AFL Mid-Season Rookie Draft: East Fremantle ruckman Lachlan Blakiston in the sights of Essendon

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AFL Mid-Season Rookie Draft: East Fremantle ruckman Lachlan Blakiston in the sights of Essendon

East Fremantle ruckman Lachlan Blakiston is firming as a strong option for Essendon in the mid-season rookie draft on Wednesday.

The West *********** understands Bombers officials were at Leederville Oval on Saturday to watch Blakiston take on East Perth bigman and former Fremantle ruckman Scott Jones as they weigh up their options.

Essendon are a chance to take four players on Wednesday as they deal with a serious injury crisis, with the Bombers in desperate need of ruck depth after season-ending injuries to Sam Draper (Achilles) and Nick Bryan (knee).

It left coach Brad Scott to use 36-year-old Todd Goldstein as the No.1 ruckman in the past four weeks.

The two rucks are part of the 10 players who are 190cm or taller that are on the Bombers’ injury list including Zach Reid (hamstring), Nik Cox (concussion) and key defender Ben McKay (foot).

Such is their injury crisis, there are reports that the Bombers could get AFL approval to draft a player on Wednesday and play them against Brisbane at the Gabba only 24 hours later.

Blakiston was on the radar of several clubs leading into last year’s draft including St Kilda and Geelong before he was ultimately overlooked.

The 26-year-old emerged as a genuine AFL talent in the middle of last year when he became the No.1 ruckman at the Sharks when Brynn Teakle was picked up in last year’s mid-season rookie draft.

Camera IconRoyal Scott Jones and Shark Lachlan Blakiston. Credit: Jackson Flindell/Jackson Flindell / The West Aust

Blakiston averaged 16.6 disposals, 11 contested, 34 hit-outs, 8.5 to advantage, six clearances and five score involvements in 13 games last year but a shoulder injury delayed his start to this season.

The 204cm Shark has returned to average 13 disposals and 21 hit-outs and battled manfully against a *******-bodied Jones, with a goal from nine disposals and 25 hit-outs.

Blakiston isn’t the only WAFL ruckman on the Bombers’ radar, with Claremont star Ollie Eastland also believed to be on their whiteboard.

Eastland kicked a career-high three goals from 14 disposals and 47 hit-outs in the Tigers’ 42-point win over Swan Districts in Bassendean on Saturday.

The 27-year-old was watched by Bombers officials including list boss Matt Rosa while they were in town to take on West Coast on Friday, April 18.

Eastland — who is listed as 199cm and 100kg — had 41 hit-outs, 15 disposals, eight tackle and three clearances against Jones in a near best-on-ground performance.

Southport co-captain Brayden Crossley is the other ruckman believed to be in contention but there are reports clubs are concerned with the former Gold Coast bigman’s ability to cover the ground.

Several recruiters are understood to have watched Peel Thunder defender Michael Sellwood in the loss to Perth at Mineral Resources Park.

The premiership star has been put through a medical by the Western Bulldogs and met with Port Adelaide on Friday as he firms as a strong chance to finally get a chance on an AFL list.

Subiaco forward Archer May didn’t play at the weekend as he is considered an almost certainty to be recruited by a club.

North Melbourne, Collingwood and Carlton are all viewed as clubs with strong interest in the 198cm Victorian who joined the Lions before the start of the season.

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