Three elite underage midfielders became GIANTS during the first round of the NAB AFL Draft at Marvel Stadium on Thursday night.

With the introduction of live-trading for the first time, the club’s original selections got pushed back but it didn’t see the GIANTS miss any of their key targets. 

GIANTS National Recruiting Manager Adrian Caruso said before the draft that the early picks will be used on the best available talent rather than a specific type of player, and he stuck to his word by bolstering the club’s midfield stocks.

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The GIANTS were due to enter the draft at pick nine but live trading and Academy bids saw this pushed back to selection 11. 

An early curveball was thrown when the GIANTS bid for Swans Academy product Nick Blakey with their first pick, but as expected this bid was matched by their cross-town rivals. 

Eventually, Jye Caldwell from the Bendigo Pioneers was secured with the powerful midfielder set to pull on the orange and charcoal in 2019. 

Caldwell, 18, is an excitement machine around stoppages. A fierce competitor, the Victoria Country representative is renown for his hardness and desperation to get his hands on the ball.

GIANTS National Recruiting Manager Adrian Caruso said:

“We didn’t expect Jye to be available with this pick. 

“He’s a super competitor and has the athleticism most midfielders don’t have. 

“He kicks with both feet and has really good vision with his hands.” 

The GIANTS tried to spoil Collingwood’s night when they bid on their NGA zoned teenager Isaac Quaynor at pick 14 but this was quickly matched which saw the GIANTS turn their attention to South Australian Jackson Hateley.

A tall and strong-bodied midfielder, Hately can also play across the half-forward line.

The 18-year old reads the game well and has shown at all levels that he can find plenty of the ball. 

He won All Australian selection for his form thanks to his performances in the Under 18 championships for South Australia.

“Character and consistency are critical considerations for our picks and Jackson is right up there in both these areas,” GIANTS National Recruiting Manager Adrian Caruso said.

“He adds real flexibility to our list.”

Hately has a personal connection to the GIANTS already with his father having taught co-captain Phil Davis Biology in high school.

Despite a number of South Australians playing for the GIANTS over the years, Hately becomes the first Croweater the club has ever selected via the NAB AFL Draft.

The GIANTS rounded out the first round with the final selection of the night which was used on Western Jets product Xavier O’Halloran.

Taken at pick 22, O’Halloran was the only player selected in the first round not to be in the room at Marvel Stadium on Thursday night.

A hard-running midfielder, O’Halloran has the size to bustle others out of the way and the athleticism to take the game on, ranking highly in the sprint and agility tests at last month’s Draft Combine. 

O’Halloran was captain of the Victorian Metro team at the Under 18 Championships and National Recruiting Manager Adrian Caruso said the club is pleased to welcome him to the club.

“Xavier was a target for us because of his combination of speed and endurance as a midfielder but his leadership adds another element,” he said. 

“He rocks up every week and has shown flexibility in playing forward as well as in the midfield.”

The GIANTS currently have picks 28, 47, 81 and 88 still to come and with GIANTS Academy product Keiren Briggs still available, the club is sure to be very active on the second day of the NAB AFL Draft. 

Rounds two onwards and the Rookie Draft will continue from Marvel Stadium on Friday with full coverage on Fox Footy as well as across the GIANTS digital and social channels.