Tears flow in emotional AFL draft

It was held virtually, with all 18 clubs submitting their picks from corporate boxes at Melbourne’s Marvel Stadium, while the talented teenagers waited anxiously to hear their name called from around the country. Watch the first round of the 2021 AFL Draft on Fox Footy and Kayo from 7pm EDT on Wednesday November 24. New to Kayo? Start your free trial today >As expected, South Australian gun midfielder Jason Horne-Francis has been chosen by North Melbourne as the No. 1 pick in the 2021 draft. Along with the prestige of being the top player in his draft class, Horne-Francis will receive a $10,000 cash payment from the league’s corporate sponsor.There were bizarre scenes when the Kangaroos were excruciatingly made to wait the entirety of their five-minute allotment before nominating Horne-Francis, even though it was obvious they were going to choose him. The unusual delay was due to a swap of draft picks taking place between Geelong and Western Bulldogs so the Dogs had enough draft points to secure father-son prospect Sam Darcy with the second pick.Horne-Francis, who was following the action from Adelaide, had to watch along from his manager’s phone on delay as his name was read out by AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan. Fans were unimpressed the youngster’s crowning moment was spoiled by the delay. “Could there have been a flatter number one pick announcement,” sports reporter Caty Price tweeted. “From the manufactured drama of the wait to then absolutely no drama when the name is called out. Are they on delay in SA?? A bizarre 5 minutes.” Tears flow as childhood dream comes true There was a touching moment when Ben Hobbs was picked by Essendon with pick 13. When his name was read out, the midfielder immediately teared up and put his head in his hands as the reality of having achieved his childhood dream had set in. “It’s an amazing feeling,” he said. “I’m so glad that my name has been called out to the Bombers. They’re an amazing club and I can’t wait to get into it. “I’m so proud of this moment.”Hobbs had been linked with several clubs but he was ultimately picked by Essendon, which delighted the teenager. “I got a call this afternoon just saying if you’re there (not yet picked by another club) it could happen,” he said. “I’m so happy it’s happened. It’s been a dream as long as I can remember and it’s the best day of my life for sure. “Dad’s an Essendon supporter so it’s worked perfectly.”Huge bolters in first round of draftWhile the top 10 picks were chosen in their predicted order, there some bolters in the back end of the first round of the draft. Leek Aleer came from nowhere to be recruited by GWS with pick 15, while the Sydney Swans also found a diamond in the rough taking Angus Sheldrick at pick 18. “Those next half a dozen picks absolute bargains because of the bolters we saw tonight” expert commentator David King said on Fox Footy. “I think we probably saw six bolters. We haven’t seen that before in the top 20 on night one of the draft.”The remaining rounds of the AFL draft will be decided on Thursday night. AFL 2021 Draft Order — Round 11. Jason Horne-Francis — North Melbourne2. Sam Darcy — Western Bulldogs3. Finn Callaghan — GWS Giants4. Nick Daicos — Collingwood5. Mac Andrew — Gold Coast Suns6. Joshua Rachelle — Adelaide7. Joshua Ward — Hawthorn8. Jye Amis — Fremantle Dockers9. Josh Gibcus — Richmond10. Neil Erasmus — Fremantle11. Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera — St Kilda12. Joshua Sinn — Port Adelaide13. Ben Hobbs — Essendon14. Campbell Chesser — West Coast15. Leek Aleer — GWS Giants16. Darcy Wilmot — Brisbane Lions17. Tom Brown — Richmond18. Angus Sheldrick — Sydney Swans19. Jacob van Rooyen — Melbourne20. Kai Lohmann — Brisbane Lions

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November 25, 2021 at 12:16AM
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It was held virtually, with all 18 clubs submitting their picks from corporate boxes at Melbourne’s Marvel Stadium, while the talented teenagers waited anxiously to hear their name called from around the country. Watch the first round of the 2021 AFL Draft on Fox Footy and Kayo from 7pm EDT on Wednesday November 24. New to Kayo? Start your free trial today >As expected, South Australian gun midfielder Jason Horne-Francis has been chosen by North Melbourne as the No. 1 pick in the 2021 draft. Along with the prestige of being the top player in his draft class, Horne-Francis will receive a $10,000 cash payment from the league’s corporate sponsor.There were bizarre scenes when the Kangaroos were excruciatingly made to wait the entirety of their five-minute allotment before nominating Horne-Francis, even though it was obvious they were going to choose him. The unusual delay was due to a swap of draft picks taking place between Geelong and Western Bulldogs so the Dogs had enough draft points to secure father-son prospect Sam Darcy with the second pick.Horne-Francis, who was following the action from Adelaide, had to watch along from his manager’s phone on delay as his name was read out by AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan. Fans were unimpressed the youngster’s crowning moment was spoiled by the delay. “Could there have been a flatter number one pick announcement,” sports reporter Caty Price tweeted. “From the manufactured drama of the wait to then absolutely no drama when the name is called out. Are they on delay in SA?? A bizarre 5 minutes.” Tears flow as childhood dream comes true There was a touching moment when Ben Hobbs was picked by Essendon with pick 13. When his name was read out, the midfielder immediately teared up and put his head in his hands as the reality of having achieved his childhood dream had set in. “It’s an amazing feeling,” he said. “I’m so glad that my name has been called out to the Bombers. They’re an amazing club and I can’t wait to get into it. “I’m so proud of this moment.”Hobbs had been linked with several clubs but he was ultimately picked by Essendon, which delighted the teenager. “I got a call this afternoon just saying if you’re there (not yet picked by another club) it could happen,” he said. “I’m so happy it’s happened. It’s been a dream as long as I can remember and it’s the best day of my life for sure. “Dad’s an Essendon supporter so it’s worked perfectly.”Huge bolters in first round of draftWhile the top 10 picks were chosen in their predicted order, there some bolters in the back end of the first round of the draft. Leek Aleer came from nowhere to be recruited by GWS with pick 15, while the Sydney Swans also found a diamond in the rough taking Angus Sheldrick at pick 18. “Those next half a dozen picks absolute bargains because of the bolters we saw tonight” expert commentator David King said on Fox Footy. “I think we probably saw six bolters. We haven’t seen that before in the top 20 on night one of the draft.”The remaining rounds of the AFL draft will be decided on Thursday night. AFL 2021 Draft Order — Round 11. Jason Horne-Francis — North Melbourne2. Sam Darcy — Western Bulldogs3. Finn Callaghan — GWS Giants4. Nick Daicos — Collingwood5. Mac Andrew — Gold Coast Suns6. Joshua Rachelle — Adelaide7. Joshua Ward — Hawthorn8. Jye Amis — Fremantle Dockers9. Josh Gibcus — Richmond10. Neil Erasmus — Fremantle11. Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera — St Kilda12. Joshua Sinn — Port Adelaide13. Ben Hobbs — Essendon14. Campbell Chesser — West Coast15. Leek Aleer — GWS Giants16. Darcy Wilmot — Brisbane Lions17. Tom Brown — Richmond18. Angus Sheldrick — Sydney Swans19. Jacob van Rooyen — Melbourne20. Kai Lohmann — Brisbane Lions