The Western Bulldogs have added two more rookies to its playing list for next season.
Woodville-West Torrens midfielder Lachlan McNeil was the Club’s first selection in today’s 2020 NAB AFL Rookie Draft, at pick 11, while Roarke Smith will return to VU Whitten Oval for a seventh season after being selected with pick 26.
McNeil, a 182cm midfielder who missed out on the Draft last year, impressed in the SANFL competition in 2020, playing every senior game for Woodville.
“The 18-year-old ball-magnet was overlooked in the 2019 draft despite a consistent year, which saw him have an influence as an inside midfielder at every level of football he played, including all four of SA’s under-18 national carnival matches,” said the Adelaide Advertiser.
“But McNeil returned for pre-season training at the Eagles and was so impressive over summer, he’s played every senior game in 2020, averaging 18 disposals, four tackles and 74 ranking points.
“He’s tough with clean hands and has been named in the Eagles’ best four times in his debut season.”
Woodville-West Torrens coach Jake Sheedy said: “He’s got really elite hands, he’s got some good speed and he’s tough so he’s a promising footballer.
“He’s also very instinctive, so he has a lot of positives to his game.”
In his four games representing South Australia at the 2019 National Championships, McNeil averaged 20 disposals, four marks and eight tackles per game.
Smith had been guaranteed a spot back on the Bulldogs’ list after he was delisted at the end of the 2020 season.
He has played 23 senior games for the Bulldogs since originally arriving at the Club in the 2015 Rookie Draft.
