THEY'RE our favourite stories from the draft: the bolters.

Some of them click in the second half of their final under-18 season and demand to be noticed. Others grow six inches over three lunchtimes, making recruiters salivate at their potential to fill a key position.

One notable bolter over recent seasons has been Jake Melksham, who was barely on the radar halfway through last year before playing out of his skin with Calder Cannons in the TAC Cup finals. Essendon took him at No.10.

The biggest bolter last year was Christian Howard, who was unable to make the South Australian team for the NAB AFL Under-18 Championships halfway through the season and played out the year with Glenelg under-18s. The Western Bulldogs were enchanted by his thumping, precise boot. To general astonishment, the Dogs took Howard at No.15.

In 2008, Mitchell Brown was just another marking prospect before he grew seven centimetres in his final season at Sandringham Dragons. Geelong took him at No.15.

Here's a few who might be considered bolters in this year's draft.

Dyson Heppell, 187cm, 79kg, Gippsland Power (Vic)
Heppell was considered no more than a solid footballer when he set out this season with Gippsland Power. Even halfway through the season, he was still playing on a half-back flank.

It was in that position, however, that he shone with Vic Country in the national under-18 championships. At the end of the carnival, Heppell was named Vic Country's best player and earned an All-Australian guernsey.

After going back to Gippsland, he was moved into the midfield, where his decision-making, use of the ball and general coolness stamped him among the best players in the competition. The 18-year-old was the equal winner of the Morrish Medal. He also led his team in to the grand final (which it lost to Calder Cannons).

Heppell should go to West Coast or the Brisbane Lions at No.4 or No.5 in the national draft. Not bad for a player who was considered to have no x-factor at the start of the year.

Tom Lynch, 199cm, 91kg, Dandenong Stingrays (Vic)
A year ago, Lynch was playing under-18s with Sorrento in Victoria's Mornington Peninsula-Nepean competition.

Even at the start of this year, he was hardly a star during infrequent appearances with Dandenong Stingrays. The change began when he only just made the Vic Country squad for the under-18 championships.

In the fourth match of the carnival, against Queensland at Visy Park, it clicked for him. He took six marks and kicked four goals.

Throughout the second half of the year, Lynch was regularly among the Stingrays' best players. About to turn 18, his height, endurance and cleanness should ensure he goes late in the top 10 in the draft.

Isaac Smith, 190cm, 79kg, North Ballarat (Vic)
The rangy 21-year-old started the 2010 season with Redan in the Ballarat Football League. It was only in late June, as the clearance deadline loomed, that Smith agreed to try out in the VFL with the Roosters.

He played three games in the reserves and then he took off. After an exceptional finals series, he played in a VFL premiership in his sixth senior game.

Smith is tipped to go in the top 20 in the draft, possibly even as high as 15.

Seb Tape, 191cm, 85kg, Glenelg (SA)
It's a bit cheeky putting Tape among the bolters, as the 18-year-old is well-known as a defender with excellent application and concentration. But the way he finished the 2010 season with Glenelg qualifies him for a mention.

Tape finally earned a senior game with Glenelg in the last round of the season. His first opponent was Woodville-West Torrens' star wingman Jared Polec (who will go high in the upcoming draft, possibly to Richmond at No.6).

He was then shifted into defence, where his performance on former AFL players Scott Welsh and Trent Hentschel earned him the Bays' gong for best player.

It's a performance that should see him drafted in the top 20 or close to it.

Kirk Ugle, 173cm, 69kg, Swan Districts (WA)
Ugle's story reflects that of Isaac Smith. He played most of this season with Bunbury's Carey Park in the South West Football League in Western Australia before Swan Districts persuaded him to try out in Perth.

Ugle played in the last four under-18 games, and then impressed at WA's recent state screening.

He's quick, with clean hands and a damaging left foot. The thing against him is his height, but he could go late in the draft.

Tom Ledger, 175cm, 79kg, Claremont (WA)
Little was expected when Ledger was chosen in the West Australian squad for the under-18 championships. But after returning to club footy in Perth, he earned enough votes for best on ground to win the medal for the best and fairest in the colts competition.

Once again, the knock on him is his height, but he could go late in the draft.

The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL.

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