And Waite felt this season, where the Demons played a lot of youngsters, would bear fruit at next year's draft as well.

Waite had a bet with Eastlake football manager Steve Soulsby about when Himmelberg would get picked up and proved right on the money.

As a Greater Western Sydney academy player, the Adelaide Crows made a bid for Himmelberg and then the Giants matched that offer.

"Steve Soulsby and myself were both having a wager last night and we both said where do you think he'll go," Waite said.

"I actually said pick 16 in the first round. I wasn't surprised, I picked it. I just thought he's got the attributes of a really strong key forward."

While it was a long year for the Demons in the NEAFL - with just one win and a draw among the many losses - GWS selecting Himmelberg was a rare highlight.

They opted to play youth in 2015, giving youngsters such as 19-year-old Himmelberg and Brydan Hodgson, who could still be picked up in Friday's rookie draft, the chance to shine.

Waite felt there could be even more to come next year through Thomas Highmore, Donald Roberts and Logan Gray.

While kids from the Australian football states grow up with a footy in their hand, Waite said one advantage NSW/ACT kids had was they generally got to play senior footy from a young age.

"That's what the NEAFL is all about, to get strong, quality games into young guys and give them the best opportunity to get drafted," he said.

"It's also a credit to him to leave Wagga Wagga and move to Canberra and put a little bit of extra time into his football, which has paid off, too.

"We didn't get the win-loss record we would've liked, but we did get a lot of game time into these younger guys and it's paid off.

"There's a couple of guys that are going to get in a good position for next year's draft as well, having some games in this year.

"Hopefully we can keep that going for next year. I think the model is good, where we can give some senior football at a higher level to young guys so when they go back to under-18 level they can really strut their stuff."

But he felt one advantage the kids in NSW and the ACT had was an exposure to senior footy at a younger age.

Eastlake's draw for the 2016 NEAFL season was released on Wednesday.

They play Redland at Gungahlin Enclosed in round one on April 2, because Manuka Oval is unavailable due the AFL clash between GWS and Geelong the following day.

Eastlake will play the Giants reserves in a curtain raiser to the GWS-Port Adelaide game and a curtain closer against premiers NT Thunder - playing in Canberra for the first time - for the Giants-Richmond fixture.