DAWSON & D’AMBROSIO DRAFTED

Two players with connections to the WRFL have been selected in Wednesday night’s NAB AFL Mid-Season Draft.

Kallan Dawson (Williamstown Juniors) and Massimo D’Ambrosio (Point Cook) were taken with Pick 2 and 3 respectively.

Dawson, who is currently playing with Williamstown in the VFL, was selected by North Melbourne and with the very next pick, Essendon selected D’Ambrosio

D’Ambrosio becomes the first Point Cook player to be drafted by an AFL club.

The dashing defender played four games with the Western Jets earlier this year and has been playing and training with Richmond’s VFL team.

“Massimo is a running defender, he is a beautiful kick of the footy,” Essendon General Manger Football Josh Mahoney said.

“He had some injuries as an 18-year-old, but this season he has been playing for the Western Jets and has been very good and at the VFL. We are very happy with the selection, we think he really fits our playing list.

“He will miss a couple of weeks with the injury he did last Friday but hopefully he will start playing VFL.

“I think his form in the VFL alone would have almost warranted selection on an AFL list and if he can get back to playing that way we are certainly not limiting him to not playing this year.”

D’Ambrosio had a decorated junior career in the WRFL. He won four league Best and Fairest awards (2018 Under 15 Division 1 Best & Fairest, 2015 Under 12 Division 1 Best & Fairest, 2014 Under 11 Division 1 Best & Fairest, 2013 Under 11 Division 1 Best & Fairest) and won three premierships.

North Melbourne General Manager Football Talent Brady Rawlings was thrilled to add Dawson into the team and bolster the club’s defensive stocks.

“He’s played all this year down back in the VFL. He’s a good intercept mark, he’s put on 10-11 kilos in the last two seasons so he’s got his body ready for AFL footy.

“He’s got good speed, good judgement in the air and he’s been quite skilful and safe with the ball in hand.”