We spoke with Adelaide recruiting manager Matthew Rendell to gather his thoughts on the 2008 NAB AFL Rookie Draft...

Draft summary

“I only had five players on my list. There wasn’t really anyone else we were interested in and three of those players went in the first four picks. We kind of anticipated that [a pass] might happen and we thought that we might be one short [on our rookie list]. We told (coach) Neil [Craig], Triggy (CEO Steven Trigg) and Johnny Reid that it could end up being that we’re one, or even, two short. We had five names, not including [international rookie] Brian Donnelly and we ended up with two of the five, in Ricky Henderson and Chris Schmidt.”

Player comments

Selection No.10: Ricky Henderson
Trentham, Victoria, 11/9/88, 190cm, 82kg
 
“He’s 20 years of age, but as far as footy goes, he’s an 18-year-old really in body-size. It was a bit of a punt, but we were really impressed by the stuff he did here during that week. He tested up with our best midfielders for athletic prowess, in the vertical jump he was outstanding and he did a great beep [test]. All his general skills could use a bit of polish for a bloke who hasn’t played for four years, but when you look at him and think he hasn’t played for four years, he’s outstanding really. It’s a little bit of a project and a punt, in a way, but that’s what the rookie draft should be about. He’s got loads and loads of talent and he’s a great kid, so that’s the most important thing.”

Selection No. 26: Chris Schmidt
Brisbane Lions/West Adelaide, SA, midfielder/half-back, 20/3/89, 189cm, 85kg

“He likes playing half-back flank. He’s 189cm, so he also fits into that mould of utility and has the flexibility to be able to play there. He played a couple of AFL games not this year, but the year before, but played most of the year with the SunCoast Lions this year. He didn’t get much of a go at the Lions and obviously got dropped off, so he was coming back here to play with West Adelaide.

“[Development manager] Alan Stewart pushed for him a fair bit to tell you the truth because when he [Stewart] did his draft three years ago, he had Chris rated 14 in that draft. We went back, checked him out a bit, interviewed him and liked what we heard. We thought he was definitely worth at least a rookie spot. I think he’ll be a good acquisition for the club.”

Selection No. 41: Pass

Selection No. 55: Brian Donnelly
County Louth, Ireland, defender, 21/7/88

“I’ve got no idea [what to expect from him] to tell you the truth. A lot of people I’ve spoken to about the Irishmen reckon they come to hand really quickly and adjust over the first pre-season. His improvement has been remarkable already.

“It’s just going to take a while for him to handle the workload because he was an amateur training like a kid in the TAC Cup two times a week and he’s come out here and is doing six or seven days a week. He’s going to be behind even the 18-year-olds in that respect, but I’d be happy for him to play half-back or centre half-back in the SANFL twos. It wouldn’t surprise me if he pushed his way into the league side once he felt comfortable with the game.”