In summary
The Dogs stocked up on a bit of everything in the NAB AFL Draft with a replacement for Callan Ward in Clay Smith, a key back in Michael Talia, a project player that reminded them of Easton Wood in Daniel Pearce and a goal-kicker from the Bendigo Bombers in Tory Dickson. This time, they've picked up a ruckman (Tom Campbell) and a pair of forwards in Fletcher Roberts and Jack Redpath. They also added a couple of midfielders - Lin Jong and Alex Greenwood - thrown in with a former Blue (Mark Austin), who's been in the AFL system since the end of 2006 to sure up their defensive stocks. Again, it's a bit of everything for the Dogs with that all-important "rookie attitude" taking a higher level of importance than any footballing ability.
View video highlights of all the Western Bulldogs' new recruits by clicking here.
What the recruiter said
"Our strategy continued on from our national draft in terms of Fletcher Roberts being the next player on our talent list. We picked up three 18-year-olds, one 21-year-old, who's like a 19-year-old because he's missed a bit of footy, and then a 20-year-old and 22-year-old. We think we got a good mix and they were the boys we'd targeted so we were really happy to get them. With the rookies, they need to have that mentality they're going to train the house down. A lot of guys have been overlooked in the national draft for a reason but attitude is important when it comes to rookies - if they don't have determination, then we pretty much rule them out. That's our key criteria." - Western Bulldogs recruiting manager Simon Dalrymple.
NAB AFL PRE-SEASON DRAFT
Pick 11: Fletcher Roberts, Sandringham Dragons
DOB: 03/06/1993
Height: 197cm
Weight: 81kg
Dalrymple says: "He fits a need in terms of a key forward who also can go back, and we really liked his decision making and poise with the ball in his hands. He was the main one we were looking at for the pre-season draft. He can play forward, he kicked five goals in the TAC Cup Grand Final, and we also see him as a potential defender as well. He's also played in the ruck at times so he's a genuine swingman. He's got some development left in him because he's been a cricketer for Melbourne Grammar so he hasn't had many pre-seasons and he needs to get in the gym and start lifting, but it was his decision-making that was the elite trait we were attracted to."
What the recruiter said
"Our strategy continued on from our national draft in terms of Fletcher Roberts being the next player on our talent list. We picked up three 18-year-olds, one 21-year-old, who's like a 19-year-old because he's missed a bit of footy, and then a 20-year-old and 22-year-old. We think we got a good mix and they were the boys we'd targeted so we were really happy to get them. With the rookies, they need to have that mentality they're going to train the house down. A lot of guys have been overlooked in the national draft for a reason but attitude is important when it comes to rookies - if they don't have determination, then we pretty much rule them out. That's our key criteria." - Western Bulldogs recruiting manager Simon Dalrymple.
NAB AFL PRE-SEASON DRAFT
Pick 11: Fletcher Roberts, Sandringham Dragons
DOB: 03/06/1993
Height: 197cm
Weight: 81kg
Dalrymple says: "He fits a need in terms of a key forward who also can go back, and we really liked his decision making and poise with the ball in his hands. He was the main one we were looking at for the pre-season draft. He can play forward, he kicked five goals in the TAC Cup Grand Final, and we also see him as a potential defender as well. He's also played in the ruck at times so he's a genuine swingman. He's got some development left in him because he's been a cricketer for Melbourne Grammar so he hasn't had many pre-seasons and he needs to get in the gym and start lifting, but it was his decision-making that was the elite trait we were attracted to."
Click here to watch Fletcher Roberts' video highlights reel.
NAB AFL ROOKIE DRAFT
Pick 9: Lin Jong, Oakleigh Chargers
DOB: 04/06/1993
Height: 189cm
Weight: 85kg
Dalrymple says: "He really improved as the year went on. He's got elite speed, agility and vertical leap, and we were just looking for a taller midfielder who could win his own ball and his tackling is really good as well as his hands in contested situations. He's still got plenty to learn about the game but we did a lot of homework on his character and his learning ability and we think he's got the right traits. Given he's only played footy since under-16s, we think there's potential for him to learn and he's got to improve his kicking but we think in the full time system, that can be addressed to get him to AFL level."
NAB AFL ROOKIE DRAFT
Pick 9: Lin Jong, Oakleigh Chargers
DOB: 04/06/1993
Height: 189cm
Weight: 85kg
Dalrymple says: "He really improved as the year went on. He's got elite speed, agility and vertical leap, and we were just looking for a taller midfielder who could win his own ball and his tackling is really good as well as his hands in contested situations. He's still got plenty to learn about the game but we did a lot of homework on his character and his learning ability and we think he's got the right traits. Given he's only played footy since under-16s, we think there's potential for him to learn and he's got to improve his kicking but we think in the full time system, that can be addressed to get him to AFL level."
