Stellar night for Sandy: three Dragons selected in the first round

Three Dragons have been taken in the first round of the 2021 NAB AFL Draft.

Finn Callaghan was selected by the GWS Giants, Josh Sinn is heading to Port Adelaide and Campbell Chesser is off to Perth to join the West Coast Eagles.

Callaghan was the first Dragon selected tonight, taken by the Giants with the third pick.

The silky midfielder follows in the footsteps of Chris Judd and Angus Brayshaw as other Dragons to be taken with the third selection in the draft.

Giants National Recruiting Manager Adrian Caruso told their website that Callaghan was difficult to pass-up.

“The combination of speed and agility with good running power gives some flexibility to the roles that he can play for us and the point of difference he adds to our current midfield mix,” Caruso said.  

“Importantly, his strong work ethic and the mindset will allow him to adapt to a few different roles until he is physically ready to step into our midfield.

“It’s rare to find a player with a set of attributes like Finn, he’s pretty special.”

Callaghan joins former Dragons Tim Taranto and Josh Kelly at the Giants.

Kelly is one player that he has played close attention to during his development, telling Fox Footy that he was one of his favourites.

“I’ve watched a bit of him and try to model my game around him a little bit,” Callaghan told Fox Footy.

“I’m over the moon to be at the Giants.

“It’s been a dream since I was little, so to have it happen now, I’m really excited.

“I Can’t wait to get into it.”

At pick 12 Port Adelaide selected 2021 co-captain, Sinn.

The Power traded up from pick 14 to select him in a live trade with West Coast.

It makes him the fourth Dragon on the Power list, joining Miles Bergman, Karl Amon and Ollie Lord.

Port Adelaide’s National Talent Manager Geoff Parker was very excited to select Sinn at 14.

“Josh has explosive speed and great agility to change direction and change the way the ball goes forward from defence,” he told the club website.

Sinn is looking forward to playing with the 2021 Brownlow Medalist, among other stars at the Power.

“I’m really excited to work alongside players like Zak Butters and Ollie Wines just to name a few,” Sinn said.  

“I think that what Ken Hinkley’s been able to do with such a young group, they’re heading in such a special direction and it’s something that I’m so excited to a part of.

“Words literally can’t describe how I feel at the moment.”

On the other side of the pick swap, West Coast took running defender/midfielder Campbell Chesser.

The Lavington product has had an injury-interrupted 2021, playing just three games for the Dragons after a knee injury sidelined him early in the season, but did enough to impress the Eagles.

“I think I’m quite ready to move interstate. I’ve been away from home for four years so I think I’m definitely well-equipped to adapt,” Chesser told Fox Footy. “I’m stoked and can’t wait to get over there.”

“It has been quite disjointed, but I’m lucky to have done enough to get my name read out and I’m absolutely stoked.”

The remaining drafts selections will be made tomorrow night.

You can watch the Draft on Fox Footy and the AFL Website.