By Jonty Ralphsmith
Five Gippsland Power products and three Dandenong Stingrays have found their way onto AFL lists at the national draft held on Monday 20 and Tuesday 21 November.
After star forward Zane Duursma and key-position player Wil Dawson both got selected by North Melbourne on night one, the Power saw Archer Reid, Tew Jiath and Lachie Smith all find AFL homes on the second night.
Stingrays Harry DeMattia, Billy Wilson and Cooper Simpson also heard their names called out, by Collingwood, Carlton and Fremantle respectively.
Inverloch-Kongwak tall forward Reid was the first player taken in the second round, the West Coast Eagles pouncing at pick 30.
He told SEN WA that he got an inkling West Coast was keen when the club Instagram account followed him just prior to the beginning of the second night.
Quick halfback Wilson got selected by Carlton with pick 33, followed by electric midfielder Simpson going to Fremantle at pick 35.
Wilson becomes the sixth former Stingray currently listed at the Blues.
Hawthorn Next Generation Academy defender Jiath was taken by Collingwood at pick 37, the Hawks unable to match the selection as it came before pick 40.
Smith, a combative ruck with minimal junior footy exposure and a basketball background, was taken by the Western Bulldogs at pick 47.
He was the most speculative pick of the Gippslanders with conflicted opinions in the industry about the impact he can have at the next level.
On night one, gamebreaker Duursma was one of a select number of prospects invited to the AFL Draft at Marvel Stadium, hearing his name called out at pick four, presented with his Roos guernsey by Michael Firrito.
AFL/W-listed siblings Yasmin and Xavier were alongside him, as well as 2025 draft prospect Willem, with Gippy coach Rhett McLennan and Talent Lead Scott McDougal also in attendance, while Dawson was taken at 22.
Gippsland’s haul of six, also including Ryan Maric, selected at the midseason rookie draft in May, continues a period of success for the region after five were drafted in 2022.
Collingwood coach Craig McRae called DeMattia on Monday night, revealing to the well-regarded leader and quick utility that he would wear the number 13.
Pies head recruiter Derek Hine indicated he would start his career as a high half-back and would likely be a future club leader.
Fremantle traded up the draft order on the night to secure Simpson, who was visited by Fremantle coach Justin Longmuir after being selected.
Simpson will inherit the Dockers number 29, worn by superstar full forward Matthew Pavlich.
He joins Stingrays alumni Hayden Young and Sam Sturt at the Dockers and told Star News earlier this month that he intends to be a one-club player.
Beaconsfield Vic Country duo Kade De La Rue and Kobe Shipp were both overlooked, as were state combine invitees Ben Hopkins and Jacob Grant.
Every local selected:
Pick 4: Zane Duursma (North Melbourne)
“I’m really excited and stoked to be there. The future’s really bright at North Melbourne so I’m looking forward to being part of that” – Zane Duursma via AAP.
Pick 22: Wil Dawson (North Melbourne)
“He’s an aggressive kid that likes to tackle and he has that grit to work hard inside the contest” – Gippsland Talent Lead Scott McDougal.
Pick 25: Harry DeMattia (Collingwood)
“I’m so grateful for the opportunity to join such a prestigious club like Collingwood. Something I focussed on (this year at Dandenong) was really helping the group, and we’ve got a couple of bottom-agers in the room so it’s pretty special and it means a lot to me. I want to be a very good person around the club who’s going to really buy into the values and direction we want to go and hopefully be part of back-to-back” – Harry DeMattia on the Fox Footy broadcast.
Pick 30: Archer Reid (West Coast Eagles)
“I really like his ability to create separation on the lead, that’s a real point of difference and his execution by foot; he’s highly proficient, his ability to hit players lace out for a guy who’s (203) centimetres has been outstanding” – Mick Ablett via the Fox Footy broadcast.
Pick 34: Billy Wilson (Carlton)
“He’s a really damaging user of the football who has already shown at such a young age that he’s more than capable in a number of positions around the ground, whether that’s as an inside or outside midfielder as well as across halfback” – Nick Austin, Carlton Head of List Management.
Pick 35: Cooper Simpson (Fremantle)
“I’m so pumped to be a part of it. I’m pretty overwhelmed and all the emotions came out but I’m so stoked. It was a special moment – probably one of the best days of my life so far” – Cooper Simpson to Fremantle Media.
Pick 37: Tew Jiath (Collingwood)
“He’s very similar to his brother (Changkuouth, Hawthorn AFL-listed). He’s probably a little bit more advanced than his brother at the same age. He’s one excited young man and we’ll embrace him” – Collingwood Head recruiter Derek Hine.
Pick 47: Lachie Smith (Western Bulldogs)
“In terms of Lachie – what we’re bringing in there is a real competitor. With Jordon Sweet leaving, we really wanted to bring in another young ruckman to help develop under Tim English. Given Lachie’s basketball background, he hasn’t played a lot of footy growing up but we’re really confident in a full-time program – with the rate of improvement he showed late in the year – he’s only going to blossom He’s certainly going to compete straight away at VFL level and be aggressive, which is what we want in a ruckman” – Western Bulldogs national recruiting manager Dom Milesi.
