A player’s name is the least of a recruiter’s concerns when assessing their draftability, so it was by pure coincidence that three of the Brisbane Lions’ six picks at Thursday night’s 2014 NAB AFL Draft happened to be named ‘Josh’.
Josh Watts (Pick No.65), Josh McGuinness (Pick No.81) and Josh Clayton (Pick No.86) were all drafted to Brisbane in the space five minutes, with a ‘Jaden’ (McGrath) thrown in between at Pick No.73 for good measure.
The Lions now boast a quartet of Josh’s – with Josh Green the other.
What’s even more remarkable is that three of the Club's four Josh’s hail from Tasmania – Green (Clarence), Watts (Glenorchy), and McGuinness (Lauderdale).
In fact, the Lions’ Tasmanian contingent has grown from two (Green and Ryan Harwood) to five in the space of a month following the recruitment of McGuinness, Watts, and Carlton free agent Mitch Robinson.
First names that start with the letter ‘J’ have been popular for some time at the Lions, and the latest crop of draftees will ensure that the quota is maintained – particularly following the departures of Jonathan Brown, Jack Crisp, Joel Patfull, James Polkinghorne, and Jordan Lisle over the off-season.
Are you Joshing me?
Interestingly, three of the Lions' six draft selections were named 'Josh'
