James Gwilt - who found him?

[Yorkeys]

Just ruminating on a Sunday night and remembered how wonderful it was in that in Adelaide final which seems so long ago when that new left footer with a sort of Afro named James Gwilt from Noble Park kicked a couple (?) of goals. Can you remember who recruited him - we seemed to ace the draft picks and get left field picks with class like James in those days. I wonder what happened. Perhaps Ross killed off any creativity and initiative - but that is probably me just being anti Ross. Anyway I am suggesting J. Gallagher visit PNG, possibly not Moresby or Manus, maybe Bougainville and look for some gud fella talent nomore. Their beep test is being strong and quick enough to feed yourself without going to Woolies.

[Whiskey]

Beveridge

[stjohnc]

Gwilt was picked up in the 2004 draft with our 4th round pick after a BOG in the Noble Park grand final that year. Wayne Hughes who was on the Noble selection board had moved into the chief recruiting role at Carlton in 2004 and apparently was going to draft Gwilt but we got in first. He was our 4th round pick after McQualter, Aclkand and McGough and ended up playing more games than any of those.
As to who put us onto him is an interesting question
Went back to Noble for a year after finishing at Essendon and played the last two years at Rowville

[skeptic]

For a long time people actually used to reference this draft as a key example of how terrible our drafting... ppl were were furious that we drafted MCG and Ackland.

The thing was, this was an incredibly weak draft with only a couple of decent players after 30... Gwilt, LeCras and Maric the best of them

[Scoop]

Gwilt was picked up in the 2004 draft with our 4th round pick after a BOG in the Noble Park grand final that year. Wayne Hughes who was on the Noble selection board had moved into the chief recruiting role at Carlton in 2004 and apparently was going to draft Gwilt but we got in first. He was our 4th round pick after McQualter, Aclkand and McGough and ended up playing more games than any of those.
As to who put us onto him is an interesting question

An interesting question indeed! Obviously JB called his name out on draft night, but it was one of his assistants who spotted him playing for Noble Park....which started the ball rolling for his recruitment. And your info on the Carlton link is correct.

[minneapolis]

Beveridge

Diet Coke please.

[Moods]

Was an incredible meteoric rise though from Gwilt. I recall that year coaching my local club in the magoos and coaching against Gwilt. He was obviously very good (too good for EFL Reserves) but to be playing in an AFL qualifying final 15 months later was mind boggling.

[saintbob]

Gwilt was picked up in the 2004 draft with our 4th round pick after a BOG in the Noble Park grand final that year. Wayne Hughes who was on the Noble selection board had moved into the chief recruiting role at Carlton in 2004 and apparently was going to draft Gwilt but we got in first. He was our 4th round pick after McQualter, Aclkand and McGough and ended up playing more games than any of those.
As to who put us onto him is an interesting question
Went back to Noble for a year after finishing at Essendon and played the last two years at Rowville

Glad we got Gwilt in that draft, the rest were very ordinary selections.

[Joffa Burns]

James Gwilt was lost???

[Winmar]

That Adelaide final was just brilliant. One of the best footy outings I've been on. Gwilt and Harvey tore them apart.

Smart picks like Gwilt are what enables clubs to move up the ladder without being overly reliant on high picks or big trades.