2008 AFL Draft Review – Geelong Cats

When you’ve made the last two grand finals there usually aren’t too many holes that need to be filled on your playing list. Geelong went into the 2008 Draft with four selections and drafted two forwards and two defenders to add to their already imposing list of players. Let’s take a closer look at them.

Pick No. 15 – Mitchell Brown

 

 
Mitchell Brown is a key forward drafted from the Sandringham Dragons. Brown really came on towards the end of last season and is a very strong mark and good kick for goal. Brown is a very strong contested mark and works very hard to get to each contest as well as providing a target at half forward. He had a 7cm growth spurt last year which really made him catch the eye of AFL recruiters and is obviously someone who Geelong think can develop into a key forward over time.

Pick No. 33 – Thomas Gillies

 

 
Thomas Gillies is a key defender drafted from the Dandenong Stingrays. Gillies reads the play very well out of defence and was often seen setting up attacks for the Stingrays from the defensive half. He has very good speed off the mark which is very important as a defender in the AFL and makes very good decisions with the ball in hand. Gillies was the winner of the Dandenong Stingrays Best & Fairest last season.

Pick No. 39 – Steven Motlop

 

 
You guessed it; Steven Motlop is the brother of Daniel and Shannon Motlop and like them is a medium sized forward who is very smart around goals. He was drafted from the Wanderers Football Club in the Northern Territory. He has very good hands and has brilliant speed. Like most indigenous players consistency is an area that Motlop will need to work on if he wants to be a long term prospect at AFL level.

Pick No. 49 – Taylor Hunt

 

 
Taylor Hunt is a medium sized defender drafted from the Sandringham Dragons. Hunt is a quick rebounding defender who needs to work on his disposal if he is going to make it at AFL level. Hunt is very hard at the ball and relishes the challenge of a contest.

Stephen Wells from Geelong had the following to say after the Draft:

We were hoping to get a mixture of players if it fell a certain way and as it turned out we got a genuine tall forward, we got a good tall defender and a couple of other running players with speed and skill – it was a nice mix.

We work on succession plans every year but I guess with Nathan Ablett leaving the club and Matthew Egan under an injury cloud it was certainly a consideration that we take some tall players, but not just for the sake of it, we wanted players of quality and we think with the two talls we got our share of quality players.

With every choice there were a number of good players we could have chosen from and it was a hard choice, but we’re really happy we picked the players we did because we think it was a very good draft.

In drafting we haven’t really considered what contribution they might make next year, it was all about the long term and anything they do next year will be a bonus.

Geelong should be pretty happy with their four draftees as they have picked up four different types of players. Brown is a key forward, Gillies is a key defender, Motlop gives them some pace and brilliance up forward and Hunt gives them another quick rebounding defender. If Geelong were down in any area last year it may have been pace around the ground and providing Motlop and Hunt measure up to AFL level they should bring this to the team. Don’t expect to see alot of Geelong’s four draftees in Season 2009 as they are very much players who need development and it is difficult to find a spot for them in a full strength Geelong side.

How do you think Geelong fared at the draft? Do you think the Cats drafted well for any gaps that they have in their list? Leave us with your thoughts.