THE AFL announced the second group of players that will attend the 2015 NAB AFL Draft Combine in October at Etihad Stadium in Melbourne.
The Medium Forwards group comprises of 10 players including Matthew Kennedy from NSW/ACT who this time last year was playing for Collingullie-Glenfield Park Football Club in the Riverina Football League before representing his state impressively at Under-18 level this year.
Last year Conor McKenna from County Tyrone, in Northern Ireland participated in the NAB AFL Draft Combine as a medium forward – this weekend he debuts for Essendon. Once again the search for potential AFL talent broadens.
AFL National and International Talent Manager Kevin Sheehan said: “Medium Forwards like Hawthorn’s Luke Breust, who was selected as a Rookie or Sydney Swans’ Luke Parker, chosen in the Draft at selection number 40, are sometimes difficult to identify with their great ability to read the flow of play coming into the forward zone and off packs often uncanny.
“Others such as Port Adelaide’s Chad Wingard had elite natural talent in most areas including overhead and around goals. It was no surprise he was then selected at number six in the Draft in 2011.” he said.
Eighty-two players will attend the 2015 NAB AFL Draft Combine in Melbourne at Etihad Stadium from Thursday October 8 to Sunday October 11.
State Combines will be held in Melbourne (October 11), Perth (October 18), Adelaide (October 19) and Sydney (October 26).
The remaining positions groups will be released as follows:
Medium Defenders September 2
Tall Forwards/Rucks September 9
Tall Defenders September 16
Small Def/Mid/For September 23
2015 NAB AFL Draft Combine – National
Medium Forwards
NSW/ACT
Jock Cornell Mangoplah CUE/GWS Academy
2/04/1997 Height: 187cm Weight: 82kg
Resilient, adaptable and versatile medium forward who reads the game extremely well and applies good forward line pressure. Excellent kick at goal and was impressive for NSW/ACT in NAB AFL Under-18 Championships, averaging 13 possessions, three tackles and two goals per game. Graduate of the NAB AFL Academy and member of the GWS Giants Academy.
Matthew Kennedy Collingullie-GP/GWS Academy
6/04/1997 Height: 187cm Weight: 84kg
Medium forward/midfielder who is a prolific ball winner and strong overhead. Missed national championships due to injury but was in outstanding form for the Rams in the TAC Cup competition, averaging 23 possessions in five matches. Member of GWS Academy. Has overcome his knee injury and will return in coming weeks and expected to play for the Allies on the MCG on Grand Final Day.
Lachlan Tiziani Albury/Murray Bushrangers
13/03/1997 Height: 188cm Weight: 80kg
Medium forward who can also play through the midfield or in defence. Quick, and has neat skills by hand and foot. Team orientated player with excellent work ethic. Has averaged 14 possessions, five marks and three tackles in 10 matches in the TAC Cup this year, and represented NSW/ACT in NAB AFL Under-18 Championships this year and the GWS Giants in the NEAFL.
Western Australia
Callum Ah Chee South Fremantle/Kelmscott
9/10/1997 Height: 182cm Weight: 71kg
Exciting medium forward with elite pace, agility and a tremendous natural leap. Was outstanding for the NAB AFL Academy earlier in the year against the Northern Blues, gathering 19 possessions, kicking two goals and taking a 'mark of the year' contender in the goal square. Already transitioned to senior level impressively at WAFL level. Averaged 14 possessions and four marks for Western Australia in the NAB AFL Under-18 Championships this year.
Victoria
Blake Hardwick Eastern Ranges/Doncaster East
5/02/1997 Height: 181cm Weight: 78kg
Medium forward who is terrific on the move as a 'lead-up' forward. Is a difficult match up one-on-one and regularly makes something out of nothing around goals with his elite power, regularly bursting from contested situations. Averaged 10.8 possessions and 3.8 marks in four games at the NAB AFL Under-18 Championships. Has kicked 45 goals, 16 behinds in 11 matches this season at TAC Cup level, including 12 goals against the Bendigo Pioneers and 10 against the Geelong Falcons.
Daniel Houston Oakleigh Chargers/Greythorn
12/05/1997 Height: 187cm Weight: 83kg
Medium forward who times his leads very well, has strong hands out in front and overhead and is an exceptional kick for goal. Kicked three goals in Chargers win in the 2014 TAC Cup Grand Final and is co-captain this year. Impressed with four goals against South Australia in NAB AFL Under-18 Championships and excelled with eight goals against the Bendigo Pioneers in Round 11 of the TAC Cup.
Aidyn Johnson Bendigo Pioneers/Echuca
31/10/1997 Height: 184cm Weight: 75kg
Medium forward with explosive pace and agility which allows him to find space in congested areas. Member of the NAB AFL Academy whose season has been marred by injury. Mixes his football between Scotch College and the Bendigo Pioneers and is currently on track to be fully fit to present his athletic and football potential at the NAB AFL Draft Combine.
South Australia
Oleg Markov North Adelaide/Gepps Cross
8/05/1996 Height: 188cm Weight: 73kg
Medium midfielder/forward with elite endurance and speed, making him a top end athlete. Dangerous around goals, highlighted by his five goals against Vic Metro at the championships. Averaged 13 possessions (75.4 percent efficiency) and 4.6 marks in five matches at the NAB AFL Under-18 Championships, playing as a 19-year-old. Son of Dimitri Markov, former world champion pole vaulter.
Wayne Milera Central District/Ingle Farm
14/09/1997 Height: 185cm Weight: 75kg
Medium midfielder who oozes class with ball in hand. Makes excellent decisions by either hand or foot. His best games were against Western Australia and Vic Metro where his pace and elusiveness proved to be major assets. Averaged 15 possessions across six matches at the NAB AFL Under-18 Championships.
Mason Redman Glenelg/Millicent
26/08/1997 Height: 187cm Weight: 76kg
Classy medium forward who is quick off the mark, a terrific user of the ball and makes great decisions. Strong overhead and showed real poise around goals. Kicked three goals against Vic Metro in his best performance at the NAB AFL Under-18 Championships.
2015 NAB AFL Draft Combine – State
Medium Forwards
Kieran Agius North Adelaide SA
1.10.1997 Height: 189cm Weight: 84kg
Brett Blair Geelong Falcons VIC C
24.2.1997 Height: 188cm Weight: 79kg
Jayden Brind West Adelaide SA
8.10.1997 Height: 181cm Weight: 86kg
Jordan Dawson Sturt SA
9.4.1997 Height: 190cm Weight: 82kg
Nicholas Dodge Tasmania TAS
6.2.1997 Height: 182cm Weight: 79kg
Yestin Eades North Ballarat/Swan Districts VIC C
10.2.1997 Height: 183cm Weight: 80kg
Jake Gilbert Eastern Ranges VIC M
22.1.1997 Height: 190cm Weight: 72kg
Marshall Jones Perth WA
26.8.1997 Height: 188cm Weight: 84kg
Lockey McCartney Geelong Falcons VIC C
28.10.1997 Height: 183cm Weight: 78kg
Josh Minogue Murray Bushrangers VIC C
9.10.1996 Height: 189cm Weight: 80kg
Liam Myatt Dandenong Stingrays VIC C
16.1.1997 Height: 184cm Weight: 73kg
Mitch Rainbird Glenorchy TAS
24.10.1996 Height: 186cm Weight: 84kg
Jake Sushames North Launceston TAS
23.9.1997 Height: 186cm Weight: 66kg
Jack Wallace Sandringham Dragons VIC M
1.8.1996 Height: 186cm Weight: 75kg
Nick Weller Brisbane Lions Academy QLD
2.7.1996 Height: 183cm Weight: 81kg
Shane Yarran Subiaco WA
2.6.1989 Height: 186cm Weight: 76kg
The NAB AFL Draft Combine is part of the NAB AFL Rising Stars Program, which supports grassroots players and football communities and helps young Australians fulfil their dream of playing in the AFL.
NAB has been Footifying Australia since 2002 through the NAB AFL Rising Stars Program which comprises the following elements:
· NAB AFL Rising Star
· NAB AFL Draft
· NAB AFL Draft Combine
· NAB AFL Trade Period
· NAB AFL Under-18 Championships
· NAB AFL Academy
· NAB AFL Under-16 Championships
