TWO of Peel Thunder’s hottest AFL draft prospects are trying not to think too far ahead of the big day on November 26.
Anthony Morabito and Aaron Black were two of 75 young footballers in Australia invited to the national AFL draft camp which was held at the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra last week.
While dashing midfielder Morabito had to watch from the sidelines due to a thigh injury, key position player Black impressed in the tests at the camp.
The 18-year-old from Eaton was equal second in the new kicking test – developed by Collingwood champion Nathan Buckley – with a score of 22 out of a possible 30.
Black, who also placed equal fourth in the standing vertical leap test, said he was happy with his overall performance at the camp.
Still recovering from a chest infection he played with in the colts finals, the former basketballer said he did everything he possibly could to impress AFL clubs one last time ahead of the national draft.
At 192cm and 82kg, Black said he chose to focus on football rather than basketball because he liked the freedom to run on the bigger ground.
Only at Peel for the one season, Black is still coming to grips with the rate at which his football career has progressed this year.
Beforehand he was running around with the Eaton Boomers in the South West Football League.
After impressing with the Peel colts the tall utility graduated to senior football in round 20 and played the last three games.
He placed fifth in the WA Football League colts best and fairest and has been approached by every AFL club.
“I haven’t gotten any stronger feelings from any of the clubs in particular,” he said.
“It’s going to be a lottery come draft day.”
Black said if he had a choice he would prefer to stay in his home state but he was happy to go anywhere.
Like Black, Morabito was hoping to impress AFL clubs one final time ahead of the draft but had to watch from the sidelines.
Touted as a top five selection, his thigh did not recover in time for the camp
“Obviously it was very frustrating because you want to impress the clubs and finish the year strongly and it was hard to sit back but there wasn’t anything more I could do,” the 17-year-old said.
The boy from Harvey caught the eyes of AFL clubs after impressing in the WA Football League for Thunder at the start of the season.
He then went on to have an outstanding national under-18s carnival representing WA and was selected in the All-Australian team.
Morabito is tipped to be picked up by Fremantle which has the fourth pick in the draft – that’s if he isn’t snared by Richmond which has the third selection.
“At the end of the day staying at home would make the transition easier but I don’t care where I go,” he said.
Morabito added the pressure of being labelled a top draft prospect had got to the point where he couldn’t think about it.
“Whatever will be will be,” he said.
His thigh has nearly recovered and he will start running this week and will be ready for pre-season training.
Peel teammates Mitch Brown and Chris Luff have been invited to attend the WA draft screening session on Sunday.
A knee injury to Brown though will sideline him and he will not be attending.
Peel chief executive Russ Clark revealed North Melbourne had shown interest in the club’s league best and fairest winner Ben Howlett.
Youngster Blayne Wilson is also being touted as a strong chance to be picked up by the Gold Coast to play in the VFL next year under Guy McKenna.
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