By Nicholas Creely
After being overlooked in Friday 25 November’s AFL draft, Dandenong Stingrays utility Mitch McCarthy has been taken by Collingwood in the rookie draft held on 28 November.
It was initially speculated that the youngster would have been taken in the third-round of the draft but due to the depth of the draftees was unable to gain a senior spot.
The former 19-year-old basketballer, who is a late bloomer to football, was taken with pick seven after an injury riddled but promising season at TAC Cup level.
McCarthy only returned to Australia at Christmas 2015 and was invited to attend the Dandenong Stingrays program.
The Mt Eliza product was nominated by St Kilda as a Category B rookie if overlooked, but will now head over to the Holden Centre to begin his journey as a Pie.
After injury plagued him in his comeback year to the game, AFL recruiters saw enough attributes they liked.
In his 2016 season, McCarthy represented Vic Country and the Dandenong Stingrays, showcasing athleticism and genuine upside.
He is expected to be developed in his first couple of seasons at AFL level, and from there is seen as an exciting prospect ready to explode in the ruck.
Collingwood recruiter Dominic Milesi explained the selection of the Stingray to fans on the club’s website.
“Mitch is a 195cm, 19-year-old who missed the second half of the year through injury,” he said.
“He’s a very versatile player who was used in the ruck, but we believe he has scope to play as a key defender or key forward going forward.
“We’re really excited to bring Mitch in.”
In an even bigger surprise, three Casey Scorpions were selected by AFL clubs, with Oscar McInerney (Brisbane), Tim Smith (Melbourne) and Declan Keilty (Melbourne) all selected.
The trio had impressive seasons at VFL level, with Smith and Keilty being named in the VFL Team of the Year.
Melbourne recruiter Jason Taylor said the Casey duo will add vital depth to the Demons list.
“Tim Smith obviously played at Casey – we think he is going to give us real strength in the forward half, and also give us some aerial presence,” Taylor said.
“It was very fulfilling giving Tim an opportunity.
“Declan gives us some coverage in key stocks, he’s also shown an ability to play forward and ruck, so it rounds out our depth.
“We’re really pleased with the result.”
They will both now join the club that is aligned to Casey, after the Demons closely monitored the pair throughout the VFL season.
It is expected that the duo will push their way onto the senior list at some stage in 2017.
McInerney was one of few VFL players invited to the combine, where clubs were drawn to his impressive natural athleticism.
He has only been playing VFL for a short amount of time, after missing out on his draft year, went to play local football before being taken by the Scorpions.
Smith, 25, is a particularly heart-warming story. Despite being overlooked time and time again, the man nicknamed ‘The Bull’, for his strong character and competitiveness, kept pushing himself, and has finally got some reward for years of great form.
It’s no rest for the wicked for these young men, who will be thrown straight into the deep end, ready to begin fulfilling their lifelong dreams.
It comes after other Stingrays pair Josh Battle (St Kilda) and Myles Poholke (Adelaide) were picked up in the draft three days prior.
Unfortunately for the Stingrays, a raft of youngsters, including Bailey Morrish, Sam Fowler and Mason De Witt, were unable to secure a spot at an AFL club.
It is expected that the trio will transition into VFL football next season, in a bid to keep their name in the spotlight for AFL clubs.
