By Jonty Ralphsmith
A pair of local Talent League players were selected in the midseason rookie draft on Wednesday night.
Drouin’s Ryan Maric was taken with pick one by the West Coast Eagles and Rowville local lad Clay Tucker was picked up by Hawthorn with pick three.
Maric found out with family and friends at his junior footy club.
The 193cm prospect is a high half-forward who has come from nowhere this season after a four goal round one performance for Gippsland Power.
That put him on the radar of AFL clubs and he finished with eight goals in three games for the Power, and averaged 19 possessions.
“We have been really impressed with Ryan’s commitment after completing his first ever pre-season, getting himself in the shape he needed to elevate his game,” list manager Rohan O’Brien said.
“We believe he has a lot of upside and has barely scratched the surface, so we will be excited to see what he brings to the club.”
Tucker has split his time between Eastern Ranges in the Coates League and Box Hill in the VFL.
Rucks are generally hot property in the midseason draft, with Tucker fitting that mould perfectly as a player that has averaged more than 20 hitouts both this season and last season for the Ranges.
The 204cm prospect also got 20 hitouts and 10 disposals on VFL debut last week for Box Hill.
Maric has played two games for Box Hill, scoring two goals in each match.
Both players also played a prominent role for the Young Guns in a recent series which gives 19 and 20-year-old Victorian prospects the opportunity to play against the best under-18s in the state.
Athletic Tooradin-Dalmore local Jimmy Trezise was taken after a meteoric rise for Richmond VFL this year.
Wandin’s Caleb Poulter, who has played impressive footy for Footscray after being delisted by Collingwood last year, was given a chance by the Western Bulldogs.
DRAFT SELECTIONS
Pick 1: Ryan Maric (West Coast Eagles)
Pick 2: Robert Hansen Junior (North Melbourne)
Pick 3: Clay Tucker (Hawthorn)
Pick 4: Matt Coulthard (Richmond)
Pick 5: Pass (GWS)
Pick 6: Harry Arnold (Sydney)
Pick 7: Mitch Hardie (Geelong)
Pick 8: Ethan Stanley (Fremantle)
Pick 9: Jaiden Hunter (Essendon)
Pick 10: Caleb Poulter (Western Bulldogs)
Pick 11: Quinton Narkle (Port Adelaide)
Pick 12: Brandon Ryan (Hawthorn)
Pick 13: Jimmy Trezise (Richmond)
Pick 14: Pass (GWS)
Pick 15: Jack Buller (Sydney)
