General manager player personnel and strategy Chris Pelchen talks about the club's selections in the 2009 NAB AFL Draft

No.39: Sam Grimley
DOB: 19 years old Height: 199cm, Weight: 85kg
Recruited from: Northern Knights (VIC)
“Sam is a raw young lad. He only had four games at TAC Cup level. He’s just short of 200cm, extremely athletic and comes from a basketball background. He’s been a late starter to football and we are excited about the athleticism he has and we felt he would add to our development group with Luke Lowden who was taken as a 17 year old last year.”

No.46: Ben Stratton
DOB: 1/03/89 Height: 190cm, Weight: 83kg
Recruited from: East Perth (WA)
“He is a very athletic boy. He runs the 20m sprint in 2.93 seconds. He is a right footer who is a late starter to WAFL footy. He has only played there the last two seasons. It’s a combination of his athleticism and speed and his strongest asset, I would say is that he plays the game very similarly to Darren Glass. He is a guy who has an uncanny ability to get an arm in to make spoils. He adds to our defensive group.”

No.57: Jordan Williams
DOB: 6/05/91 Height: 185cm, Weight: 80kg
Recruited from: Bendigo Pioneers (VIC)
“ He is one of the best users of the football in the TAC Cup competition. He is a New South Welshman who finished top five in the repeat speed at the recent draft camp and was in the best five in terms of kicking skills. We felt that combination of repeat speed and use of the football and he is another left-footer to add to our group. He can play at half-back and across the wing.”

No.58: Rhan Hooper
DOB: 9/01/88 Height: 185cm, Weight: 80kg
Recruited from: Brisbane Lions
“It probably surprised some people that we selected Rhan but we were conscious of the fact that Mark Williams transferred to Essendon and we think Rhan can come in and have an immediate impact at senior level. We feel that adding him to a mix of Buddy Franklin, Cyril Rioli and Jarryd Roughead inside 50 that it makes an exciting combination.”

No.69: Taylor Duryea
DOB: 9/01/88 Height: 179cm, Weight: 74kg
Recruited from: Caulfield Grammar/Murray Bushrangers (VIC)
“He was eligible for the draft last year and came under our consideration last year when we had the selection with Shane Savage at the end of the draft. He is very much in the mould of Rick Ladson, a very good user of the football with an outstanding aerial capacity. His vertical jump is extremely good. He is also similar to Jason Porplyzia in that he can play as a half-forward/small forward and he can also play across half-back.”

No.70: Matthew Suckling (ROOKIE ELEVATION)
DOB: 25/07/88 Height: 183cm, Weight: 73kg
Recruited from: Hawthorn
“Matt has been with us for three years already and is entering into his fourth season. He has been limited by injury in the first three years but this year he showed he can play at senior level.”