Ex-Saint a Pie as Melbourne makes Scully No.1

LUKE Ball is now a Magpie after the former Saint successfully found his way to Collingwood in Thursday night’s 2009 NAB AFL Draft.

Ball’s selection at pick 30 was a highlight of an action-packed night in which the cream of Australia’s football talent found new homes.

As expected, Tom Scully and Jack Trengove headlined the night - at least from a junior perspective - with Melbourne selecting them with the night’s opening two picks.

The only doubt leading in revolved around the order in which the Demons would read out the pair’s names.

Dandenong midfielder Scully got the nod, with Sturt ballwinner Trengove following immediately after.

Most of the big names went early as expected with Dustin Martin (Richmond), Anthony Morabito (Fremantle), Ben Cunnington (North Melbourne) and Gary Rohan (Sydney Swans) rounding out a predictable top six.

In fact the majority of the top 10 appeared mostly settled, with perhaps Andrew Moore (pick No.9 to Port Adelaide) the only slight surprise.

Melbourne loomed as the club to shape the draft when it raised some eyebrows at pick 11.

Many believed with two gun ballwinners already locked away, the Demons would opt for a tall. But instead they selected the 188cm Jordan Gysberts.

This led to some interesting selections in the remainder of the first round.

Carlton, also believed to be searching for a tall, couldn’t resist West Australian midfielder Kane Lucas with pick 12, while Adelaide felt the same way about versatile tall Daniel Talia - who was sitting there for the Crows to claim with pick 13.

However the Western Bulldogs were hiding the biggest ace.

The major surprise of the first round came when the men at Rodney Eade’s table read out little-known Glenelg defender Christian Howard.

Considered a near-certain draftee, but more likely to be picked in the third round, the Bulldogs swooped on the defender/wingman at pick 15.

But from the end of the first round, most eyes and ears were waiting for one name: Luke Ball.

There was uncertainty heading into the night about where he might end up, with several clubs declaring their interest after a trade failed to eventuate between St Kilda and Collingwood last month.

Although the one-time St Kilda captain had made his intentions known, many doubted that he would make it through to Collingwood’s first selection - at pick 30 - and wondered whether another club might make a play for the 25-year-old.

But, despite a preganant pause from Melbourne at pick 18  (who selected "Luke … Tapscott") Ball will join the Pies after recruiting manager Derek Hine was quick to call the midfielder’s draft ID number and name at pick 30.

While most of the notables were snapped up before too long, as always there were a couple of sliders.

Aaron Black, an athletic key forward, was touted as a likely first-round pick but had Kangaroo recruiters hopping for joy after they netted the Western Australian at pick 25.

Similarly, Geelong bolstered its ruck division when it snaffled up big man Nathan Vardy with pick 42. The Gippsland Power ruckman had been tipped to go as early as the first round.

Adelaide could also feel pleased with what might one day be considered a bargain-basement pick - ruckman James Craig with selection 61.

Later in the draft, clubs - perhaps willing to overlook past injury woes or skeptical of the '09 talent pool's depth - came for the recycled players.

There were a few surprised looks at the Brisbane Lions’ table when Hawthorn drafted Rhan Hooper, the former Lion who couldn’t settle under either Leigh Matthews’ or Michael Voss’s regime.

Then St Kilda, which has made a good fist of resurrecting players in recent seasons, gave life to two more careers that could easily have been over.

The Saints will back their medical team to get former injury-plagued North Melbourne defender Jesse Smith back to full fitness, while one-time Tigers ruckman Adam Pattison has also joined the club.

Matt Maguire, who had been training with Carlton, gets a chance to revive his 99-game career after the Brisbane Lions threw him a lifeline.

Simon Buckley (Collingwood) and Matthew Suckling (re-drafted to Hawthorn) are others who will be celebrating draft night.