Months of planning and strategising has once again brought some of the game’s best young talent in Peter Wright, Jarrod Garlett and Touk Miller to the Gold Coast.
goldcoastfc.com.au takes a look at how the football community has summed up what has shaped as another successful draft period for Scott Clayton and his list management team.
The Age
Emma Quayle, football writer for Fairfax Media
Resident draft expert
28/11/2014
A really good draft. Three well-placed picks, and three good selections. While the club has a number of talls on its list already, Wright could become better than all of them.
And he'll need time, by which point the club will expect to be finishing higher up the ladder with less access to the sort of draft picks you need to get big forwards in.
Jarrod Garlett's pace, endurance and self-belief made him popular with a lot of clubs, and Touk Miller is a player who'll be able to do his time in the midfield rotations, and take overhead marks when he slips forward.
AFL Media
Callum Twomey
AFL.com.au draft expert
29/11/2014
Went with that policy as we suggested, with ruckman Peter Wright too good to pass up at pick eight, despite their log of talls.
Jarrod Garlett was long-linked to the club and will provide great run and dash, while Touk Miller would be expecting to play a fair bit of footy next year.
He's got a bit of Lewis Taylor's style in him: he's small, but he makes an impact, and he can tackle and add defensive pressure.
Herald Sun
Jay Clark & Staff Writers
29/11/2014
Gold Coast excelled earlier, taking Peter Wright (No.8) and his outgoing Calder and Vic Metro teammate Touk Miller (29), which will help the pair settle in.
The infectious Miller, a small but powerful inside midfielder, was Wright’s captain in both teams and rated on the edge of the top 10 for some clubs.
goldcoastfc.com.au
Scott Clayton
List & Strategy Manager
28/11/2014
Our first pick Peter Wright is a big power forward who can go into the ruck. We think he’s a once in an eight or 10-year player.
We’re backing ourselves to be a really good team and hence from that our draft position will be weakened in terms of selection number so we just couldn’t not go with him.
All in all, went to plan ... and we’re very excited.
Gold Coast Bulletin
Neale Grundy, speaking with Scott Clayton
Sports Journalist
28/11/2014
Players who stand 203cm and cover the ground really well don’t come around every day, Neale Grundy reports.
“We’re thrilled, absolutely. We got a great mix,” Clayton told The Gold Coast Bulletin.
“To get Peter where we did, we just couldn’t say no…
“Garlett has that beautiful speed/endurance combination, is a great kick and he’s tough.
“Touk Miller is captain of Vic Metro, has unbelievable leadership qualities and is a tackling machine. They’re qualities that make you play a lot of AFL footy.”
Courier Mail
Greg Davis
Sports Journalist
28/11/2014
“Two-Metre Peter” Wright hopes to make the Gold Coast his long-term home after being recruited by the SUNS on Thursday night, Greg Davis reports.
… The SUNS are positive it has a genuine star of the future in the imposing form of the 203cm-tall, 102kg ruckman/key forward.
The 18-year-old is incredibly mobile, agile and skilful for his considerable size and has great endurance.
The SUNS see him as a lead-up centre half-forward capable of pinch-hitting in the ruck.
Courier Mail
Kevin Sheahan
National Talent Manager for the AFL
28/11/2014
Sheehan told The Courier Mail patience would be the key with Wright, who played for the Calder Cannons in the TAC Cup under 18 competition and for Vic Metro in the national championships.
“I think he is going to be a match winner down the track but he’s 6’8, it won’t happen tomorrow,’’ Sheehan said.
