Aaron Cadman is a Giant.Credit:Justin McManus
The 18-year-old from Darley,about an hour outside of Melbourne,was instantly linked with Greater Western Sydney once the Giants secured the top pick from North Melbourne ina four-club mega deal in the trade period.
They had the option of bidding on Brisbane Lions father-son prodigy Will Ashcroft,whose father Marcus played in the club’s 2001-03 flag three-peat,but did as expected in picking Cadman instead.
North Melbourne placed a bid on Ashcroft at No.2,which the Lions matched,before the Roos selected Harry Sheezel and George Wardlaw with the next two selections.
There were no surprises in the top 10,with Elijah Tsatas (Essendon),Bailey Humphrey (Gold Coast),Cam Mackenzie (Hawthorn),Jhye Clark (Geelong),Reuben Ginbey (West Coast) and Mattaes Phillipou (St Kilda) rounding it out.
The Bombers were linked to Tsatas and Phillipou pre-draft and had several trade offers to consider before settling on the prolific Oakleigh Chargers on-baller.
Cadman transformed from a tall wingman into the undisputed best forward in the 2022 draft crop thanks to a significant growth spurt,earning him flattering comparisons with Jeremy Cameron and Charlie Curnow.
He also earned All-Australian honours at the national under-18 championships,where he captained Victoria Country after impressing team officials with his leadership in training camps.
Aaron Cadman at Marvel Stadium with his family.Credit:Daniel Pockett,AFL Photos
Cadman achieved all that while rising early each weekday to work as an apprentice electrician for his father,with ex-Giant-turned-Cats star Cameron advising him to have something to distract him from football.
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“I think it’s really special[to be No.1],but at the end of the day,it’s just a title,” Cadman said.
“Obviously,there’s a bit of pressure added to it,which I don’t mind at all. I think that’ll help me just make that into motivation and make me a better player,but ... I’m just here to play footy and do what I do.
“I’m coming into the league as a little fish,so I’ve got a lot of work to do,but,hopefully,I can get in and play a couple of rounds[next year].”
Cadman’s willingness to relocate to Sydney,especially in comparison to other contenders at the top of the draft,convinced GWS he was their man,on top of their need for a forward target.
The first slight surprise came when West Coast selected Elijah Hewett at No.14 instead of fellow West Australian Ed Allan,a 194-centimetre midfielder who instead slipped to Collingwood at 19.
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But Sydney caused the biggest stir when they placed back-to-back bids,firstly on Giants academy midfielder Harry Rowston,then Adelaide father-son defender Max Michalanney.
Both clubs matched those bids,but the Swans’ move on Rowston appeared to blindside the GWS recruiting team.
That followed the Western Bulldogs bidding on the second of Brisbane’s father-son prospects,under-18 All-Australian Jaspa Fletcher at No.12,which always loomed as a possibility.
Sydney then followed up on their pre-draft willingness to trade by shipping their first pick,which became No.18,to Hawthorn for No.27 and future second- and third-round selections.
The Hawks grabbed defender Josh Weddle before the Pies’ Allan pick,leaving Sydney to select small forward Jacob Konstanty and the Giants to end the first round by nabbing diminutive midfielder Darcy Jones.
The rest of the draft will take place on Tuesday night.
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