Several Western Jets players are among the nervous hopefuls hoping they’ve done enough to hear their names called out later this month at the AFL drafts.
Five Jets players have been through the journey this year, firstly as part of the Vic Metro side and then testing at the AFL combines last month.
While Tom Burton and Tom McGuane have been on the radars of clubs for a couple of years, Oskar Ainsworth, Finn Davis and Jacob Marron have impressed.
Coach Christian Stagliano said it was great recognition for the boys.
“You wind back mid year and a bit of a barometer is that Metro program,” he said. “Tom and Tom … were in the summer hub.
“Jake, Finn, Oskar playing as well and having five Jets players run out for the final two games out of the 23 was great.
“It’s exciting for the team and exciting for the guys back at the club that weren’t playing but were still representing the Jets. Super exciting for the individuals and great recognition for their years up until that point.”
Stagliano said Burton and McGuane had no issues handling all the pressure on them heading into the season.
Both were in the Jets leadership group and among the side’s best this year.
“They conducted themselves really well when with our group and what I saw as part of the metro program,” Stagliano said.
“They were outstanding all the way through the year, handled it really well.
“Real level of leadership and supportive of their teammates, providing great mentorship and role models for the rest of the crew.”
McGuane, the son of Collingwood 1990 premiership player Mick McGuane, had been spoken about as a potential father-son pick all year.
The Magpies decided not to nominate the Keilor product, so he could end up at any club.
“He’s looking after what he can control and continuing to work hard, continuing to put best foot forward,” Stagliano said.
“He has spoken to a number of other clubs and he knows his combine results were outstanding. Tom’s unavailable work ethic and determination to continue to chip away will give himself the best opportunity possible.”
Stagliano said Ainsworth, Davis and Marron all went through different journeys to find themselves on draft radars.
“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.
“Oskar was not part of the squad at all and basically got in off the back off an amazing four week patch, averaging six shots on goal a week.
“He beat down the door to get a game
“Whereas Jacob had a couple of games before his school commitments with Wesley, had a really strong trial game
“He genuinely played on all the biggest forward for teach of the opposition throughout the national carnival.
Stagliano said he wasn’t surprised to see the growth in those five, but highlighted just their want to get better and learn from everything.
He said the rest of the group learned plenty from them.
“You might not always get what you want the first time, but with the determination little bit of grit and willingness to work, anything is possible,” he said.
“They all did it in their own way.”
All five have had a range interviews with different clubs in the lead up to the drafts which begin on November 19.
Stagliano said he wouldn’t be surprised to see a couple more players on the radars of AFL clubs ahead of the drafts.
