Maitland Saints president Kevin Greaves believes Isaac Heeney’s nomination in tonight’s AFL draft might inspire the next group of Australian rules players from the region.
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Heeney will be the Sydney Swans first pick at No.18 when names are officially read out on the Gold Coast and Greaves said the 18-year-old from Black Hill, the first from the Maitland area to play the code professionally, will allow other athletes to see a possible career pathway.
“For the code locally it’s just really good,” Greaves said.
“To have a young kid from the Maitland area that went to local schools and has made the draft means other people can see a pathway there.
“There are already guys, like Simon Orchard in hockey and plenty of league and union exports from Maitland at that level, so this shows AFL can be an option as well.
“The exposure is terrific and highlights that there are places there for local kids.”
Greaves said Heeney’s story, a football convert at age 12 who was picked up by the Swans Academy before touring overseas with AIS squads, was remarkable.
“Isaac’s is quite an exceptional story,” Greaves said.
“He is an exceptional athlete and was determined to be the best player he could possibly be regardless of overcoming any hurdles.”
In terms of his club specifically, Greaves said he hoped more players would consider Australian rules as an option in the future.
“I hope more kids want to give it a try,” he said.
“There may be even a few more kids that want to give it a serious go and not just as a second sport.”
The Saints, who formed in Maitland with 17 Auskick participants in 2009, now field multiple teams in both junior and senior Newcastle AFL competitions.
One thing St Kilda have done extremely well in their tumultuous history is nail the No.1 AFL draft pick.
Midfielder Christian Petracca or key forward Paddy McCartin will join some illustrious company when the Saints announce the top pick at Thursday night’s draft on the Gold Coast.
All-time St Kilda great Nick Riewoldt was the first pick in 2000 and Brendon Goddard, now starring at Essendon, was the top selection two years later.
After weeks of speculation, it has emerged that the Saints will take either Petracca or McCartin.
It will be a moment rich with symbolism and hope for St Kilda, who finished last this season.
They have been in decline on and off the field since making the 2009 and 2010 grand finals for a draw and two losses.
“It’s the tall forward or the dynamic midfielder - they both have great prospects to be stars of the game,” said AFL talent manager Kevin Sheehan.
“When you reflect, 10-12 years on, they [Riewoldt and Goddard] stood up, didn’t they?
“St Kilda have had the formula so far.
“Either way, we think they’re going to get a 200-game player.”
The build-up to this draft has been unusual in that there has been so much uncertainty about how the top few picks will play out.
Sheehan is rapt with the depth of young talent in this year’s crop.
“Arguably, it will be the deepest draft we’ve had,” he said.
“You’re going to see players going in the late 20s and 30s who some people might have said are in the teens.
“We reckon there’s great depth of class for a couple of rounds and we don’t often say that.
“That’s why it’s unclear what the top 10 is going to look like, because there are many, many combinations.”
Indeed, the only certain pick among the top 10 is Darcy Moore, who will go to Collingwood as a father-son nomination at No.9.
