2008 AFL Draft Review - Melbourne Demons

Melbourne went into the 2008 National Draft with the coveted number 1 pick and their choice of the best young player in the country. They also had picks 17, 19, 35, 51, 64 and 76. They used there first six picks and chose to pass on Pick 76 so they could have first pick in the pre-season draft.

Pick No. 1 – Jack Watts

This pick was pretty much a no brainer for Melbourne with Watts being able to step in as a key forward an area that the Demons were severely lacking in last season since the retirement of David Neitz. Barring any injury expect Watts to be in Melbourne’s side come Round 1 2009.

Pick No. 17 – Sam Blease

Blease was always in Melbourne’s radar at Pick 17 or 19 and will help bolster their midfield stocks. He is still quite thin so he may be eased into it next year.

Pick No. 19 – James Strauss

 

 
James Strauss is an athletic midfielder who Melbourne drafted from the Oakleigh Chargers. He is very good at running off half back and has a long penetrating kick. Melbourne would be hoping that Strauss can develop into a midfielder so working on his endurance would be a high priority. Expect to see Strauss in the Melbourne side at some stage next year playing across half back.

Pick No. 35 – Jamie Bennell

Jamie Bennell is a quick and agile player drafted from Swans Districts. He played as a small defender in the WAFL and reads the play well. He has silky skills and is very clean with his hands. Bennell is still very light only weighing 68kg so expect Melbourne to develop him through the VFL.

Pick No. 51 – Neville Jetta

 

 
Neville Jetta is a high possession winning forward/midfielder. He has a very high work rate and is very quick. Expect Jetta to play as a small forward in his early years with Melbourne; however he will most likely have to compete with Austin Wonaeamirri for a place in the side. No doubt the Demons have him pegged in as a future midfielder.

Pick No. 64 – Rohan Bail

Rohan Bail is a medium sized midfielder from Queensland who has very good endurance. Bail could easily be used as a run with player early in his career due to his excellent endurance. He is already 20 years old so he is quite old for a draftee so expect him to be ready to play senior football.

Melbourne Recruiting Manager Barry Prendergast had the following to say after the Draft:

“We came here today to get the best players and we were able to address a couple of needs. We got a tall forward, we got some pace in our midfield and we improved our kicking. We think all the blokes we got can kick the footy and there’s some really good stories in terms of players we did get.

“We got two Bunbury boys, so that’ll be great for them to come over together, and Jack (Watts) and Sam (Blease) are teammates from the AIS. And the first three picks are all local boys, so that’s exciting. We’re really happy with our draft. You’d like to come and get everything you think you’re going to get, but you’ve just got to pick what’s there.”

Melbourne should be very happy with this draft as they have filled an area that they were severely lacking in with Jack Watts. They have also picked up a couple of midfielders of the future in Blease and Strauss. Bennell and Jetta also look players of the future and all these players add some much needed pace and firepower into what was a fairly lacklustre midfield. Bail was an interesting pickup as a mature age player but he looks ready to step into AFL level straight away and it will just be a matter of whether or not he is up to the standard required.

How do you think Melbourne fared at the draft? With such a good bunch of picks to work with, have they come up with the goods? Leave us a comment!