pickett brings in a lot of class and some scintillating pace that no one else at the Giants has, Paul Ahern will be a very classy player in years to come and they also got some tall compensation by selecting Caleb Marchbank with one of their three top-10 selections. Pulled one of the draft shockers by selecting former cricket prospect, Pat McKenna with pick 23. McKenna captained Australia’s under-19s in the Sri Lanka tour in October/November.
