Rookie hope for Newton, Meesen after delisting

MELBOURNE is hopeful of securing forward Michael Newton and ruckman John Meesen in next month’s NAB AFL Rookie Draft, after delisting the pair on Tuesday.

Newton, 22, managed only 21 games in five years with the Dees, including just five in 2009.

Meesen, 23, also struggled to get on the park during his time at Melbourne.

The former first-round draft pick, who was traded by Adelaide at the end of 2007, played four consecutive games early this season before being sidelined with stress fractures in his foot.

The recent changes to rules regarding rookies have opened the door for clubs to rookie list players who have already spent time on an AFL senior list, regardless of their age.

Both Newton and Meesen are contracted to the Dees for 2010, but list manager Tim Harrington conceded both could be lost to the club in the upcoming draft period.

“The club has advised both Michael and John that subject to them not being selected by any other AFL clubs in the national or pre-season drafts, the Melbourne Football Club intends to draft both players in the upcoming rookie draft,” Harrington said.

Clint Bartram, Kyle Cheney and Tom McNamara fared better, having agreed to contract extensions.

Bartram has played 59 games since being drafted by the Demons with pick No. 60 in the 2005 NAB AFL Draft.

Cheney and McNamara both joined Melbourne via the 2007 NAB AFL Draft and have played 12 and three games respectively.