AFL player Stephen Silvagni has declared he wants Canberra's Jack Steele to join the Giants, convinced the Belconnen Magpies onballer is destined to be drafted into the AFL this year.
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But Silvagni said the Greater Western Sydney Giants may have to fend off interest from other AFL clubs when the bidding process for Academy players begins on October 6.
Steele's draft selection would be a major breakthrough for the Giants' development program in the ACT region.
Canberra's Josh Bruce, now at St Kilda, was a zone selection for the Giants in their inaugural season for 2012 and kicked the club's historic first goal at Manuka. Canberra-raised Phil Davis is co-captain of the club, but began his AFL career with the Adelaide Crows .
Steele would be the first Canberra player drafted from the GWS Giants Academy, an elite development program for juniors. He would also be the first ACT player drafted since the Western Bulldogs selected Jason Tutt in 2009.
Silvagni, now list manager for GWS, felt Steele was bound for the AFL, and hopefully with the Giants.
"He was probably very unlucky not to get drafted last year. He had a knee injury, but he's had an outstanding year," Silvagni said. "I know we're very interested in him as part of our academy, but so are a number of other clubs. He's done everything right and I've got no doubt he'll be drafted this year, and hopefully it will be with the Giants."
Steele, 18, is part of the GWS Academy, which gives the Giants first and last bid to draft him, but there are no guarantees. The Brisbane Lions have also declared interest in Steele, coming to Canberra in July to scout him.
It is understood Steele would be viewed as pick at about 40, although other clubs could rate him much higher and trump the Giants.
"There's no secret that there'll be interest from other clubs," Silvagni said.
"We've obviously tracked him and he's in our academy so he's in a situation where if we want to take Jack he's got to go through a bidding process, like a father-son bidding process, so that's what we've got to go through. Someone might rate him higher than what we rate him.
"He has been up to our football club, had a look around and knows the coaches. He's very clever with the ball, he doesn't waste it. He's a good decision maker. He's not a flashy player, but what he does, he does well."
Steele isn't the only Canberra player in the draft mix. Silvagni said Logan Austin, also from Belconnen, was also rated highly
"There's no doubt other clubs have interest in him as well. He's another one we're going to have to make a decision on," Silvagni said. "He's a key position, they're hard to find."
