By LIAM TWOMEY
JAMES Sicily was selected by the Hawthorn Football Club at the AFL draft on the Gold Coast last night.
The Western Jet was taken at pick 56 in the third round.
Sicily played in 16 games for the Jets in season 2013 and kicked an impressive 26 goals.
However, it was against the best junior footballers in the country that the midfielder took his game to another level.
Playing for Vic Metro at the National Championships, the Keilor local averaged 14 disposals and seven marks.
His brilliant 2013 season had Western Jets coach Torin Baker confident the gun Jet would have his named called out on draft night.
“I think he’ll have a successful AFL career,” Baker said just days before the draft.
“He can play a variety of roles at AFL level.
“He’s kicked nearly 30 goals in the TAC Cup this year which shows he’s good around goal, so I think he’ll probably start as a forward and further into his career he’ll be able to play a midfield role.”
Sicily joins a host of Western Jets to have made it to the top ranks in recent times including Spencer White (St Kilda), Lachlan Hunter (Western Bulldogs), Elliott Kavanagh (Essendon), Adam Kennedy (Great Western Sydney) and Will Hoskin-Elliott (Great Western Sydney).
He wasn’t the only success story from the Western Suburbs, with Werribee’s Ben Brown also snapped up.
Brown was taken as a mature age recruit by North Melbourne at pick 47.
After being recruited to Werribee for the 2013 season, Brown proved a winner, playing in 18 matches for the Tigers as well as being named in the club’s best players on four occasions.
His selection by the Kangaroos will see Brown remain at Werribee when he isn’t playing for the senior side.
Brown will be joined at North Melbourne by his Tigers’ team-mate Luke McDonald.
McDonald was a father/son selection for the Kangaroos at pick number eight.
After playing his TAC Cup football for the Oakleigh Chargers, McDonald left the juniors behind to start his senior career with Werribee.
For the players from the Western Jets, Werribee and Williamstown Football Clubs who missed out on selection in the National Draft, they now turn their attention to the rookie draft, which will take place on Wednesday 27 November.
