LEONGATHA, Inverloch and Gippsland Power midfielder Xavier Lindsay has been selected at Pick 11 in the AFL Draft by the Melbourne Demons.
Lindsay had to overcome a late-season knee injury to set himself up for the national draft, but it didn’t stop him from winning the Under 18 Coates League best and fairest award, the Morrish Medal.
But by season end, he had fully recovered and follows two recent Leongatha Parrot recruits, Wil Dawson and Tom Hanily, into the big time
Fox Sports commentator and AFL recruiting expert Michael Ablett dubbed the 2024 draft as potentially the greatest draft of all time so to go as number 11 is quite a coup.
AFL CEO Andrew Dillion revealed that more than 1000 young players had nominated for the draft, a record number since the draft started in 1986.
Going at pick number one to Richmond was big body midfielder Sam Lalor of the Greater Western Victoria Rebels.
“Plays cricket like Dave Warner and football like Dusty Martin…” it’s all upside for the Tigers.
Finn O’Sullivan, a 182cm midfielder from the Oakleigh Charges went next, picked up by North Melbourne at pick 2, likened to Marcus Bontempelli, quite a rap.
And rounding out the top three was ball magnet Jagga Smith, captain of the all-Australian Under 18 team, racking up an average of 31 possessions right through the season this year.
“He could easily have been pick number one in this year’s draft,” according to Ablett.
Finn O’Sullivan and Jagga Smith both turned out for Richmond in the VFL during the year and acquitted themselves very well at senior level.
Rounding out the top 10 was Gippsland Power and Warragul Industries product Alix Tauru, rated as an excellent key defender prospect.
“His aerial prowess is scary,” according to Michael Ablett on Fox Sports.
“Potentially the best player to come out of the draft,” said Leigh Montagna.
And finally, Leongatha and Inverloch junior Xavier Lindsay went as pick number 11 to the Melbourne Demons.
Lindsay was pretty low key when interviewed on Fox Sports, acknowledging his cooking was pretty ordinary, that he listened to Taylor Swift in the car on the way to training at Morwell with Gippsland Power but just relieved to have finally found his way on to an AFL list.
Asked what he thought about Gippsland champion Scott Pendlebury, Lindsay said he had always been a personal idol but would definitely not be sledging ‘Pendles’ if he ever had the honour of playing against him.
“No, he’s widely respected so I wouldn’t be doing that,” said Lindsay.
The Fox commentators were full of praise for the Morrish Medal winner saying they would like to see him coming off half back during his debut and working into the midfield from there.
The top 15 are as follows:
1. Richmond: Sam Lalor
2. North Melbourne: Finn O’Sullivan
3. Carlton: Jagga Smith
4. Adelaide: Sid Draper
5. Brisbane Lions: Levi Ashcroft
6. Melbourne: Harvey Langford
7. Richmond: Josh Smillie
8. St Kilda: Tobie Travaglia
9. Gold Coast Suns: Leonardo Lombard
10. St Kilda: Alix Tauru
11. Melbourne: Xavier Lindsay
12. Richmond: Taj Hotton
13. Essendon: Isaac Kako
14. Richmond: Jonty Faull
15. Port Adelaide: Joe Berry
16. West Coast: Bo Allan
17. Fremantle: Murphy Reid
18. Greater Western Sydney: Oliver Hannaford
19. Greater Western Sydney: Harrison Oliver
20. Western Bulldogs: Cooper Hynes
21. Richmond: Luke Trainor
22. Sydney: Jesse Dattoli
23. Richmond: Harry Armstrong
24. Greater Western Sydney: Cody Angove
25. Brisbane Lions: Sam Marshall
26. Sydney: Ned Bowman
27. North Melbourne: Matt Whitlock
