| 29/11/07 Local hopefuls `let down' Young ruck laments lack of help | |
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By: ADAM SMITH The 18-year-old was one of a number of potential locals overlooked at last Saturday's AFL draft, with key defender Tom Collier (Brisbane) the only selection. But Bellchambers has a big chance of being rookie-listed by Essendon after the club invited him to train for the next two weeks. Following last weekend's disappointment, AFL Tasmania general manager Scott Wade took full responsibility for the lack of draftees. ``It would have been nice to get more, but we are probably disappointed we haven't given Tom Bellchambers the best chance to get drafted,'' Wade told the Sunday Tasmanian. ``And when I say `we', I mean us as an organisation. We have to take some responsibility for not giving the guys the best opportunity.'' A strong under-18 national carnival and impressive results at the draft camp were not enough for Bellchambers to be initially selected. While not pointing fingers at anyone, the 200cm ruckman does feel more could have been done once the VFL season ended to assist the hopefuls. ``I think there could have been a better program in place for myself and some of the other guys,'' Bellchambers said from Melbourne yesterday. ``Once the Mariners and Devils finished we pretty much went back to our local clubs, there was no real urgency. ``We did some stuff ourselves, but at a young age like 18 I think you still need to give people a bit more of a push in the right direction.'' After the initial disappointment, Bellchambers received a call from the Bombers on Monday, and flew to Windy Hill this week. He will train with the club until next Friday before the rookie draft takes place the follow day. And if Essendon is truly keen to nab a ruckman after missing out in the draft, Bellchambers could be the man. ``They haven't said heaps [about his chances], but going into the draft they were after a ruckman,'' he said. There is still hope a couple of Tasmanian's will get rookie-listed, with Nathan and Todd Grima training at Port Adelaide, former Devil Ian Callinan at Richmond, Aaron Joseph at Carlton, and Brodie Moles invited to Sydney, Hawthorn and the Kangaroos. |
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