By Jarrod Potter
DANDENONG Stingrays will feature prominently in tonight’s AFL national draft, with Matthew Buntine and Nick Haynes the best prospects from Shepley Oval.
Buntine, the Berwick defender, is projected to go to the Greater Western Sydney Giants inside the top five pick. Haynes, the medium midfielder from Frankston, looks likely to be picked in the middle of the first round from picks 10-14, and looms as another player that GWS will desperately want to fill out their list.
Buntine played for Vic Country and AIS-AFL Academy this season and was awarded the Ben Mitchell Medal from the AIS-AFL Academy because of his leadership and exceptional game presence. He was also listed in the TAC Cup Team of the Year in the back pocket.
Dandenong coach Graeme Yeats said Buntine will be an exceptional pick and could fill a variety of positions at his new club.
“He’s a superstar and will be a great acquisition for whatever club gets their hands on him,” Yeats said. “He’s one of the best all-round players I’ve ever coached at the Stingrays in nine years.
“I’d be surprised if he didn’t play round one next year.”
Somerville ruckman Todd Elton is another who is set to make an AFL list, having impressed in the last three rounds of the regular season, especially against the Murray Bushrangers to kick three goals and take eight contested marks.
Elton is a first-round pick, with the only question being which club will require his services as a forward-ruckman.
He has what the Western Bulldogs need and would work well in tandem with Will Minson in the ruck and Liam Jones in the forward line.
Piva Wright, tall utility from Noble Park, played his best match of the season in a negating role on Jonathon Patton, the Eastern Ranges forward and touted number one draft pick, in a performance which would’ve impressed the bank of recruiters sitting at Box Hill City Oval that day.
Yeats said Wright is a good chance to get drafted or rookie listed because of his versatility.
“Piva is an interesting one,” Yeats said. “There are differing opinions on him whether he fits in the draft pool or goes into the rookie draft.
“I think Piva would be the first to admit he had to brush up on a few areas, and had some break out performances against opposition at both ends of the ground.
“He has the ability to go back or forward as needed.
“He’s an incredible personality and jumps out at you when he speaks to you and has a great passion for the game.”
The Edithvale-Aspendale pair of Jordan Kelly and Brett O’Hanlon appear certain to move into the AFL in the mid rounds of the draft, with Kelly, the Vic Country full-back, and O’Hanlon, medium marking forward, able to play tall and impose themselves on the game at their chosen end of the ground.
Alex Benbow, Darren Minchington and Damien Johnstone are all in contention to gain selection due to the hard work the trio did slogging it out through the midfield for the Stingrays.
