I would assume that he's not just talking to the Bulldogs. He would be seeking the best draft promise.
GETTABLE: Draft Combine stars and results, Academy guns fire, surprise risers
Gettable's Cal Twomey and Riley Beveridge wrap up the 2023 National Draft Combinewww.afl.com.au
DOGS FATHER-SON BIDES HIS TIME
KEY FORWARD prospect Jordan Croft is yet to officially nominate the Western Bulldogs under father-son rules, saying he will continue to hold discussions with the club before indicating whether he will head to the Whitten Oval.
Croft, a 201cm key forward, is the son of 186-game former Western Bulldogs player Matthew Croft and has emerged as a potential top-15 pick ahead of next month's national draft.
He enjoyed a sensational junior season with the Calder Cannons and Vic Metro, kicking 23 goals from 11 games at Coates Talent League level, where he displayed his speed and agility as a key forward target.
The Bulldogs are among the teams chasing pick No.4 from Gold Coast ahead of the national draft, mindful of their opening selection being swallowed by a bid for Croft, in a sign that they are planning for his arrival.
However, speaking at the national combine over the weekend, Croft reiterated he is yet to make a decision on whether he will join the Bulldogs and their array of talented young key forward prospects.
"There's still a lot of talks to have and a bit of time for me to make that decision," Croft told AFL.com.au.
"I definitely haven't solidified any decision just yet, but there's plenty of time. It probably comes up in every interview I have, but that's alright. I deal with it.
"There's a lot of expectation that comes with it (being a father-son) and a little bit of pressure. But good players are able to look past that and keep playing good footy. It didn't impact me too much this season, I don't think." – Riley Beveridge
COMBINE STARS TAKE SHAPE
A NUMBER of draft hopefuls pushed their stocks over the weekend with excellent testing results in front of club recruiters at the Draft Combine.
Gold Coast Academy talent Will Graham, who could be the fourth Suns Academy prospect to land at the club this draft, was a standout across three tests, finishing second in the 20-metre sprint (2.915 seconds), equal second in the standing vertical jump (78cm) and equal third in the running vertical jump (95cm).
Small forward Aiden O'Driscoll blitzed the 20-metre sprint, claiming the top result with a run of 2.87 seconds ahead of Graham and Caleb Windsor (2.916 seconds). Lance Collard also ran a 2.92-second 20-metre sprint before winning the agility test.
Collard, who is tied to West Coast's Next Generation Academy, ran 8.157 seconds in the agility ahead of fellow WA product Koltyn Tholstrup (8.194 seconds) and Angus Hastie (8.204 seconds).
Zane Zakostelsky claimed top honours in the standing vertical jump (80cm) ahead of Graham, Phoenix Gothard and Mitch Edwards (78cm), while Darcy Wilson was the standout in the running vertical jump.
The Murray Bushrangers midfielder/forward, who finished second overall in the 2km time trial, jumped 98cm to finish ahead of top-five talent Zane Duursma (97cm), Graham and Kane McAuliffe (both 95cm).
Wilson was beaten in the 2km time trial by Sandringham Dragons wingman Tarkyn O'Leary, who stormed home with a run of 5:48 minutes before Wilson came through in 5:52. Ruckman Ethan Read, who could attract a top-10 bid for the Suns, was in third place with a run of 5:56 minutes. – Callum Twomey
Like, if we get pick 10 and promise to take him if he's still there, for example.
Then he is weighing up being behind JUH and Naughton on long contracts, as well as Darcy. Or being in the box seat to play next to Larkey.
