By JARROD POTTER
A TRIO of Dandenong Stingrays have traded in their TAC Cup jerseys as the bright lights of the Australian Football League (AFL) beckon.
Stingrays’ captain Jack Lonie, Tom Lamb and Bailey Dale all received their tickets to the big time with their selections in Thursday’s AFL National Draft, held on the Gold Coast.
Dandenong Stingrays coach Craig Black was thrilled to get the three players into the AFL and wished them the best of luck from everyone at Shepley Oval.
“It’s exciting for everyone involved in our program to let kids get half way to their dream,” Black said.
“The support staff and the coaching group at the Stingrays are proud of all the hard work the boys put in and their efforts around the club this year and we wish these boys the best in their AFL careers.”
Lamb was the first Stingray to hear his name called, with the West Coast Eagles putting the high-marking, elite utility onto its main-list with the 32nd pick, a lower number than Black predicted the Edithvale-Aspendale livewire would go, but as a consolation he thinks Lamb could become the steal of the draft.
“I think Tom was a really good pick for West Coast – everyone thought he might have gone a little earlier – so he might be a steal to come back in a few years,” Black said.
“Tom might have gone a little earlier, but that was just hearing the phantom drafts and the newspapers.”
On the hunt for another small forward, St Kilda also called out a Dandenong Stingrays’ name and changed Jack Lonie’s life as the Saints used its last pick – pick 41 – to secure the crumbing forward’s services in 2015 and beyond.
The final Stingray to hear his name called was another Edithvale-Aspendale emerging star as midfielder/forward Bailey Dale who will head to the Western Bulldogs with pick 45.
“It’s really good that Jack got an opportunity and to St Kilda… he’s only five minutes from home… Bailey to the Bulldogs, another club that’s looking for that sort of player (small midfielder/forward)… Bailey was great for us in our system for one season.”
Black thought the likes of Daniel Capiron, Aaron Wilson, Alex Harnett and Mitch White all stand a chance for a potential AFL career with the AFL Rookie Draft set to take place on Wednesday.
“I thought Cap deserved an opportunity,” Black said.
“He’s been a really good player for two years and shows all the attributes to be a really good footballer, so the club hopes he gets a chance in the Rookie Draft on Wednesday.”
Narre Warren North JFC alumnus Toby Mclean was also picked in the draft, the wily midfielder/forward was selected by the Western Bulldogs with pick 26.
