Kolodjashnij’s taken in the AFL Draft.

November 21, 2013

LAST night’s draft bonanza – which saw six Tasmanians added to AFL lists – was beyond the wildest expectations of AFL Tasmania.

Both state academy coach Adam Sanders and high-performance manager Mathew Armstrong were “over the moon” at the number, which was the state’s best at a national draft since 2009.

Launceston’s Kade Kolodjashnij was the first to go at pick 5, selected by Gold Coast, before North Launceston ruckman Toby Nankervis was picked up by Sydney with pick 35.

Two picks later Devonport’s Alex Pearce was selected by Fremantle, with Kade’s twin brother Jake going to Geelong at pick 41.

Ex-Devonport and Glenorchy big-man Ben Brown went to North Melbourne with pick 47 after his dominant year in the VFL for Werribee, before Burnie’s Brady Grey joined Pearce at Fremantle at pick 58.

“I thought we might have got three with only the 50- odd live picks,” Armstrong said.

“But to get what we got was unbelievable and I couldn’t be happier for the boys that got picked up.”

Sanders said it was a “great” result.

“We thought someone would take a punt on Pearce and Grey, and Toby was around the mark we thought, and then there’s the Kolodjashnij twins,” he said.

“It’s great to see Ben Brown get an opportunity and everyone in Tassie should be really proud of them and it’s a great sign for Tassie footy.”

There were some hard luck stories, with Burnie midfielder Eli Templeton considered extremely unlucky.

Templeton, South Launceston coach Mitch Thorp and former Sun Maverick Weller are seen as good chances to get on a list in Wednesday’s rookie and preseason drafts.

-Article and Story courtesy of The Examiner


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