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2010 Draftee Highlights: Menegola 2010 Draftee Highlights: Schneider 2010 Draftee Highlights: WanganeenHawthorn Football Club today added to its playing list for 2011 with six selections at the AFL Pre-season and Rookie Drafts, among them former Melbourne utility Cameron Bruce, who was selected at No.6 in the Pre-season Draft.
Hawthorn GM - Player Personnel and Strategy Chris Pelchen said the Club was delighted with the addition of Bruce.
“Cameron is a player who’s already had 11 years in the AFL system, averaging over 20 games per year, which illustrates his physical resilience. We expect that he’ll play a genuine leadership role in what is still quite a young Hawks team.”
“Cameron will play between half back and midfield, so he is a true rotational player suited to the modern game. On occasions, he may even play forward as well,” Pelchen said.
In the Rookie Draft, the Hawks selected East Fremantle forward Sam Menegola (Pick No.19), inside midfielder Thomas Schneider (Pick No.36) and Port Adelaide Magpies small utility Derick Wanganeen (Pick No.52).
New South Wales Scholarship players William Langford, son of Hawthorn and AFL Legend Chris, and Jack Mahony were selected at picks 85 and 87 respectively.
Sam Menegola is an 18-year-old half forward from East Fremantle, who recorded one of this year's best endurance tests at the AFL draft camp.
“Sam plays as a high half forward or ‘third’ forward-type role, he’s 188cm, takes a very good overhead mark and is a good kick for goal. We were somewhat surprised that he wasn’t taken in the 2010 AFL National Draft, which made our decision much easier to use our first selection in the Rookie Draft to recruit Sam,” Pelchen said.
Thomas Schneider is a creative midfielder whom the Club has been monitoring over the last month after he was overlooked it the AFL National Draft.
“Thomas is an Oakleigh Chargers boy who played in the AFL Under 18 Championships this year and had quite a good series. He’s a genuine on-baller who can play both inside and outside roles - much in the mould of Sam Mitchell - and is extremely creative with his hand skills,” Pelchen said.
While quick small utility Derick Wanganeen was under consideration to be picked up by Hawthorn in last year’s AFL National Draft, Pelchen notes the 18-year-old had a very solid 2010 season with the Port Adelaide Magpies - playing half of the season in their senior side.
“Derick is a skilful player who has the ability to play between the backline and midfield. He’s a very good kick of the football, and while relatively small in size, he has an outstanding vertical leap and agility; allowing him to play a number of roles,” he said.
Having passed on its 67th selection in the Rookie Draft, Hawthorn entered the AFL Training Squad Selection Draft (along with Richmond FC), where it nominated talented Indigenous midfielder Nathan Ahmat-Watkins from West Adelaide, former Melbourne and West Coast Eagles ruckman Paul Johnson and previously-listed Hawks midfielder Travis Tuck - all of whom will train with the squad over the pre-season.
Following the 2011 NAB Cup Grand Final in March, Hawthorn has the option of adding either Ahmat-Watkins, Johnson and Tuck (or one of the two remaining Richmond selections) fill the final spot on the Club’s Rookie List.
“Nathan, Paul and Travis will all be given the opportunity to train with the Club over the pre-season and they’ll all basically be competing for our final Rookie position, to be determined in March next year,” Pelchen said.
