Bumper Falcons crop set to better 2001 draft

THE Geelong Falcons are preparing for a bumper crop at next year’s AFL Draft, with experts predicting the club could rival its 2001 haul when it produced seven of the top 40 picks.

After having just one player selected in this year’s drafts, 2020 looms as one of the most productive in the club’s history.

Tanner Bruhn, Noah Gadsby, Noah Gribble, Cam Fleeton, Oliver Henry, Charlie

Lazzaro, Toby Conway and Henry Walsh are among the bumper crop that will be on recruiters’ radars next year.

Part of the reason for the anticipated surge in draftees is that so many of the best players from this year’s team were bottom-age players.

It means AFL clubs will be monitoring the progress of the Falcons closely next season.

“I spoke to the kids about this the other night, we won the premiership in 2000 and probably had about 12 players drafted across the two years because some were 17 and some were 18,” Falcons talent manager Michael Turner said.

“In 2017 we won the premiership again and in 2017 and 2018 we had about 12 again drafted over those two years.

“This is a little bit different because next year they are all going to be top-age players, so it is a little unique.

“I think 2001 is the biggest and most successful draft we have ever had with Luke Hodge going number one (and having seven in the top 40), but I think we will challenge that.”

The Falcons have started pre-season training and will be expected to push up the ladder next year following a season that focused heavily on the development of 17-year-old players.

Late-bloomer Jack Sarcevic, who missed out on the draft but was tested recently by Fremantle, is likely to return to the Falcons next year as a 19year-old. Gribble, however, will spend next year in rehab after suffering a serious knee injury at training last week.

Turner said while he felt there were no clear standouts yet, he believes his class of 2020 will benefit from their NAB League exposure this year.

“The Vic Country hub at this stage for next year’s national championships has 30 players selected and we have eight in there, so we have some really good players,” Turner said.

“Those boys have still got to get the job done, but in my 25 years’ experience I think next year we will have a very good team.”