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2008 National Draft
The Carlton Lions have moved to shore up its midfield depth as well as its forward line in the short to medium term at the completion of the 2008 National Draft. With an ageing forward line in Richardson, Rocca and Bradshaw, the Lions were rapt to secure boom recruit Jack Watts and tall forward Scott Clouston with their first and fifth picks.
National Draft Selections
2. Jack Watts (Sandringham Dragons) - The jewel in the crown of this year’s draft, Watts surprisingly fell to number 2 , when Rich went at Pick#1. The Lions could hardly believe their luck, securing the perfect replacement for ageing forward Anthony Rocca. Watts is an athletic, strong marking tall forward who won the Larke Medal as the best player in Division One as well as claiming All-Australian honours. He looks to be the lynchpin of the Lions’ forward line for many years to come. (Pick 1)
18. James Strauss (Oakleigh Chargers) - Strauss is classy mover who will most likely settle across half-back at the outset of his career. He has good place, loves to run with the ball and kicks with great depth. He should see senior action in 2009. (Pick 19)
21. Shaun McKernan (Calder Cannons)- Brother of Corey who boasts many of the same attributes – massive hands, a prodigious kick and an ability to play ruck, forward or back. The Lions have had a shortage in ruckmen over the past few years and they may be hoping that McKernan will add, at the very least, depth to their ruck division. The Lions now boast a competent ruck division with Seaby, Renouf, Campbell and now McKernan all expected to be vying for selection in 2009. (Pick 28)
37. Steven Motlop (Wanderers NT) - Brother of Daniel, who is a freakish goal-kicker and boasts freakish skills. Rated by some as better than Daniel at the same age. Carlton Lions recruiting manager Robert Shaw said the club was thrilled to have drafted Motlop. "He's an instinctive, exciting player, a dead ringer for Daniel at the same age," Shaw said. Motlop could easily have been drafted higher than No. 39 but for having a shoulder injury at the time of the national championships. Still too early to tell if the Lions had unearthed a player with the ability of a Cyril Rioli, but the Lions believe Motlop's skill around goal has to be seen to be believed. (Pick 39)
53. Scott Clouston (Suncoast Lions) – A mature aged 194 cm forward whose selection by the Lions no doubt raised a few eyebrows. However of their seven draftees, Clouston is the only one with senior AFL experience with two games. After playing most of last year as a key defender, Clouston was given opportunity to impress by playing in all the preseason games. Playing for Suncoast, Clouston was moved into the forward line and it seemed a better way to utilise his massive tank. He was steady until about the midseason when he started coming on in leaps and bounds. He was learning how to find the ball and becoming a regular multiple goal kicker, many of which were from long range.
69. Liam Shiels (Eastern Ranges) - Youngest player at this year’s draft and qualified for it, by only two days. A midfielder who at 17 will complete Year 12 at Aquinas College and will not play in the Lions’ maroon, navy blue and gold for 2009. The Lions will be hoping he follows the path of Xavier Ellis, who took a couple of years to settle into the Lions line-up, but is now making a regular contribution. Shiels was widely tipped to go in the mid-thirties and the Lions, by now chasing a midfielder were surprised to see him still there at their next pick at #69. (Pick 34)
84. Taylor Hunt (Sandringham Dragons) - From the same club as Jack Watts, Hunt is a fast, ball carrying player who can play in defence, on-ball and even up forward. He has fantastic speed and a strong body. The Lions nearly took him at Pick #69, and were rapt to pick up at #84, (a good thirty five to forty places after where many had predicted he would go. (Pick 49)
Pre-Season Draft
2. Ashley McGrath
The 26 year old 113 game veteran has had a new lease of life at the Carlton Lions and is looking extremely fit. The Lions saw him as the ideal replacement for recently retired Jeff Farmer min the forward pocket, but instead, he could take on some midfield work in Season 2009, after spending a great deal of 2008 in the unaccustomed role of a defender.
15. Robert Campbell
Taken as a second round draft pick, Campbell came to terms with the Lions several weeks before the actual draft and will probably move straight into the number one ruck role for Season 2009, adding to their depth and flexibility.
