FOR THE second season in succession Geelong has used its first pickon a player that played little football in his draft year afterselecting Nakia Cockatoo with pick No.10 in Thursday night's NAB Draft.

 

Cockatoo shot to prominence after a sensational performance in thecurtain raiser on Grand Final day when representing an under ageall-star team.

 

He had an operation after touring Europe with the AIS-AFL Academyto repair his injured foot and did not return until Grand Final day.

 

However Geelong recruiting manager Stephen Wells said the club hadseen enough of Cockatoo to use pick No.10 on the tall NorthernTerritorian.

 

"We've seen plenty of Nakia with his year's in the under-16championships, with the AFL Academy last year and also under-18championships last year. We saw enough of him to use our top-10 pick,"Wells told AFL.com.au.

 

The Cats chose Darcy Lang with pick No.16 in last year's draftdespite the midfielder breaking his leg in 2013. Lang was veryimpressive in his first season at the club and managed one senior game.  

 

Although Geelong ended up selecting four midfielders afterrecruiting talls Mitch Clark and Rhys Stanley during the trade period,Wells said he would have been happy to pick talls if the cards fell thatway on the night.

 

"It was just a matter of how it fell on its first pick if Nakia hadgone we would have been happy to pick another tall player," Wells said.

 

"We didn't have a plan to just get midfielders or mix it up too much. It was just to see how it fell."

Stephen Wells says: "He has a great inside and outsideaspect to his midfield game. He is skilful and talented but still he hasa long way to go but we think he can play forward as well."

Stephen Wells says: "He played really well for SouthAustralia this year in their championship-winning team as well asplaying senior footy at Glenelg. He is a smaller player but he runs andcarries the ball well, kicks goals and has an energy about him on thefield. He had a good year."

Stephen Wells says: "Played senior football with Sturt whocompeted well for South Australia. He is a strong boy with good runningability and is a good user of the footy."

Stephen Wells says: "A skilful player who played well in thechampionships. He is a development player who will most likely playaround the flanks or on the wing initially."