Related – Caldwell’s journey to the draft
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Jye Caldwell looks set to be a top 10 selection in Thursday night's AFL National Draft, but three of his Bendigo Pioneers team-mates face a nervous wait to see if they'll realise their football dream.
After having six players selected in last year's AFL National Draft, the Pioneers have four players under consideration this year.
Caldwell is a lock to be drafted, while Bailey Henderson, Zane Keighran and Jacob Atley are outside chances to be picked late in the national draft or in the rookie draft.
Caldwell is rated in the best five midfielders in the draft and could go as high as selection four to St Kilda.
"My gut feel is that Jye won't go any later than pick eight,'' Pioneers talent manager Steve Sharp said.
"I don't have any inside information, it's just a feeling I have.
"With clubs being allowed to trade picks you just never know what's going to happen, but I'd be very surprised if Jye's outside of the top eight."
Henderson was touted as a possible draftee last year.
He missed selection and spent 2018 on the Pioneers list as an overage player.
The athletic utility impressed in senior football in the BFNL with Strathfieldsaye.
Keighran's elite kicking is his greatest attribute. His season was cut short by a back injury.
Atley's season was also hampered by a back injury. When fit he was one of the Pioneers most influential players.
"Bailey Henderson played some good footy at senior level with Strathfieldsaye and then his last three games at TAC Cup level were outstanding,'' Sharp said.
"He played as a key defender and his intercept marking was terrific.
"Zane Keighran played some terrific games for us and was rewarded with selection in the Vic Country squad. He played a couple of games at the national championships.
"Jacob Atley had a back injury early in the year which probably cost him Vic Country selection.
"Fingers crossed for those three boys... we'd be wrapt if they got a gig.
"Just one of the 18 clubs might have seen something through the year from these players that took their eye.
"They're all developing players as well. Last year you could tell that Paddy Dow and Lochie O'Brien would play senior footy this year (with Carlton).
"The year before that we had Ferg Greene get drafted. He was more of a late developer and it took him nearly two years to break into senior footy (with the Western Bulldogs).
"Bailey, Zane and Jacob are probably more in the Ferg Greene type bracket."
Sharp said the Pioneers had spoken to several clubs about their prospective draftees.
"We've done a lot of work, but at this stage we just don't know,'' he said.
"Last year we had a good idea that Carlton was going to pick Lochy O'Brien with pick 10.
"We were pretty sure Paddy Dow was going to go to Carlton at pick three, but there was some chance Fremantle might have picked him at two.
"Carlton was keen to get Brent Daniels as well. GWS picked Brent with selection 27, but I know that Carlton was going to get him with pick 30 if he was still available.
"Carlton picked up Angus Schumacher later in the draft as well, so we could have had four players picked by Carlton in the one draft."
The first round of the AFL National Draft is on Thursday night, while the remaining rounds of the draft and the rookie draft will take place on Friday.