AN AFL coach rates two south-west footballers first-round picks in Thursday’s national draft.
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Greater Western Sydney coach Leon Cameron — a South Warrnambool export — believes Terang Mortlake’s Lewis Taylor and Cobden’s Zach Merrett will be snapped up early after strong TAC Cup and AFL under 18 national championship performances.
Taylor has been heavily linked to the Giants at pick 14 — their third selection overall.
Cameron said Taylor — a pint-sized midfielder — was an exciting prospect.
“I was lucky enough to see Lewy play live at Geelong in the championships,” he said.
“He’s a quality kid, has a big work rate, is an exciting player, can sniff a goal.
“We’ve interviewed him a couple of times. He’s a terrific kid.
“It will be interesting to see how far he gets in terms of first round because there are a lot of clubs interested in him.”
Taylor is one of the smaller midfielders in this year’s draft pool.
Cameron said the 174-centimetre teenager’s height was “irrelevant”.
“I am not concerned about size — you look at most players’ hard work ethic, willingness to learn and character,” he said.
The first-year Giants coach said Merrett had rocketed up the draft pecking order this season.
Merrett only played TAC Cup as a top-age player, starring for Sandringham Dragons.
“He is a chance to go in the first round. The talk at the moment is he is starting to jump the queue, going on some reports,” Cameron said.
“It looks like he has a good work ethic. We have interviewed Zach a couple of times.
“He’s a good kid, a classy half-forward who can play midfield as well.”
Greater Western Sydney holds picks one, two, 14, 29, 48 and 76 in the draft.
Eastern Ranges forward Tom Boyd is touted as the Giants’ third number one pick in three seasons.
Cameron said he was excited about his first draft as senior coach.
The former Western Bulldogs and Hawthorn assistant said he worked closely with Giants list manager Stephen Silvagni.
“That is their role, to constantly look at the list throughout the year and make decisions on where they think there might be gaps in the list and look at players in the draft — do we take the best or on a needs basis?” he said.
“I am guided by those guys largely but have my say as well.
“There is always speculation at this time of year. With picks 1, 2 and 14 we think we are in a great position to get high-quality kids, as well as picks 29 and 48.”
Cameron said the top 10 was wide open this year.
“Boyd is the standout in terms of key-position players. Ask most recruiters and they say he’s the standout in terms of that,” he said.
“There are four or five guys you could put a blanket over in the midfield.”
The Giants’ first-to-fourth year players started pre-season 12 days ago.
Their established core, including Sydney recruit Shane Mumford and Collingwood pick-up Heath Shaw — both premiership players — returned yesterday.
Cameron said there was a noticeable difference between players’ second and third pre-season campaigns.
“They can train harder for longer,” he said.
“The lift in pre-season is 15 per cent higher than last year just because we can.
“It is an exciting time for the football club and an exciting time for myself taking the helm from Kevin Sheedy for the first time.
“The club is starting to set the foundations behind the scenes for the future.
“It’s what we have to get right. It’s an important time.”
Cameron hopes to spend a couple of days home in Warrnambool over Christmas.