The Carlton Lions have moved to shore up its midfield depth as well as its forward line in the short to medium term at the completion of the 2008 National Draft. With an ageing forward line in Richardson, Rocca and Bradshaw, the Lions were rapt to secure boom recruit Jack Watts and tall forward Scott Clouston with their first and fifth picks.
National Draft Selections
2. Jack Watts (Sandringham Dragons) - The jewel in the crown of this year’s draft, Watts surprisingly fell to number 2 , when Rich went at Pick#1. The Lions could hardly believe their luck, securing the perfect replacement for ageing forward Anthony Rocca. Watts is an athletic, strong marking tall forward who won the Larke Medal as the best player in Division One as well as claiming All-Australian honours. He looks to be the lynchpin of the Lions’ forward line for many years to come. (Pick 1)
18. James Strauss (Oakleigh Chargers) - Strauss is classy mover who will most likely settle across half-back at the outset of his career. He has good place, loves to run with the ball and kicks with great depth. He should see senior action in 2009. (Pick 19)
21. Shaun McKernan (Calder Cannons)- Brother of Corey who boasts many of the same attributes – massive hands, a prodigious kick and an ability to play ruck, forward or back. The Lions have had a shortage in ruckmen over the past few years and they may be hoping that McKernan will add, at the very least, depth to their ruck division. The Lions now boast a competent ruck division with Seaby, Renouf, Campbell and now McKernan all expected to be vying for selection in 2009. (Pick 28)
37. Steven Motlop (Wanderers NT) - Brother of Daniel, who is a freakish goal-kicker and boasts freakish skills. Rated by some as better than Daniel at the same age. Carlton Lions recruiting manager Robert Shaw said the club was thrilled to have drafted Motlop. "He's an instinctive, exciting player, a dead ringer for Daniel at the same age," Shaw said. Motlop could easily have been drafted higher than No. 39 but for having a shoulder injury at the time of the national championships. Still too early to tell if the Lions had unearthed a player with the ability of a Cyril Rioli, but the Lions believe Motlop's skill around goal has to be seen to be believed. (Pick 39)
53. Scott Clouston (Suncoast Lions) – A mature aged 194 cm forward whose selection by the Lions no doubt raised a few eyebrows. However of their seven draftees, Clouston is the only one with senior AFL experience with two games. After playing most of last year as a key defender, Clouston was given opportunity to impress by playing in all the preseason games. Playing for Suncoast, Clouston was moved into the forward line and it seemed a better way to utilise his massive tank. He was steady until about the midseason when he started coming on in leaps and bounds. He was learning how to find the ball and becoming a regular multiple goal kicker, many of which were from long range.
69. Liam Shiels (Eastern Ranges) - Youngest player at this year’s draft and qualified for it, by only two days. A midfielder who at 17 will complete Year 12 at Aquinas College and will not play in the Lions’ maroon, navy blue and gold for 2009. The Lions will be hoping he follows the path of Xavier Ellis, who took a couple of years to settle into the Lions line-up, but is now making a regular contribution. Shiels was widely tipped to go in the mid-thirties and the Lions, by now chasing a midfielder were surprised to see him still there at their next pick at #69. (Pick 34)
84. Taylor Hunt (Sandringham Dragons) - From the same club as Jack Watts, Hunt is a fast, ball carrying player who can play in defence, on-ball and even up forward. He has fantastic speed and a strong body. The Lions nearly took him at Pick #69, and were rapt to pick up at #84, (a good thirty five to forty places after where many had predicted he would go. (Pick 49)
Pre-Season Draft
2. Ashley McGrath
The 26 year old 113 game veteran has had a new lease of life at the Carlton Lions and is looking extremely fit. The Lions saw him as the ideal replacement for recently retired Jeff Farmer min the forward pocket, but instead, he could take on some midfield work in Season 2009, after spending a great deal of 2008 in the unaccustomed role of a defender.
15. Robert Campbell
Taken as a second round draft pick, Campbell came to terms with the Lions several weeks before the actual draft and will probably move straight into the number one ruck role for Season 2009, adding to their depth and flexibility.
