PORTLAND will cheer two of its own when the AFL national draft unfolds tonight.
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Tigers duo Rowan Marshall and Tom Templeton are considered draft smokeys after strong TAC Cup seasons for North Ballarat Rebels.
Marshall, an athletic ruckman, and Templeton, a line-breaking midfielder, both believe next Wednesday’s rookie draft is their best chance of finding AFL homes.
Templeton, whose family moved to Wangoom two years ago, said it would be a significant moment for Portland football if both he and Marshall were drafted, either tonight or next week.
They played in the Tigers’ 2013 Hampden league under 18½ grand final loss together before cementing themselves in the Rebels this year, reaching semi-finals.
“It would be a dream come true. It’d be unbelievable. I think for the town it would be a massive turning point and talking point,” Templeton said.
“There’d be a lot more interest in that area for footy. I think it’d be enormous.”
North Ballarat Rebels talent manager Phil Partington said Marshall and Templeton acquitted themselves well and deserved to be talked about as draft chances.
Marshall, who turned 19 on Monday, and Templeton, 18, were among the Rebels’ most consistent performers in 2014.
“We have been really proud of what the boys have achieved,” Partington said.
“They have done everything they could possibly do to get themselves over the line.
“It’s out of their control now.”
Partington said Marshall grasped his chance as a 19-year-old listed player and Templeton worked on his inside game.
“Rowan’s development over the last 12 months has been excellent,” he said.
“To play Vic Country games and get to the draft combine, he wouldn’t have thought of that 12 months ago.
“For Tom, to play all TAC Cup games and get an invite to the state combine was a great achievement.”
Partington described this year’s crop as even, particularly after the first 15 selections which he believed would shape the draft.
Meanwhile, Kolora-Noorat export Nick Bourke is hoping for an AFL lifeline after Geelong delisted him in September following a season on its rookie list.
Bourke, 19, is training with the Cats’ VFL squad and has chosen Geelong league club Leopold as his home club for a back-up option.
Former Timboon Demons defender Luke Thompson is also on the lookout for a new home after Adelaide delisted him following 20 games in five seasons at West Lakes.
Likely number one pick Paddy McCartin also has links to the south-west.
The Geelong Falcons key forward’s father Matt played for Colac when it was part of the Hampden league.
McCartin’s Falcons teammate, midfielder Harrison Kol, is another draft contender with ties to the Hampden competition.
Kol’s father Michael is a South Warrnambool premiership player who played 63 AFL games for Geelong.
The AFL national draft will be broadcast live on Fox Footy from 6.30pm.
Read our profiles with Tom and Rowan here:
