Bunbury gem has recruiters excited
AFL recruiters are again descending on WA's South-West on the trail of a new potential draft gem from Bunbury-based club Carey Park which is proving to be a remarkable talent breeding ground.
Seven clubs, including West Coast and Fremantle, are known to have already shown interest in lively utility player Kirk Ugle, who will play for Carey Park in Sunday's South West Football League second semifinal against South Bunbury.
The club has recently produced Sydney speedster Lewis Jetta, Melbourne forward Neville Jetta and his Demons teammate Jamie Bennell. Previous stars include Essendon's 2000 premiership hero Paul Barnard and former West Coast gun Troy Ugle.
Officials from North Melbourne and the Western Bulldogs are understood to be heading to Bunbury this weekend to scout Ugle and his teammate Chris Rintoul, a cousin to former Adelaide, West Coast and Collingwood midfielder, Chad.
Collingwood recruiters have already met with Ugle, who is also on the recruiting radar of the Gold Coast and Melbourne. West Coast premiership star Adam Hunter and Essendon midfielder Kyle Reimers were other notable products from the South-West city.
Carey Park coach John Baggetta said the left-footed Ugle had every bit as much AFL potential as the two Jettas and Bennell, whom he watched come through their formative years at the club. He tipped him to become an elite wingman or half-forward.
"They've all got different characteristics," Baggetta said.
"Jamie had the explosiveness about him, but Kirk is more explosive in a different way.
"He can take the big mark like Jamie and has got the same sort of speed, but while Jamie is more cat-like prowling off the back of packs and then striking, Kirk gets in the heat of it and explodes out of it.
"Once you get Kirk in an AFL gym, he will get good size about him and I've got no doubt he will make it.
"Looking at where Jamie has gone, I think this kid would follow a very similar path."
Both Ugle and Rintoul have played four games each for the Swan Districts colts this year under former Fremantle and West Coast defender Greg Harding.
Baggetta said Rintoul was looking like a ready-made AFL defender.
"There has been some interest in him," he said.
"He has very good speed and endurance and would be ideal playing in a well-drilled and disciplined side because you don't have to tell him things twice."
