Stingrays face the draft

By Paul Pickering
Stingrays regional manager Darren Flanagan expects dashing utility Ashley Smith to lead the charge from Shepley Oval into the senior ranks, but he could be joined by as many as seven TAC Cup team-mates on an AFL list in 2009.
Smith, 18, is widely regarded as a polished package, with brilliant foot-skills and explosive speed – he won the 20m sprint at the draft camp in Canberra last month.
Full-back Tom Gillies could be the next to get the nod, having finished the season in stunning form to take out the Stingrays’ best-and-fairest award.
Meanwhile, athletic big man Steven Gaertner will endure the nervous wait for the second time after being overlooked – somewhat surprisingly – last year.
Gaertner’s stocks soared with some impressive performances early in 2007, but the grind of state representation and the AIS-AFL Academy program wore him down.
He started slowly in 2008, but returned to his best in the finals series – including a strong showing in the grand final loss to Murray at the Docklands.
The 199cm ruckman/defender’s speed and endurance also raised some eyebrows at the Victorian screening session last month.
By contrast, Aaron Purves’ stocks have fallen steadily despite leading the club’s goal-kicking tally with 40 this season.
Flanagan still rates Purves as a likely type at AFL level, particularly given his versatility and strong hands, while 17-year-old midfielder Shane Savage could attract some interest as AFL clubs look to snap up some of the best bottom-age talent before the Gold Coast franchise pounces with its concession picks in 2009.
Stingrays ruckman Levi Casboult and midfielders Matt Clark and Scott Sienkewicz have also attracted some attention, but Flanagan believes they will get their chance in the Rookie Draft.
Four Dandenong players were drafted from the squad that finished 10th in 2007 (Jarrad Grant, Jarrad Boumann, Scott Simpson and John McCarthy), but Flanagan said the depth of the 2008 crop was reflected in the improved team performance.