Falcons throw arms around unlucky ones
JOY FOR JASKA, BUT FALCONS HAVE ROOKIE QUESTIONS
GEELONG Falcons talent manager Mick Turner will turn his attention to the welfare of his outgoing players who missed in yesterday’s rookie draft.
Josh Jaska found a home at Gold Coast with pick two, adding to Matt Ling, Tom McCartin, James Worpel and Gryan Miers who were drafted in last Friday’s national draft.
But Turner said the TAC Cup premiership club was disappointed potential draftees were left without a home.
“I said before the draft that between five and 10 would have been a good number — 10 is at the extreme end,” he said.
“You do checks with AFL managers and I was hoping we’d get at least four rookied, so we had four drafted and one rookied, which was probably at the bottom end of my expectations — and the club’s expectations.
“As a club and a team, we want as many kids drafted as we possibly can. That’s what they’re in the program for.”
Turner said Cassidy Parish, David Handley, Ethan Floyd and Cooper Stephens were among the unlucky Falcons who boasted enough attributes to step into the AFL system.
“For me, I don’t think the rookie draft was set up for recycled players who have had numerous opportunities,” he said.
“I always thought the rookie draft was set up to give new young talent the opportunity to develop at an AFL club, like Sam Simpson did last year.
“We just want them to stay in the system and give themselves an opportunity for that to happen later on.”
But Turner said he was rapt for the five players who will have a chance at their clubs.
“The four boys who were drafted are stars, and Josh Jaska this time last year had just come to us from Anglesea,” he said.
“We knew he was a 19-yearold but that’s all we knew about him.
“He’s developed unbelievably now.
“Josh has got a couple of things on his side; he’s quick and he’s tall and he’s a developing player.
“Pick No.2 to the Gold Coast probably says to me he wasn’t far off being drafted.
“That was pleasing, but I’m very disappointed for the other boys who were in line for draft or rookie contention.”