The Greater Western Sydney GIANTS have capped off an exciting night at the 2012 NAB AFL Draft by selecting six new players to join the club for the 2013 Season.
The GIANTS selected Lachie Whitfield, an 18 year-old midfielder from the Dandenong Stingrays/Mount Martha with its number one pick, followed by Jonathan O'Rourke, an 18 year-old midfielder from Calder Cannons/ Gisborne Rookies, at number two, and Lachie Plowman, an 18 year-old defender from Calder Cannons/Macedon, at number three.
They also drafted Kristian Jaksch, an 18 year-old defender from the Oakleigh Chargers, with selection 12, Aidan Corr, an 18 year-old defender from Northern Knights/Macleod, with selection 14 and James Stewart, an 18 year-old from Sandringham Dragons/ Glen Iris, with selection 27.
GIANTS National Recruitment and List Manager Stephen Silvagni said he was delighted with the players the club had selected and they would compliment the GIANTS exciting young list.
“We always said we wanted to select the best available talent and with six of the first 27 selections, including the first three picks, we believe we have done just that," Silvagni said.
"We have recruited an excellent mix of midfielders, forwards and defenders and together with our existing talent makes for a very exciting future for the GIANTS,” he said.
It was another big night for the GIANTS who had 11 of the first 14 selections in last year's NAB AFL Draft. In 2012 the GIANTS had a record eight NAB AFL Rising Star nominations, seven of whom have now made long term commitments to the club.
They include Jeremy Cameron, Toby Greene, Stephen Coniglio, Adam Treloar, Devon Smith, Dylan Shiel and Tomas Bugg who have all signed until the end of 2015.
GIANTS chief executive David Matthews welcomed all the new draftees to the club and wished them every success for their careers.
“Tonight these young men have realized their ambition to be drafted by an AFL club. The GIANTS will now do everything we can to support, develop and help them take the next step and achieve their dream to play AFL football,” he said.
“With our excellent accommodation facilities at Breakfast Point, the strong culture we’ve already developed throughout the playing and coaching group and our new training base we are building at Sydney Olympic Park, we’re confident they will settle in to the club and enjoy long and successful careers at the GIANTS.
“I also want to acknowledge all the junior clubs and coaches who have helped develop these young players and the AFL for the talent pathway it has helped create.
“A big thank you also to the parents and families of these young men who have given so much of their time to help them get to where they are today. We trust they also enjoy this special moment."
The following players were drafted by the GIANTS (in overall selection order)
1. Lachie Whitfield
2. Jonathan O'Rourke
3. Lachie Plowman
12. Kristian Jaksch
14. Aidan Corr
27. James Stewart
