FOOTBALL
AFL EXPORTS
By TOM HAYES
GIPPSLAND Power product from Warragul, Alixzander Tauru was the first local to be selected in the 2024 AFL National Draft, selected with Pick 10 by St Kilda.
St Kilda originally bid on Gold Coast academy player, Leo Lombard with Pick 9. However the Suns matched the Saints’ bid, allowing the Saints to make another selection.
“I’ve never been one to AFL players because obviously they’re up there and I’m down here, but at this point when I get cracking I think I can be as good as anyone,” Tauru said during an interview with Fox Footy.
Tauru is best described as a key defender, standing at 193 centimetres tall.
The bolter of the draft, nicknamed The Flying Viking, overcame injury concerns throughout the first half of the year, taking his defensive strengths of intercepting and marking to another level.
He has also shown the ability to play at the other end of the ground, kicking goals late in the season.
There was a slight chance he might’ve been taken higher in the draft, as whispers circled that North Melbourne was interested to use Pick 2 on him, if its eventual selection, Finn O’Sullivan, was off the table.
He will be an asset to the Saints, who lost key defender Josh Battle to Hawthorn during the trade period.
Tauru fills a local Tim Membrey (Traralgon) shaped hole at the Saints, after the veteran forward signed with the Magpies during free agency.
LEONGATHA’S Xavier Lindsay was selected with the very next pick, going to Melbourne Demons.
The Gippsland Power captain firmed as a potential first round selection after another outstanding season which saw him walk away with the Morrish Medal.
“It’s obviously every boy’s dream to be here and to finally fulfill that dream, I’m honoured,” Lindsay said in a Fox Footy interview.
The left-footed midfielder is described to have similar traits to that of fellow Gippslander, Scott Pendlebury, highlighted by his consistency and professionalism, accuracy by foot, and composure under pressure.
“I’ve always idolised him (Pendlebury), especially being a left footer,” Lindsay added.
His versatility allows him to play in all areas of the field, from and inside and outside midfielder, to a half back or half forward.
At Pick 11, Lindsay will join an elite midfield including Christian Petracca, Max Gawn, and Clayton Oliver.
RICHMOND selected Sam Lalor from Greater Western Victoria Rebels with Pick 1 in the AFL Draft, opting not to bid on Brisbane father-son prospect, Levi Ashcroft.
Lalor has shown glimpses of Dustin Martin-like features, possessing explosive power from the pack (including his infamous fend-off), ball-use skills, and marking ability.
Victorian Recruiting Manager for the Tigers is Rhy Geischen, son of Maffra’s Jeff Geischen. Jeff coached Richmond for 49 games between 1997 and 1999, coaching as the reserves coach and senior assistant beforehand, winning a reserves flag.
ON the second night of the draft, no current Gippsland Power players were selected, however some local talent did find an AFL list.
Going to the Bulldogs with Pick 51 was Sam Davidson, who was drafted from Richmond’s VFL.
Davidson, whilst studying a degree in medicine, performed his placement in East Gippsland, suiting up for Sale City in 2022 and Maffra in 2023.
Just a handful of picks later, Richmond added to its draft haul by selecting Warragul’s Jasper Alger with Pick 58.
Alger began his representative career with Gippsland Power, lining up in the Under 18 competition as a 16-year-old double bottom ager.
Moving toward Melbourne to study at Caulfield Grammar, Alger played for Oakleigh Chargers in the Coates Talent League.
He was the eighth and final player to join the Richmond list in the last 48 hours.
MORWELL’S Ricky Mentha will get a chance to make an AFL career, after being selected by Melbourne in the 2024 AFL Rookie Draft as an Automatic Category B Rookie.
Mentha was a part of the Demons’ Next Generation Academy, giving Melbourne the rights to select him.
He played across half back more prominently in his senior year for Gippsland Power, but has shown effectiveness through the midfield and forward line.
MAFFRA duo Coby Burgiel and Max Knobel received lifelines after being delisted in the last couple of months.
Burgiel’s promise with West Coast was kept, as the Eagles signed him as a supplementary player in the Rookie Draft.
Knobel was promised a spot to return to the Dockers, however he was selected by Gold Coast first.
Joining him at the Suns will be Heyfield’s Asher Eastham, who was also surprisingly selected by Gold Coast too.
Knobel and Eastham join a conglomerate of Gippsland Power products including Ben Ainsworth, Sam Flanders, and Bailey Humphrey.
