Geelong recruiting manager Stephen Wells has plucked a 26-year-old and an untried Barwon Heads star out of Tuesday night’s AFL draft.
The Cats added six players to their list from the draft, including mature age small forward Shaun Mannagh with pick 36 and Barwon Heads product Oli Wiltshire with 61.
Mannagh was best afield in this year’s VFL grand final for Werribee with six goals and 28 touches.
“Shaun has deserved a chance to be on an AFL list, we think, based on a number of years of performances,” Wells said.
“It became evident to us that we wanted him on our list, and we think he can make an impact straight away. At the end of the year when he played in the grand final, it became a bit of a priority for us.”
Barwon Heads premiership star Wiltshire was the surprise of the draft and Wells hoped the 21-year-old would continue to develop.
“That’s the plan and hope,” he said.
“Oli’s had a go at the Falcons a couple of years ago. He didn’t quite make it there but his skill and football brain on display at Barwon Heads over the past couple of years has been outstanding and he deserves his chance.”
The Cats selected Murray Bushrangers tall Connor O’Sullivan with its first pick at number 11.
The 198cm O’Sullivan said Cats fans would see his “competitiveness” and versatility.
“Forward and back, I like to run and get on my bike,” he said.
O’Sullivan said he enjoyed watching Jeremy Cameron from a forward perspective and Harris Andrew and Sam Taylor as defenders.
Geelong picked 206cm Mitchell Edwards from Peel Thunder with its second pick at number 32.
One of the key ruck prospects in the draft, and a Fremantle Next Generation Product, Edwards is renowned for his marking around the ground.
“All the way through the draft there were a lot of really good players available to us at each selection but when Mitch came through to us, a developing young ruckman, a wonderful player that we think is going to really add to our list of developing talls over the coming years,” Wells said.
Geelong also added big-bodied midfielder George Stevens with pick 58 and Swan Districts Indigenous talent Lawson Humphries with 63.
