WA trio can change draft tune

Exciting trio Jarrod Pickett, Clem Smith and Jarrod Garlett will restore the reputation of indigenous players in WA and set the new benchmark for Aboriginals hoping to play AFL when they get drafted today, according to former Brisbane star Chris Johnson.

Several of WA's indigenous footballers have endured troubled times after joining the AFL in recent years.

Dayle Garlett was drafted by Hawthorn last year but quit early in his first season, turned to drugs, has been arrested twice in recent months and could end up in jail.

West Coast forward Murray Newman spent last season in jail while Fremantle de-listed Josh Simpson after he failed to meet the professional standards the club required.

But Johnson said Pickett, Garlett and Smith were set to show the true level of indigenous talent in the State.

Smith and Pickett have been part of the AFL Academy while Pickett and Garlett were also part of the under-15 Flying Boomerangs program.

Newman and Simpson weren't selected for either development group while Garlett was sacked from the academy because of behaviour problems.

Johnson said this year's group had set the scene for future players to follow.

"They're more grounded. You'd think that the pathway for any indigenous boy would be to come through the Flying Boomerangs," Johnson said.

"Those three guys are well entrenched in what they want out of AFL football and they're driven. It's good to see three WA boys coming out who are indigenous and have good stories rather than talking about the sad and bad all the time and the lowest common denominator.

"The three of them have got the ability to play senior football."

An excited Johnson said indigenous players would play a big part in the draft, especially early.

He predicted four would be chosen in the top 20, which would be the most since 2005.

Victorian Paul Ahern and Northern Territorian Nakia Cockatoo are the other highly rated indigenous players.

Pickett will be the first indigenous player chosen and he could be the fourth selection overall.

Greater Western Sydney and Collingwood have both been linked to the South Fremantle star.

"I'm a big fan," Johnson said.

"I've seen this kid grow from a 14-year-old. Whoever gets him is going to be really privileged.

"He's had AFL football on his mind from a young age and has made every post a winner - when he's played Boomerangs, national 16s, and then for the AIS in New Zealand and kicked four goals in the first quarter and was best on ground.

"This year he played league football, took hangers and looked like he fitted right in.

"Whoever gets him is going to have a good footballer who will play a lot of games for that club."

"It's good to see three WA boys coming out who are indigenous and have good stories …" " *Chris Johnson *