Smith, Smillie & Dattoli all realise their dreams in Night 1 of AFL Draft
- YJFL
- Nov 21, 2024
- 2 min read
Last night during the AFL National Draft, three former Yarra Junior Football League juniors achieved their dreams as they were selected in the first round of this year's draft. Richmond junior Jagga Smith was the first to be selected last night as last year's Elimination Finalists in Carlton selected him with pick number three. Smith will look add depth and speed to Carlton's midfield and work in tandem with reigning Brownlow Medallist Patrick Cripps and star midfielder Sam Walsh.
Carlton's pick three and former Richmond junior Jagga Smith representing the YJFL at U15 level
It wasn't long before the YJFL again was celebrating as Park Orchards junior Josh Smillie was snapped up with pick seven by Richmond, with the Tigers pairing him with first round selected Sam Lalor in what could be a changing of the guard for the Tigers as they embark on a new rebuild, and Smillie, along with a number of his teammates selected last night are at the forefront of that rebuild.
Richmond's pick seven and former Park Orchards junior Josh Smillie representing the YJFL at U15 level
In the final few picks of the first round, the Sydney Swans selected electric small forward Jesse Dattoli out of Ivanhoe JFC who will pair up with arguably one of the league's best small forward in Tom Papley. Dattoli's excitement, understandably couldn't be contained as he watched from the comfort of his own home with vision showing family and friends estatic for the most recent draftee.
Sydney Swans pick 27 and former Ivanhoe junior Jesse Dattoli representing the YJFL at U15 level
The draft continues tonight with the likes of Tom Gross, Zane Cochrane, Gabe Stumpf, Zak Johnson, Blake Leidler, Luke Quaynor and Noah Yze all hopeful of hearing their name read out and realising their dreams
You’ve touched on a crucial part of the journey most fans don’t see. The draft is a beautiful moment, but it’s just the prologue. Once players like Smith, Smillie, and Dattoli step off that stage, the real work begins. It’s a massive shift—not just physically, but emotionally and socially. Clubs do offer structures—mentors, welfare officers, transition programs—but not all players thrive immediately. Some get homesick, others struggle with sudden expectations. That’s why it’s essential for draftees to have personal grounding: a trusted support system, a stable base, and even routines away from the game. I’ve seen families invest in peace-of-mind environments like https://www.themaimongroup.com/vacation-homes-hollywood-hills not just for luxury, but for emotional stability when relocating to new clubs. A calm, comfortable space…