What we've seen

by LES EVERETT

THE lists are complete and the players are set for a short break before things get really serious in preparation for the 2004 AFL season.

This week's pre-season and rookie drafts were a mixture of reshuffling and the injection of new talent into the system.

While the high profile pre-season picks of Jade Rawlings to Footscray and Nick Stevens to Carlton were the main talking points australianrules.com.au knew some of the other picks pretty well too.

After 74 games and two knee reconstructions at West Coast Phillip Read has found a home at Melbourne. Despite playing just 11 AFL games in 2003 Read showed no sign of injury concern. He played seven games in the WAFL for East Fremantle and polled 11 Sandover Medal votes.

Fremantle's choice Michael Johnson comes into the system with solid WAFL experience behind him. He played two league games for Perth in 2002 and 20 in 2003. Johnson is a cool key position player who was able to hold down centre half back at times for the Demons but slipped forward regularly and kicked 11 goals for the season.

Port Adelaide's Jacob Surjan played nine league games for South Fremantle this season and was a star in the colts grand final won by the Bulldogs.

Clubs lucky enough to snare youngsters who have had a bit of league experience in the WAFL can reap the benefits. Recent examples include Paul Hasleby, who actually won East Fremantle's fairest and best award in 1999 and was drafted by Fremantle later that year, Robert Haddrill and Dion Woods (Perth, Fremantle); Roger Hayden (South Fremantle, Fremantle); Graham Polak (East Fremantle, Fremantle); Ashley Sampi (South Fremantle, West Coast); Daniel Wells (Peel, North Melbourne), Steven Armstrong (Perth, Melbourne) and Mark Coughaln (Perth, Richmond).

The rookie draft also contained a few players australianrules.com.au knew pretty well.

West Coast's Brett Jones played 21 games for Claremont and finished seventh in the club fairest and best award. In a team lacking height he was often required to take on big roles especially in defence.

Fremantle's Paul Duffield was another of the stars of South Fremantle's impressive colts team in 2003 - coached by Roger Kerr, father of Daniel. Duffield appeals as a wingman or running defender, he moves and kicks well.

Chosen at six in the 2000 national draft, Dylan Smith played 11 games for the Kangaroos and was delisted at the end of this season. He has been placed on the Fremantle rookie list after a solid VFL season which saw him runner up in Port Melbourne's fairest and best award.

Injuries have stalled the career of new West Coast rookie Jaymie Graham who played 12 league games for South Fremantle in 2003 and four in 2002. When he's up and running Graham looks the part as a strong marking key forward.

Essendon have picked up an interesting player in East Perth's Andrew Lovett who came to the WAFL from North Heidelberg this year. Lovett played 20 league games for the Royals and impressed with a brilliant third quarter in the preliminary final when his team was thrashed by eventual premiers West Perth.

Lovett has pace and good goal sense and might be a surprise packet. Another frame from his highlight reel was an incredible running goal at a vital time in a tight game against Claremont late in the season.

See footy photos for a bit of Lovett action.

New Fremantle rookie Michael Johnson. Photo by Les Everett

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