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Surprise selections in NAB Pre-Season Draft

TEN WA footballers have been selected in the AFL rookie draft, with West Coast going for a surprise packet in Claremont midfielder Ryan Neates.

Neates was taken at pick no. 5, ahead of likely West Coast recruits in Subiaco defender Simon White and Peel’s Ben Howlett, after some impressive performances in the draft tests.

Both were expected to be drafted by the Eagles, but have now found new homes, with Essendon securing Howlett with pick no. 30 and Carlton taking White with pick no. 56.

West Coast also recruited 23-year-old Ashton Hams, who was best on ground for South Fremantle the WAFL grand final.

West Perth’s Andrew Strijk, axed Richmond midfielder Jarrad Oakley-Nicholls and Claremont teenager Lewis Broome are all now Eagles.

Meanwhile, a very familiar name is set to head west, with the nephew of former Carlton champion Stephen Silvagni being snapped up the Dockers.

Casey Scorpions Alex Silvagni (22) was taken in at pick 24 by Fremantle, as a key defender, and will join while Werribee on-baller Michael Barlow in purple next year.

The Dockers also welcomed back Adam McPhee with their third pick, while Hawthorn gave former West Perth and Western Bulldog defender Wayde Skipper another chance.

St Kilda chose WA’s under 18s captain Mark Hutchings, Carlton rewarded West Perth ruckman Josh Donaldson

Gold Coast chose former North Melbourne midfielder Daniel Harris with the first pick, followed by Sturt big man Michael Coad, South Australian Rolan
AhChee along with former Collingwood players Sam Iles and Danny Stanley. Stanley had been training with Fremantle. Those men will all play in the VFL next year.

Former Eagles defender Ryan Davis and midfielder Jamie McNamara and former Docker Andrew Foster were all overlooked.

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NAB AFL Pre-Season Draft

1) Melbourne Demons - Joel Macdonald (Brisbane Lions)
2) Richmond - Dylan Grimes (Northern Knights)
3) Fremantle - Adam McPhee (Essendon)
4) Sydney Swans - Daniel Bradshaw (Brisbane Lions)
5) West Coast - Ryan Neates (Claremont)
6) Port Adelaide - Scott Harding (Brisbane Lions)
7) Essendon - Kyle Hardingham (East Fremantle)

NAB AFL Rookie Draft - Notables

1) Gold Coast - Daniel Harris (North Melbourne)
2) Gold Coast - Michael Code (Sturt)
3) Gold Coast – Sam Iles (Box Hill Hawks)
4) Gold Coast – Roland Ah Chee (Norwood)
5) Gold Coast – Danny Stanley (Collingwood)
6) Melbourne – Michael Newton (Melbourne: re-drafted)
9) North Melbourne - Majak Daw (Western Jets)
10) Sydney – Henry Playfair (Sydney: re-drafted)
13) Hawthorn – Wayde Skipper (Western Bulldogs)
19) Western Bulldogs – Brodie Moles (Geelong)
22) Melbourne – John Meesen (Melbourne: re-drafted)
41) Port Adelaide – Cameron Cloke (Carlton)
47) Collingwood – Seamus McNamara (America)
49) St Kilda – Jarryd Allen (St Kilda: re-drafted)
53) West Coast – Jarrad Oakley-Nicholls (Richmond)
54) Port Adelaide – Glenn Dawson (Port Adelaide: re-drafted)
60) St Kilda – Leigh Fisher (St Kilda: re-drafted)
62) Richmond - Graham Polak (Richmond: redrafted)
64) Port Adelaide - Daniel Bass (America)
65) Essendon - John Williams (Essendon: redrafted)
74) Brisbane - Sean Yoshuira (Mt Gravatt)