Related – Caldwell’s pathway to the AFL
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Jye Caldwell is a Greater Western Sydney Giant.
The Bendigo Pioneers and Golden Square product was selected by the Giants with pick 11 in Thursday night’s AFL National Draft.
One of the highest-rated midfielders in this year’s draft pool, Caldwell’s ability to win the footy and explode away from the contest took the eye of recruiters.
The tough on-baller had an injury interrupted season in 2018, but that did little to hinder the Giants’ appreciation of his skills.
Giants national recruiting manager Adrian Caruso said Caldwell was a great fit for the club’s midfield.
“We didn’t expect Jye to be available with this pick,’’ Caruso said.
“He’s a super competitor and has the athleticism most midfielders don’t have.
“He kicks with both feet and has really good vision with his hands.”
AFL Academy coach Luke Power said Caldwell was a steal for the Giants.
“He’s probably one of the toughest kids I’ve seen come through one of our programs,’’ Power told sen.com.au.
“He boarded at Geelong Grammar and was part of their football program down there. He’s a hard-nut, he makes fantastic contested ball decisions, he’s going to be a really good pick.”
Caldwell is the second Bendigo Pioneers graduate to be selected by the Giants.
Small forward Brent Daniels was drafted by the Giants last year.
“It’s great for Jye and his family,’’ Pioneers regional manager Steve Sharp said.
“GWS is a really good club, they’re well set up, they’ve been very competitive the past few years and they’ll look after him well.”
“Brent Daniels is his good mate from Geelong Grammar and the Pioneers and he’s already at GWS, so that’s good for Jye.”
Caldwell is the first Pioneer in draft history to be picked at number 11.
Bendigo Pioneers AFL National Draft history:
1993
No.9 – Rowan Warfe (Fitzroy)
No.37 – Ashley Thompson (Sydney)
……………………………….
1995
No.20 – Nick Carter (Fitzroy)
……………………………….
1996
No.10 – Nathan Brown (Western Bulldogs)
No.52 – Damien Lock (Carlton)
No.53 – Michael Braun (West Coast)
……………………………….
1997
No.8 – Chris Tarrant (Collingwood)
No.18 – Mark Alvey (Western Bulldogs)
No.20 – Dean Solomon (Essendon)
No.30 – Paul McMahon (North Melbourne)
No.39 – Matt Blake (Melbourne)
No.52 – Jordan Doering (Carlton)
No.82 – Nathan Thompson (Hawthorn)
……………………………….
1998
No.26 – Michael O’Brien (West Coast)
……………………………….
1999
No.28 – Brent Guerra (Port Adelaide)
No.41 – Kane Munro (West Coast)
……………………………….
2000
No.4 – Luke Livingston (Carlton)
No.14 – Daniel Harris (North Melbourne)
No.44 – Josh Hunt (Geelong)
No.61 – Callan Beasy (Carlton)
……………………………….
2001
No.13 – Nick Dal Santo (St Kilda)
No.14 – Ashley Watson (North Melbourne)
No.16 – Rick Ladson (Hawthorn)
No.19 – Daniel Elstone (Hawthorn)
No.80 – Hugh Foott (North Melbourne)
……………………………….
2002
No.19 – Troy Selwood (Brisbane)
No.50 – Josh Thewlis (Sydney)
No.53 – Adam Selwood (West Coast)
……………………………….
2003
No.2 – Andrew Walker (Carlton)
No.3 – Colin Sylvia (Melbourne)
……………………………….
2005
No.46 – Travis Baird (Western Bulldogs)
……………………………….
2006
No.7 – Joel Selwood (Geelong)
No.58 – Daniel Connors (Richmond)
No.73 – Andrew Collins (Richmond)
……………………………….
2007
No.15 – Robbie Tarrant (North Melbourne)
No.22 – Scott Selwood (West Coast)
No.47 – Toby Thoolan (Collingwood)
No.70 – Eljay Connors (St Kilda)
……………………………….
2009
No.3 – Dustin Martin (Richmond)
No.57 – Jordan Williams (Hawthorn)
……………………………….
2010
No.31 – Ariel Steinberg (Essendon)
……………………………….
2011
No.27 – Sam Kerridge (Adelaide)
……………………………….
2012
No.5 – Jake Stringer (Western Bulldogs)
No.7 – Ollie Wines (Port Adelaide)
……………………………….
2014
No.73 – Jaden McGrath (Brisbane)
……………………………….
2015
No.36 – Tom Cole (West Coast)
No.45 – Aidyn Johnson (Port Adelaide)
……………………………….
2016
No.32 – Joe Atley (Port Adelaide)
No.42 – Kobe Mutch (Essendon)
No.50 – Kayle Kirby (Collingwood)
No.70 – Fergus Greene (Western Bulldogs)
……………………………….
2017
No.3 – Paddy Dow (Carlton)
No.10 – Lochie O’Brien (Carlton)
No.13 – Jarrod Brander (West Coast)
No.27 – Brent Daniels (GWS Giants)
No.51 – Kane Farrell (Port Adelaide).
No.76 – Angus Schumacher (Port Adelaide).
……………………………….
2018
No.11 – Jye Caldwell (GWS Giants)
