Players Look For Second Chance In National Draft

by Lisa Albergo reporting for AFANA from Chicago

The following players were delisted by their respective clubs and have nominated for the draft in an effort to continue their AFL careers:

Joe Anderson (Carlton), Jarrod Atkinson (Essendon), Jaxson Barham (Collingwood), Jarrad Blight (Collingwood), Jarrad Boumann (Western Bulldogs), Steven Browne (Carlton), Ben Bucovaz (Fremantle), Ryan Cook (Collingwood), Anthony Corrie (Collingwood), Steven Dodd (Fremantle), Beau Dowler (Hawthorn), Robert Eddy (St Kilda), Brad Fisher (Carlton), Ryan Gamble (Geelong Cats), Chris Hall (Fremantle), Chris Johnson (Carlton), Paul Johnson (Melbourne), Travis Johnstone (Brisbane Lions), Tom McNamara (Melbourne), Luke Miles (St Kilda), Ryan Murphy (Fremantle), Jay Nash (Port Adelaide), Jay Neagle (Essendon), Brock O'Brien (Fremantle), Matthew O'Dwyer (Sydney Swans), Rhys O'Keefe (Carlton), Dean Polo (Richmond), Tim Ruffles (Fremantle), Tyson Slattery (Essendon), Josh Smith (North Melbourne), Matt Spangher (West Coast), Michael Still (Essendon), Kristin Thornton (Sydney Swans), Stephen Tiller (Western Bulldogs), Travis Tuck (Hawthorn), Beau Wilkes (West Coast).

Each year, ahead of the national draft, players delisted from one club are allowed to train with other clubs in the hope that they will find a new home. Second-tier players are also granted permission to train with AFL clubs to show their wares. The clubs which have delisted players currently training with their respective squads are as follows: 

Adelaide: Ian Callinan (Central Districts)

Brisbane Lions: Albert Proud (Brisbane Lions), Broc McCauley (Brisbane Lions rookie).
Proud debuted in 2007 and played 29 games. He played only seven games in 2010.

Carlton: Rhys O'Keeffe. O'Keefe was drafted by Carlton in 2008 but has yet to play a senior game.

Collingwood: Paul Cribbin (County Kildare, Ireland)

Essendon:Tyson Slattery (Essendon), Jay Neagle. Slattery was drafted in 2009 and played just one game in 2010. Neagle debuted in 2007 and played 28 games with injury and poor form restricting him to just eight games in 2010.

Fremantle: Ben Bucovaz (Fremantle), Brock O'Brien (Fremantle), Tim Ruffles (Fremantle), John Anthony (Collingwood). Bucovaz was drafted in 2008 but played no senior games. O'Brien debuted in 2007 and played three games but played no senior games 2009-2010 due to a shoulder injury. Ruffles debuted in 2009 and played a total of five games. Anthony debuted in 2008 and played 43 games for the Magpies. He played only 7 games in 2010 due to the emergence of other young players. With the return of Chris Tarrant, Anthony decided he would have better opportunities elsewhere. The club tried unsuccessfully to arrange a suitable trade. Anthony will now nominate for the preseason draft with several clubs already showing interest. As well as Fremantle, Carlton and Melbourne are interested.

Gold Coast Suns:Nathan Ablett (Geelong Cats and Broadbeach), Jake Crawford (Pamona), Joel Tippett (Brisbane Lions and Southport). Nathan Ablett debuted for the Cats in 2005 and played 32 games including the 2007 Premiership. He quit the club ahead of the 2008 season but was retained on the list with the Cats hoping he would change his mind. The club officially delisted him at the end of 2008.

Hawthorn: Matt Spangher (West Coast), Travis Tuck (Hawthorn). Tuck debuted in 2007 and played 20 games.

Port Adelaide: Matthew Westhoff (Port Adelaide), Nathan Daniel (SANFL Port Adelaide), Tom Jonas (SANFL Port Adelaide), Nick Liddle (South Adelaide). Westhoff debuted in 2008 and played eight games.

Richmond: Ben Jakobi (Coburg, Richmond's VFL affiliate), Tom Hislop (Richmond), Brad Miller (Melbourne). Hislop played seven games 2007-2008 for Essendon before being traded to the Tigers where he played 15 games. Miller debuted at Melbourne in 2002 and played 133 games but managed just 10 in 2010.

West Coast - Tim Houlihan (West Coast). Houlihan played 15 games since his 2008 debut.

Note that some delisted players are still training with the club which delisted them. Under league rules, a club can redraft a delisted senior player as a rookie.

Source: Patrick Keane, AFL Media Release; AFL Record 2010 Season Guide, AFL 2010 Grand Final Record