Calder Cannons could have up to 10 players making their way on to AFL lists in the coming weeks.
After not having anyone drafted last season, several Cannons are expected to be selected in Thursday’s AFL draft and then at the rookie draft on December 3.
It’s possible the Cannons could have three players go in the top 10 of the draft for the second time in three years.
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In 2012, Jonathon O’Rourke, Lachie Plowman and Joe Daniher were taken in the top 10.
Cannons region manager Ian Kyte said the signs looked promising and that nine or 10 players could be picked up in the coming weeks.
He said Peter Wright, Paul Ahern and Jake Lever were all possible top-10 draft picks and most clubs had been speaking to them.
“A few have shied away from Pete with the talk of him being a high draft pick,” he said.
“Now there’s talk of him sliding in the draft order, some clubs are getting really interested in him.
“Matthew Goodyear, Touk Miller and Damian Cavka are others who are high in the mix to be drafted.”
Kyte said big men David Kovasevic, Reilly O’Brien and Jayden Foster were among others that could be drafted.
“While the Bulldogs didn’t take Jayden as a father-son pick and are looking at putting him on the rookie list, he could go late in the draft,” Kyte said.
“There’s been a lot of interest in Kovasevic and if he doesn’t get drafted we’ll look at having him as a 19-year-old on our list next year.
“Reilly is the other one. His last six weeks of the season as a key defender were really consistent.”
Two names which weren’t mentioned during the season but are being spoken now are Roarke Smith and Patrick McKenna.
Former Cannons coach Andrew Jago said Smith was the one player he was asked about outside the bigger-name players.
“He is a chance in the rookie draft,” Kyte said.
As for McKenna, it’s a decision whether clubs are prepared to take a risk on him this year.
Until recently he had been focusing on his cricket and captained the Australian under-19 cricket team on a tour of Sri Lanka.
“Pat has decided he wants to go with football now,” Kyte said.
“He needs time to improve and AFL clubs will need to decide if they can take the risk or wait another year, when he has more football under his belt.
“If he isn’t drafted he will play will us.”