Click here to watch Lin Jong's video highlights reel.
Pick 27: Tom Campbell, Bendigo Bombers
DOB: 02/11/1991
Height: 201cm
Weight: 98kg
Dalrymple says: "He played TAC Cup with the Sandringham Dragons a couple of years ago and had a few injuries. Again, our need was for a ruckman and we were really impressed with Tom. We brought him into the club and did a bit of craft work with him and felt that he fit the bill of being a strong-bodied ruckman who's very competitive. His background checks were very solid and we're very happy to get a ruckman who turns 21 next year and could potentially play AFL."
Pick 27: Tom Campbell, Bendigo Bombers
DOB: 02/11/1991
Height: 201cm
Weight: 98kg
Dalrymple says: "He played TAC Cup with the Sandringham Dragons a couple of years ago and had a few injuries. Again, our need was for a ruckman and we were really impressed with Tom. We brought him into the club and did a bit of craft work with him and felt that he fit the bill of being a strong-bodied ruckman who's very competitive. His background checks were very solid and we're very happy to get a ruckman who turns 21 next year and could potentially play AFL."
Click here to watch Tom Campbell's video highlights reel.
Pick 45: Alex Greenwood, Eastern Ranges
DOB: 24/10/1993
Height: 176cm
Weight: 71kg
Dalrymple says: "He's a midfielder from the Eastern Ranges and is a player we've liked all year. He's got terrific feel for the game, has good decision making by hand and is a first-possession player who wins a lot of clearances. He's a really impressive young fella who is really driven and is a self-starter. He plays a little similar to Tom Liberatore, doesn't have as quite as big a body so he needs to put on a bit of strength and also improve his leg speed. He's a very good endurance athlete and he ticked the box in terms of what we look for in a rookie."
Pick 45: Alex Greenwood, Eastern Ranges
DOB: 24/10/1993
Height: 176cm
Weight: 71kg
Dalrymple says: "He's a midfielder from the Eastern Ranges and is a player we've liked all year. He's got terrific feel for the game, has good decision making by hand and is a first-possession player who wins a lot of clearances. He's a really impressive young fella who is really driven and is a self-starter. He plays a little similar to Tom Liberatore, doesn't have as quite as big a body so he needs to put on a bit of strength and also improve his leg speed. He's a very good endurance athlete and he ticked the box in terms of what we look for in a rookie."
Click here to watch Alex Greenwood's video highlights reel.
Pick 62: Jack Redpath, Kyneton
DOB: 13/12/1990
Height: 193cm
Weight: 96kg
Dalrymple says: "He played a little bit at Bendigo in the last year and a half, and he came on the scene late on a recommendation of Shannon Grant, who had a bit of involvement with him there. We got him down and interviewed him, and he was impressive. He's a really strong individual who is really determined and we felt that at his size, he's a powerful unit. We see him playing as a power forward and he fits that need for us."
Pick 76: Mark Austin, Carlton
DOB: 24/02/1989
Height: 193cm
Weight: 95kg
Dalrymple says: "He's been training with us and he impressed the coaches enough for us to select him. He has good character, is a really impressive guy, had a few injuries at Carlton and has got some areas of his game he needs to work on, but we felt with our last pick and in a part of the ground where we've got a few older players, Mark could be someone who's had five years of investment by Carlton and still develop more and play a role. He also had the right attitude to convince us to go with him."
Pick 62: Jack Redpath, Kyneton
DOB: 13/12/1990
Height: 193cm
Weight: 96kg
Dalrymple says: "He played a little bit at Bendigo in the last year and a half, and he came on the scene late on a recommendation of Shannon Grant, who had a bit of involvement with him there. We got him down and interviewed him, and he was impressive. He's a really strong individual who is really determined and we felt that at his size, he's a powerful unit. We see him playing as a power forward and he fits that need for us."
Pick 76: Mark Austin, Carlton
DOB: 24/02/1989
Height: 193cm
Weight: 95kg
Dalrymple says: "He's been training with us and he impressed the coaches enough for us to select him. He has good character, is a really impressive guy, had a few injuries at Carlton and has got some areas of his game he needs to work on, but we felt with our last pick and in a part of the ground where we've got a few older players, Mark could be someone who's had five years of investment by Carlton and still develop more and play a role. He also had the right attitude to convince us to go with him."
