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Dodoro: Recruits could play AFL in 2010
<DIV>National recruiting manager Adrian Dodoro says a number of players selected by the Bombers in today's 2009 pre-season and rookie drafts displayed good enough form this year to have played AFL games. He said the club targetted mature bodied midfielders that were physically ready to play senior football. </DIV>
National recruiting manager Adrian Dodoro says a number of players selected by the Bombers in today's 2009 pre-season and rookie drafts displayed good enough form this year to have played AFL games.
He said the club targeted mature bodied midfielders that were physically ready to play senior football.
""We have a very young list so our intention was to get some mature bodies and we are very happy - we have some boys there (today) that can step up and play,"" Dodoro said.
Dodoro said three of the players taken - Hardingham, Howlett and Marigliani - are midfield types who have won a senior best and fairest club awards at WAFL or VFL level.
To watch Adrian Dodoro discuss the draft on Bomber.tv click here.
Pick No.7 (pre-season draft) - Kyle Hardingham (21-years-old, 184cm, 84kg midfielder/defender from East Fremantle).
""He is a good player and is very similar to David King who played for North Melbourne. He is very explosive and likes to take the game on. He goes onto our senior list and we expect him to give himself an excellent chance of playing senior footy in Round 1 next year. Ran an excellent 2.93 seconds over 20m at the WA screening and we are really happy to get him on the list,"" Dodoro said.
Pick No.14 (rookie draft) - Taite Silverlock (18-years-old, 178cm, 81kg, midfielder/medium forward from West Adelaide).
""Taite played (senior footy) last year as a 17-year-old and we actually had a look at him as a 17-year-old. He didn't have a great year this year to be honest with his attitude and body but, to his credit, he has really addressed that. He is a very talented player, a left footer in the Stuart Dew mould with a thumping kick. Recorded a 14.2 beep test and at SA screening and we think he has enough upside to be a good AFL player,"" Dodoro said.
Pick No.30 (rookie draft) - Ben Howlett (22-years-old, 180cm, 82kg, medium midfilder from Peel Thunder).
""Chris Waterman has coached him for the past few years and believes he is an outstanding prospect. He is 22-years-old and a best and fairest winner at Peel. If he was on an AFL list this year I believe he would have gotten a game. He uses the ball really well and is strong and loves a contest, he could be a smokey for us,"" Dodoro said.
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Pick No.43 (rookie draft) - Stewart Crameri (21-years-old, 188cm, 86 kg, midfielder/attacking backman from Bendigo Bombers).
""Myself and Matthew Knights have seen a fair bit of him and he has trained here. Bendigo weren't a flash team this year but he was one of the shining lights. He has the capacity to step up - physically he is ready to go and has power, speed, a good vertical leap and uses the ball well and we look forward to seeing him play,"" Dodoro said.
Pick No. 55 (rookie draft) - Marcus Marigliani (24-years-old, 180cm, 80kg, inside midfielder/small forward from Frankston VFL).
""At 24-years-of-age to get an opportunity takes us back to the days when we were drafting guys like Paul Weston at 27 and Leon Baker. He has a great build, he's strong and powerful. At the screening he ran sub three seconds over 20m which is exceptional and he backed it up with a 15-plus beep test which is outstanding. Very good vertical leap and he has done a pre-season with us and trained the house down. He is a genuine midfielder,"" Dodoro said.
Pick No. 66 (rookie draft) - John Williams (21-years-old, 188cm, 82kg, forward from Essendon).
""The medical information is that his shoulder is going to be fine. The fans saw in limited time he can play. He has an exception leap and is a very exciting player. He has a long way to go in leaning the game but we think he has the attributes, touch wood, if he stays sound,"" Dodoro said.
Essendon has focused on midfielders in the 2009 pre-season and rookie drafts. The Bombers selected Kyle Hardingham with pick No.7 in the pre-season draft. The 21-year-old is a 184cm, 83kg midfielder/defender who won the East Fremantle senior best and fairest award this year.