An AFL rule change means there will be more eyes than ever on the Western Jets this season.
The capacity for AFL clubs to trade future draft picks means recruiters will no longer be primarily concerned with top-age talent coming out of the TAC Cup system.
If AFL clubs see something they like at a bottom age or under-16 level, they can start positioning themselves to get that player by securing more selections in the draft in which he is slated to participate.
Western Jets region manager Shane Sexton said the change had already had a noticeable impact.
“AFL clubs are going to be really interested in our bottom-age group, more interested than they have ever been before,” he said.
“If they find something that they like, they can trade a future pick for that. It has certainly become a bit more intriguing because of that.
“We’ve seen this already with the under-16s. The recruiters already want to know who are the best young talents coming through.”
The Western Jets are just weeks away from kicking off their 2016 campaign which has been building after an intense pre-season.
The club played its first practice match on Sunday and is looking to put the finishing touches to its squad in coming weeks.
The Jets will play another two practice games before the season starts – against Oakleigh and the Calder Cannons.
“You agonise over the composition of the squad and there are always some really tough decisions every year,” Sexton said.
“It is very difficult but it is something … over the years we feel like we have established a really good process.
“Whichever way you do it, though, unfortunately there are going to be some disappointed boys.”
Already locked in is the Jets’ 2016 leadership group.
The club has appointed Oscar Junker, Judah Dundon, Nicholas Giarrizzo, Daniel Venables and Wilson Berry.
Sexton praised those boys for embracing leadership roles throughout the pre-season.
“They certainly demonstrated the qualities we are looking for in leaders,” he said. “In the finish they were elected by their peers. The whole squad voted on who they thought would be best suited to be in the leadership group.
“There is great buy-in there from the playing group which we think is really important.”
The Jets are expected to finalise the captaincy in coming weeks.
The Jets will start their 2016 campaign with three vital matches – against the Oakleigh Chargers, Eastern Ranges and Sandringham Dragons.
Those contests will be used to help select the Vic Metro squad for the forthcoming under-18 national championships.
