Three players with connections to Melbourne’s north-west were selected on night two of the AFL draft.
Western Jets’ Finn Davis will get his shot in the AFL after being selected by Greater Western Sydney.
Davis was selected at pick 51 after a strong season for the Jets.
Davis finished second in the Jets best and fairest after making a late run having missed games early in the season.
He averaged nearly 28 disposals and six marks for the season and was seen as one of the Coates Talent League’s most consistent medium defenders,
Jets coach Christian Stagliano spoke highly of Davis in the lead up to the draft.
“It was exciting for Finn to be a train on for the metro squad and worked his way into the main squad which was super,” he said.
“He had some really consistent games, acquitted himself really well at the level.
Giants head of talent Adrian Caruso said Davis had a strong year at the Western Jets as a composed, calm ball-user out of the backline.
“What we like most about Finn was his ability to get a job done when asked of him, but also show the creativity and ball use when used as a set up player. He adds to your young mix of backs we have brought in over recent years like James Leake, Joe Fonti and Harry Oliver.”
A third Calder Cannons Hussien El Achkar won’t have to travel far after being picked by Essendon at pick 53 after two were taken on night one.
A Next Generation Academy player, the Bombers chose to match Richmond’s bid on him to keep him at the club.
A standout from the Dons’ NGA-James Hird Academy program, El Achkar is seen as a pure excitement machine.
The 171cm small forward took over games for the Dons’ affiliate Calder Cannons in a dynamic two-year Coates Talent League stint, slotting 47 goals from 26 appearances including an eye-catching six-goal haul against Sandringham this season.
With Vic Metro, El Achkar’s three goals against the Allies was another solid effort. In his debut with Essendon VFL on the road, he lifted his side with a quick burst of three goals after half-time
Former Western Jets captain Billy Cootee was one of the shock selections on night two of the draft.
He also attended Maribyrnong Sports Academy.
Having played with Essendon’s Victorian Football League side, including captaining the team, he moved to play at Norwood in South Australia in recent years.
Cootee was taken at pick 42 by Sydney.
Known for his high work ethic and a great understanding of the game, Cootee is a hard-working high forward who can play through the midfield. He had a consistent campaign at SANFL level, culminating in a fifth-place finish in the Magarey Medal.
