Drafted: Ben Brown off to North Melbourne
Ben Brown could join a long and illustrious list of mature-age footballers drafted to the AFL out of the Werribee Tigers.
Brown wants to make the most of a second chance with the Tigers by turning it into a professional contract and following in the footsteps of Dale Morris, James Podsiadly and Michael Barlow.
Tigers football operations manager Stuart Balloch is hopeful up to five Tigers – Brown, Luke McDonald, Jake Wilson, Darcy Fort and Scott Sherlock – will be selected in either tomorrow night’s national draft or at next week’s preseason and rookie drafts.
“We’ve got a really good product at the Werribee footy club,” Balloch said.
Brown, 20, is one of the best young ruck prospects in the state leagues.
AFL draft: Club-by-club guide
Blessed with sound fundamentals, a safe pair of hands and great athleticism, he has bolted into draft calculations.
When Brown arrived at the Tigers 12 months ago, any doubts concerned his football smarts, such as body positioning, where to run for most impact and rucking with a strategy.
While still raw and with a lot to learn, Brown started working harder than anyone at the club from the first day of preseason, ironing out his deficiencies.
He managed 18 senior games for 26 goals and a succession of impressive performances in the ruck and as a resting forward.
“A lot of guys should take a bit out of Ben’s work ethic,” Balloch said. “We’re hopeful he’ll get his opportunity to get onto an AFL list.”
But Brown won’t be the first Tiger name read out on draft day.
McDonald, the son of Werribee 1993 premiership captain-coach Donald, will become the first Tiger to be selected in the top 10 of the draft.
He is already locked in to North Melbourne under the father-son rule.
The Tigers were proud to play a part in the development of McDonald, whose father has such rich history with the club.
“That was an arrangement that was set up at the start of last year to give Luke every opportunity to show his wares against mature players in the VFL,” Balloch said.
“He’ll get his opportunity at AFL level after having an outstanding year with us and really having an impact in our finals series.”
Wilson could be the surprise packet of the draft.
“If you’re looking for a key position prospect, he’d certainly benefit from an AFL preseason to get him to the conditioning required to take the next step,” Balloch said
Fort will be attractive to a club on the lookout for a long-term ruck prospect. The 20-year-old is adept as a tap ruckman but has some filling out to do to grow into his 203-centimetre body.
“Everyone knows ruckmen take a bit longer – he’s a development type, a potential player,” Balloch said. “He played four senior games with us last year, one of those being the [preliminary] final.”
Sherlock, a rebounding defender, and Scott Clouston, a key forward turned defender, could be late-round smokies.
