You are currently logged in to Club Exclusive access
Walsh, rookies delisted
Essendon today delisted 20-year-old Darren Walsh. After being taken as a second round selection by Essendon in the 2002 National Draft (27 overall), Walsh managed two senior games – both coming in his first year with the club. Walsh joins rookies James Davies, Ben Cosgriff and Peter Summers who were also delisted.
Essendon today delisted 20-year-old Darren Walsh. After being taken as a second round selection by Essendon in the 2002 National Draft (27 overall), Walsh managed two senior games – both coming in his first year with the club. Walsh joins rookies James Davies, Ben Cosgriff and Peter Summers who were also delisted.
""He (Walsh) had glandular fever at the end of last season but he just didn’t grab the opportunities that were put in front of him,"" Essendon recruiting manager Adrian Dodoro said. ""I imagine he will nominate for the draft but he will have to go away and work very hard if he is to force his way back onto an AFL list.""
In other list news, Andrew Lovett and Adrian Wilson have been retained on the rookie list while Davies, Cosgriff and Summers have been de-listed. Joel Reynolds and Courtney Johns will both come off the long-term injury list and return to the primary list.
The last time Essendon participated in a pre-season draft was 1997. Periods of sustained success and the subsequent salary cap pressures made it difficult for the Bombers to get involved. But with three major retirements at the end of last season Essendon at last has some room to move and it is now keeping a very close eye on the pre-season draft for the first time in seven years.
