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Western Bulldogs: 2016 Premiers -
Re: 2023 Draft Watch
Sanders backs Melbourne move to boost his rookie AFL year
A Launceston Blues trio has bounced off each other before Monday's AFL draft. But North Launceston product Ryley Sanders believes his early shift to Melbourne can be an advantage.
North Launceston high end draft prospect Ryley Sanders believes two seasons of “having to do things myself” in Melbourne will help him hit the ground running in his first AFL season.
While the city's three other draft young guns – Launceston Blues juniors Colby McKercher, James Leake and Arie Schoenmaker – have bounced off each other in their journey to Monday’s national draft, Sanders opted to go to school in Melbourne and play for Sandringham.
It's proven a wise decision with the Dragons winning back-to-back Coates Talent League crowns, and Sanders also claimed the Larke Medal as the national championships' best and fairest, helping guide Allies to a maiden title.
Sanders said the independence and maturity he's developed in Melbourne will be a springboard for his rookie AFL season.
Launceston's four draft hopes converged on UTAS Stadium on Thursday to address media before the big night.
"I definitely feel like it's an advantage. When you’re in Tassie you have to move, it’s not like the Melbourne boys where they have a chance to stay at home," Sanders said.
"Going away from family and friends and having to do it myself will hold me in good stead. Hopefully I can go into an AFL environment and worry about training, rather than being homesick.
"There’s been plenty of young talent come through in recent years from Tassie, but Launceston in particular."
So is there something in the water in the city?
"I just think all the boys are really hard workers. The programs are really good, but it's up to the individuals to get the best out of themselves.
"Sandringham also has a really good program, but the reason they get so many players drafted is the boys are really driven.
"If you’re a good player that's really driven and hard working, you can succeed in any environment."
Sandringham talent manager Mark Wheeler told the Mercury that being a bottom ager last year, then learning good habits to become a leader this year, had helped him.
Sanders learned in 2022 he needed to improve his running and endurance, as well as his diet.
"The biggest thing I've learned this year is what you put into it is what you get out," he said. "I've put in a lot of work in pre season, just trying to get fitter and working on my running, looking after the little things like diet and recovery.
"Definitely diet was hard, especially in the boarding house because you don’t really choose what you eat, it's already made for you.
"As good as it was (to win a premiership with Sandringham) as a bottom ager, this year was a bit more special because I had a bigger role.
"I thought I was one of the leaders in the team, had a bigger role playing in the midfield.
"I've been happy to be pretty consistent, and play my best footy in those really important national championships games."
While Sanders has left home to pursue his dream, the Launceston Blues trio feel they've benefited greatly out of pushing and learning from each other.
"Looking back now playing juniors, we've pushed each other to be the best we can be," Leake said.
"Even this year, having the higher training standards with guys like Colby around is something that has lifted the whole Devils.
"We're all quite driven individuals to be honest, and that talent has been nurtured really well through Launnie and the Devils."
McKercher is near certain to go top five in the draft, but said it's been handy having two other players around Blues training to raise the bar.
"We sometimes try and outdo each other a little bit," he said.
"It's really good to have two good mates as well, we’ve created a good friendship over the last five or six years.
"We push each other to get better every day and it’s really held us in good stead."Western Bulldogs Football Club "Where it's cool to drool"Comment
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Re: 2023 Draft Watch
All these players will jump ship to go back to tazzie when that team comes in.Bring back the biffComment
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Re: 2023 Draft Watch
Gee, we seem to be in a pretty good spot, either a super exciting small forward with tricks for days or a mid who seems to have a lower ceiling but who just racks up getting the footy.Park that car
Drop that phone
Sleep on the floor
Dream about meComment
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Re: 2023 Draft Watch
I'm based in Launnie and love it, but wouldn't have lived here in my 20s. If McKercher does become a star I can see the draw of coming back and being the face of the inaugural side, but it'd also take a huge cheque from the AFL to get that over the line.
The advantages aren't too dissimilar to what Geelong have in terms of offering the coastal, relaxed, country lifestyle, but they're less appealing when Melbourne isn't 40 minutes up the highway.Comment
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Re: 2023 Draft Watch
From Code Sports
WESTERN BULLDOGS
Current picks: 5, 48, 50, 52, 53, 56, 67
Ryley Sanders or Nick Watson? They are completely different players but it looks to be between these two talents for the Bulldogs’ first pick. The club may not have a choice if Hawthorn calls Nick Watson’s name first, and rivals expect to Bulldogs to end up with Sanders, who can become the next Tom Liberatore at the coalface. Their picks beyond that hinge on where a bid falls for Jordan Croft, and Sydney (pick 12) and St Kilda (pick 13) are the major threats. The Western Bulldogs will be crossing their fingers and toes that Next Generation Academy graduate Luamon Lual is still there beyond pick 40, but that appears unlikely, with a host of clubs headlined by Greater Western Sydney, Richmond and Geelong possible landing spots. In the likely event Lual doesn’t make it to 40, the Dogs would take two selections at the back-end of the draft, having shown interest in GWV Rebels wingman Joel Freijah, as well as later chances in Geelong Falcons medium forward Michael Rudd, Dandenong Stingrays defender Kobe Shipp and Eagles NGA product Oscar Hine-Baston.Western Bulldogs Football Club "Where it's cool to drool"Comment
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Re: 2023 Draft Watch
If our interest for later picks mentioned above is somewhat accurate then Joel Freijah makes a lot of sense as a versatile wingman
Michael Rudd as a forward doesn't make a lot of sense unless we think he could become a 3rd tall defender. He's a very good mover, strong mark and is a long and accurate kick.
Kobe Shipp is a highly athletic defender or winger type and Oscar Hine-Batson is a pacy small defender.Western Bulldogs Football Club "Where it's cool to drool"Comment
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Re: 2023 Draft Watch
2023 MONGREL PUNT MOCK DRAFT
Highlights:
Curtain to North at 4 leaving Duursma to fall to the Hawks.
Us bidding on Read at 6 and then taking Watson at 7.
Matching a bid on Croft at pick 12.
Lual going undrafted in the top 42.Comment
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