By Jonty Ralphsmith
Warragul Industrials footballer Alix Tauru landed at St Kilda at the AFL National Draft last Wednesday.
Tauru was taken at pick 10, with the Saints pouncing on a bolter who wasn’t on draft radars at the beginning of 2024.
His rise has been so rapid that there was an expectation prior to the draft that a North Melbourne team in need of key position depth could select him at pick 2.
While talk about the Roos selecting him at pick 2 had shifted by draft day, Melbourne were also believed to be keen, before they passed him up as they took the strategy of picking the best available talent.
The new Saint was the first key-position player selected in the 2024 AFL National Draft.
“Alix is an aggressive and powerful intercept defender who can go forward and hit the scoreboard,” said EGM Football David Misson.
“He’s a very exciting prospect and will be a great addition to our defensive stocks.”
He watched his name get called out at Marvel Stadium surrounded by family and friends, whose passion was one of the highlights of the night.
“There definitely was a great reaction, it was nothing I didn’t expect though,” Tauru said.
“I knew Mum would be up and about – she’s been along the road with me but the reaction shows how much they care for me.
“It’s a crazy moment and unreal to think about – it’s been a dream.”
Tauru addressed the links to North Melbourne and spoke about how he’s handled the talk.
“No doubt I’ve seen (the links to North) on the socials and the family has brought it to my attention but I couldn’t be happier now and couldn’t care about all of that stuff, as long as I ended up as a club,” Tauru said.
“I don’t need to prove anything to anyone but myself and the team and people around me.
“All the anticipation was a bit overwhelming at times but I’m nothing but grateful to end up with St Kilda.”
A Dusties local, Tauru played four senior games for he club, including an eyecatching debut in 2022 which has hindsight has proven was merely an appetiser for the consistency he would soon show.
“It’s been really good to build those connections and it makes it a whole lot easier when you have those people to rely on for advice especially footy people who can give you life advice and footy advice,” Tauru said.
“Respect is a massive thing and i think you gain that by doing the best you can.
“All I can bring is my best intercept defending going forward.
“Hopefully I can gain the respect of my teammates and they see how much I put into the club.”
Having hardly been on the map early in the season due to continual injury interruptions, Tauru played 12 games in 2024, averaging 15 disposals and six marks.
His raw competitiveness, marking and ability to read the play led to a late call-up for Vic Country, with AFL interest burgeoning thereafter.
“It wasn’t really development, I think I always had it in me,” Tauru said.
“Obviously, though, the injuries, there has been road bumps in the journey but I found my position, the coaches trusted me to play there and that just let me shine and show my real talent.
“It’s pretty easy coming in when you don’t have any expectations.
“I didn’t think I was going to get drafted until halfway through this year so it’s just about taking it day by day and go and playing the best footy I can and it’s come to fruition and here I am now.
“I never had any expectations.
“I started hearing my name out there but I had to tell myself that nothing’s certain.
“I never got it in my mind that I was already drafted, I always had to work hard to get where I am.”
Tauru’s Power teammate Xavier Lindsay was the next player taken, at pick 11 by Melbourne.
The Morrish Medalist will add to the Dees’ midfield mix and indicated his recovery from a PCL injury is progressing well.
Dandenong duo Harvey Langford and Cooper Hynes were also taken on night one.
Langford, a Larke Medal winning midfielder-forward, was linked to Adelaide’s pick four as well as Melbourne in the lead up, ending up at the Dees.
It was known in the industry for some time that the Dogs were keen on Hynes, with the explosive talent selected at pick 20.
Langford and Hynes’ Stingrays’ teammates Noah Mraz and Riak Andrew were both selected on the second night of the AFL National Draft, each enjoying the moment surrounded by family and friends.
Mraz was selected by Hawthorn at pick 35, with the Hawks adding to their key-position depth following the departure of Denver Grainger-Barras.
Andrew, an interceptor from Berwick, was taken by a Sydney side which has been impressed by the rate of his development.
Warragul’s Jasper Alger was also taken on night two, Richmond seizing at pick 58.
The strong marking small forward had first round interest from three clubs, which all overlooked him, leading to him sliding down the order, before the Tigers traded back into the draft to get him.
Gippsland pair Asher Eastham and Ricky Mentha, meanwhile, found their way onto a rookie list.
Eastham went to Gold Coast at pick 17 in the rookie draft and proved one of the bolters of the draft.
The interest in the Power swingman came late after a move to halfback exposed his strong ball use.
Mentha was Category B listed by Melbourne after the AFL Academy prospect showed he could provide x-factor as a small forward and drive as a running back throughout 2024.
Narre Warren’s Sam Toner was one of the hard luck stories of the draft.
Expected to get picked in the lead up, clubs ultimately overlooked the 19-year-old whose form at Narre Warren has been sizzling but has spent minimal time in a talent pathways system.
