HAWTHORN Recruiting and List Manager Graham Wright says the club is thrilled to re-draft Derick Wanganeen after an impressive second half of the season for Box Hill.
Wanganeen was selected by the Hawks with its second pick in the Rookie Draft, number 33 overall along with Dallas Willsmore (North Ballarat Rebels), Zac Webster (Glenorchy) and Ben Ross (Werribee) during Wednesday morning’s Rookie Draft.
After spending three years on the Club’s Rookie list since 2011, Wanganeen was cut last month under AFL rules in which rookies can spend a maximum of three seasons on the list before they’re required to be upgraded to the primary list or delisted.
Originally groomed as a small forward, Wanganeen was moved to half back for the Club’s VFL affiliate, where his ability to rebound from defence with his run and carry and ball use were particularly impressive.
One of his best games came in the VFL Preliminary Final against Werribee, where he gathered 31 disposals and laid three tackles.
“We would have really liked to have retained Derick on the Rookie List or upgrade him but we really didn’t have a spot at the end of the trade period to upgrade him,” Wright told hawthornfc.com.au after the Rookie Draft.
“We were really hoping he’d be there for us at this pick today and it’s worked out that way, which is great for Derick and good for us.
“Moving him back and playing him as that rebound defender seemed to really suit him. I think he plays his best footy behind the ball, we’ve previously been trying to get him to play as that small forward whereas he’s probably a small defender.
“We’ve worked that out at the back end of the year and we’re really happy with his development. He still has a lot of work to do but we think he’d got some upside.”
Wright revealed the Club had their eye on Ross for some time after two impressive seasons for Werribee in the VFL.
Ross played 14 games for the Kangaroos before joining Werribee where he won the J. J. Liston Trophy as the league’s best and fairest player in his first season, 2012.
At 179cm, Ross is a versatile player who can play forward, in the midfield or across half half where he spent most of his time for Werribee this season.
“He played more half back and wing and we really liked the way he developed there as well and we know he can play a number of roles,” Wright said.
“He can play wing, half forward and on ball but we know he can go to half back as well. He’s a good user of the ball, has good endurance, good speed so he brings a lot to the table, it’s just a matter of where the coaches want to slot him in.”
The Club also picked up two 18 year olds – Willsmore, a 191cm forward and Webster a medium forward from Tasmania.
Wright holds high hopes for the pair.
“With Dallas and with Zac - they’re both young and need a little bit of time to develop so we’re hoping they can do that over the next year,” he said.
“We just felt he’s (Willsmore) got some serious attributes as a player from our point of view.
“He’s a great size at 191cm, very good overhead, is a left footer who kicks it really well, is a goal kicker and got a really big tank so we think he can push up the ground and play as that high half forward.
“Zac (Webster) is another one that has really good speed, good endurance who can play midfield and forward.
“He has great agility, is a really good tackler and we think he can add a lot of good pressure to the forward half of the ground and go through the midfield as well.”
The Club also officially welcomed International Rookies Kurt Heatherley and Shem Tatupu on Wednseday.
The group join Billy Hartung, Dayle Garlett and James Sicily who were picked up by the Club at last Thursday night’s National Draft.
