BENDIGO Pioneers coach Damian Truslove says the club is hopeful as many as four players can find an AFL home in Wednesday night's national draft.
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The Pioneers have a trio of players rated by most draft experts among the top 50 prospects in this year's draft.
They are forward/midfielder Jack Ginnivan (Strathfieldsaye), key forward Josh Treacy (Cohuna) and exciting midfielder Seamus Mitchell (Robinvale-Euston).
While Will Shaw, a defender/midfielder from Deniliquin, has emerged as a bit of a smokey in recent weeks, with a few clubs showing interest, according to Truslove.
"We're hopeful with four players, but you just don't know - the clubs don't give you too much," he said.
"They probably have a 30-player wishlist in front of them and it just depends on how it pans out on the night."
Arguably the most sought after of the Pioneers quartet will be Mitchell, a 181cm midfielder, who has fielded approaches from at least 16 clubs ahead of Wednesday night.
"He's got an electric speed and fantastic agility and is a good kick of the ball," Truslove said.
"He's a bit of bolter - Seamus hasn't played much NAB League footy, but a lot of clubs are quite keen because of his speed and agility.
"I don't know if you could say he's our best chance, but he's certainly the one who attracted the most attention from clubs.
"He's an elite talent and has AFL attributes ready to go. He's so quick and reads the play really well."
Mitchell played only a handful of Pioneers games in 2019, which included a standout performance in Tasmania against the Devils, spending the bulk of his season with Robinvale-Euston in the Sunraysia league as a 16 and 17-year-old.
Truslove was confident Ginnivan, a raw, but high-calibre prospect, who has been likened to GWS star Toby Greene by AFL list expert Gary Buckenara, and Treacy, a member of the under-17 AFL Academy, would have plenty admirers at AFL level.
"Jack's history as a junior player has been outstanding and he's had interest from several clubs as that sort of hybrid-forward, hybrid-midfield type player," he said.
"Josh Treacy, from Cohuna, was our captain this year and is a big, tough forward.
"A few clubs took more notice of him after the testing we did. He broke three seconds for the 20-metres, so he really wowed a few clubs, being such a big and strong kid, but he's got some speed as well.
"Him and Jack Ginnivan have had similar interest."
Truslove said Deniliquin's Shaw, who at 19 was the oldest of the quartet, had caught the attention of a few clubs late in the piece.
"Will had a pretty good 2019 in the NAB League as a half-back-wing, elite runner and has good speed and good aerobic capacity," he said.
"He cracks in and is pretty tough and a few clubs have shown some late interest.
"He's a chance to go late in the draft or perhaps as a rookie. A couple of clubs have rung me only in the last few days about him, so hopefully, he can turn into a late pick."
Truslove acknowledged it would be an exciting, but anxious wait for all four players ahead of the draft, which will be televised live on Fox Footy from 7pm.
"It will be a nervous day, but the boys are all going to work during the day and keep themselves busy. It will be a long day and it will be like waiting around for a final," he said.
"I'll be pretty nervous myself, but luckily we have training (Wednesday) night, so that will keep me busy."
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