IT'S fair to say the AFL draft was a mixed bag for the Greater Western Victoria Rebels, four players taken within the top 23, but at least five others who will be weighing up exactly what to do with their football careers going forward.
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Josh Gibcus (pick nine, Richmond), Ben Hobbs (pick 13 Essendon), Kai Lohmann (pick 20 Brisbane) and Sam Butler (pick 23 Hawthorn) are all set to embark on AFL careers.
For others, it's now decision time.
Of the nine Rebels invited to the combine, probably the two most unlucky to miss were Morrish medalist Josh Rentsch and GWV Rebels best and fairest Charlie Molan.
Both would have given themselves a chance to be picked up late in Thursday night's draft or in yesterdays' rookie draft.
Three others, Sam Breuer, Hamish Sinnott and Jamieson Ballantyne were also very close to selection having been invited to the AFL Combine and will also now need to look into exactly what they do with their footballing careers.
Breuer, from Horsham, could follow in his father's footsteps and find his way to a VFL or SANFL club, Sinnott is also keen to find a higher level next season, but could benefit from another year with the Rebels if the opportunity was offered, while Ballantyne will need to weigh up his future having spent much of the past few years travelling all parts of the state from his home in Portland.
Rebels head coach David Loader said the conversations with young players who had done everything right were always the toughest.
"There are options, but these boys need weight up now how footy will be their focus," he said.
"You need to say, it hasn't happened first time around so it's very important for them to understand they need a balance in life, whether that be university, work or that sort of stuff.
"Some will look to university, some will potentially look interstate where they have family."
Loader said the smaller windows of opportunities did make things a little harder than previous generations.
"Back in 2006 when we had six taken, they took 103 that night, this time they've only taken 60," he said.
"And then we've got the rookie list which a lot of AFL clubs are now using to pick up delisted players.
"It's something I'm keen to sit down with the AFL and talk about as it's made it very difficult for those kids who are right on the cusp, be they late developers or whatever.
"Even the VFL clubs, if they've got a young list, they are chasing the 26-year-olds, so there really isn't a lot of spots available for a lot of those younger players."
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