Carlton snare dynamic Motlop in AFL draft

Carlton have taken advantage of Fremantle’s inability to match an early AFL draft bid for Next Generation Academy member Jesse Motlop, pouncing in the second round to recruit the dynamic forward.

South Fremantle product Motlop – the son of former North Melbourne and Port Adelaide player Daniel Motlop – was nominated by the Dockers via their academy.

But they could only match a bid for Motlop if it came outside the top 40 national draft selections and Carlton jumped in with pick 27 on Thursday night.

Motlop was not eligible to be a father-son selection for either the Power or Kangaroos, because Daniel did not play enough games for either club.

“We couldn’t be happier to be welcoming Jesse to our football club,” Blues list boss Nick Austin said.

“Like his dad, he’s the kind of player that can produce something which turns a game in an instant and light up the fans: whether it’s sidestepping an opponent, kicking the goal himself or setting up a teammate.

“He just turned 18 a few days ago, so playing the entire year in the WAFL as a 17-year-old and producing what he did against more senior bodies will hold him in good stead next season.

“He’s dynamic, he’s creative and as the old cliche goes, he doesn’t need to have 20 possessions to make an impact.

“He can play higher up the ground as well, but it’s in front of goal where he’s at his most dangerous.”

Fremantle resisted strong trade offers for the prized first pick of the second round, using it to bolster their midfield stocks with the acquisition of on-baller Matthew Johnson.

North Melbourne followed by selecting lifelong Kangaroos fan Josh Goater before Hawthorn took Sam Butler – the brother of St Kilda’s Dan Butler – and Geelong picked up local products Toby Conway and Mitch Knevitt.

Richmond banked a rare series of consecutive selections to round out a bid to refresh their list with top-30 picks.

After taking Josh Gibcus and Tom Brown in the first round on Wednesday, the Tigers added midfielder Tyler Sonsie (pick 28), rebounding defender Sam Banks (29) and left-footed wingman Judson Clarke (30).

St Kilda landed midfielders Mitch Owens and Marcus Windhager as their first NGA selections, while Sydney reunited a pair of brothers by selecting Corey Warner to play alongside older sibling Chad Warner.

There were three late father-son selections as North Melbourne took Jackson Archer (son of Glenn), Port Adelaide recruited Jase Burgoyne (son of Peter) and Melbourne picked Taj Woewodin (son of Shane).

Gold Coast gave delisted former Geelong midfielder Charlie Constable an AFL lifeline at pick 63.