The AFL today released the names of the Tall Forwards who will attend the 2011 NAB AFL Draft Combines to be held at national and state level beginning October 4.
The national list includes 11 players from Victoria, three from Western Australia and one player from Tasmania.
A further 14 Tall Forwards will attend State Draft Combines in Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth in October.
AFL National Talent Manager, Kevin Sheehan, said the level of talent shown by the Tall Forwards invited to this year’s Draft Combines is very impressive.
“In the 25 years of the Draft only two tall forwards have been taken at number one, with St Kilda captain Nick Riewoldt (2000) and Melbourne rising star Jack Watts (2008) both having that honour.
“This year’s NAB AFL Draft Combine will be held for the first time at Etihad Stadium with a purpose built hardwood sports floor used for the sprints, agility, vertical jumps and the beep test adding to the overall experience,” Mr Sheehan said.
2011 NAB AFL Draft Combine - National
Tall Forwards
Victoria:
Michael Bussey
Club: Eastern Ranges/Rowville FC
Age: 18
Height: 196cm
Weight: 81kg
“Part of the 13th intake into the AIS/AFL Academy. Showed his versatility when he represented Vic Metro at the Under 18 Championships; can play back/forward or midfield. He is very athletic and starting to have a physical presence with his defensive skills.”
Tom Curran
Club: Oakleigh Chargers/Wesley College
Age: 17
Height: 195cm
Weight: 86kg
“Represented Vic Metro in three games at the Under 18 Championships. He is a hard working key position player, son of former Hawk Peter Curran. Is very well built, a good kick and loves the hard contests.”
Jake Hammond
Club: Oakleigh Chargers/Blackburn FC
Age: 18
Height: 190cm
Weight: 82kg
“Has a terrific pair of hands and his judgment in marking contests is excellent. He is a very good left foot kick, especially for goal, has very good endurance (14+ beep) for his size and is also very agile.”
Dylan Orval
Club: Oakleigh Chargers/ Caulfield Grammar
Age: 18
Height: 192cm
Weight: 81kg
Has an excellent leap and is a very good overhead mark, both contested and on the lead. He is a booming kick with good accuracy. Makes smart decisions by both hand and foot. Knee injury put him out of Nationals. Father, Mark, played at Collingwood.”
Jackson Paine
Club: Sandringham Dragons/ Melbourne Grammar
Age: 18
Height: 194cm
Weight: 86kg
“Represented Vic Metro at the Under 18 Championships. He is a very strong key position player who runs very hard at the contest and has the ability to split open a pack with his strong marking.”
Jonathon Patton
Club: Eastern Rangers/ Scoresby FC
Age: 18
Height: 197cm
Weight: 95kg
“Member of the 13th intake in the AIS/AFL Academy. He represented Vic Metro at the Under 18 Championships averaging nine marks and 3.6 goals per game, and winning All-Australian honours. He is a true power forward, is very tall, athletic and good overhead.”
Xavier Richards
Club: Sandringham Dragons/Xavier College
Age: 18
Height: 194cm
Weight: 81kg
“Represented Vic Metro in three games at the Under 18 Championships. He is a very athletic player who is very quick and agile and is good on the lead. Brother, Ted, plays for the Sydney Swans.”
Jai Sheahan
Club: Geelong Falcons/ Newton FC
Age: 18
Height: 195cm
Weight: 83kg
“An exceptional kick of the ball with either foot, he is a good decision making and looks a classy player in space. Been in very good form of late.”
Lachlan Smith
Club: Murray Bushrangers/ Benalla FC
Age: 17
Height: 190cm
Weight: 80kg
“Has a good pair of hands, either on the lead or in contested marking situations. He reads the ball well in the air and his field kicking and decision making skills are very good.”
Jordan Staley
Club: Gippsland Power/ Foster FC
Age: 18
Height: 194cm
Weight: 90kg
“Represented Vic Country in three games at the Under 18 Championships averaging 12.3 hit outs a game in a ruckman/tall forward roll. Attacks the ball with vigour in the air. He is an excellent long and accurate kick at goal.”
Patrick Wearden
Club: Murray Bushrangers/ Kyabram
Age: 17
Height: 191cm
Weight: 75kg
Is a long kick and strong mark, reads the game well and can be dangerous around goals. Very athletic player with good repeat speed.”
2011 NAB AFL Draft Combines – State
Tall Forwards
Melbourne:
Brett Eddy
Club: Collingwood
Age: 21
Height: 194 cm
Weight: 89 kg
Callum Sinclair
Club: Port Melbourne
Age: 21
Height: 200 cm
Weight: 95 kg
Jack Fenner
Club: Calder Cannons
Age: 18
Height: 190 cm
Weight: 88 kg
Sam Gordon
Club: Geelong Falcons
Age: 18
Height: 192 cm
Weight: 90 kg
Jackson Coleman
Club: Sandringham Dragons
Age: 19
Height: 196 cm
Weight: 90 kg
Jackson Starcevich
Club: Morningside
Age: 18
Height: 194 cm
Weight: 83 kg
Fraser Thurlow
Club: Southport
Age: 18
Height: 195 cm
Weight: 89 kg
OTHER STATES
2011 NAB AFL Draft Combine - National
Tall Forwards
Tasmania:
Julian Dobosz
Club: North Hobart
Age: 18
Height: 193cm
Weight: 85kg
“Very smart player inside 50 averaging 3.8 goals in 4 matches in the NAB AFL Under 18 Championships. Reads the ball well in flight, positions himself cleverly in the marking contest, has sure hands and an accurate shot for goal.”
Western Australia:
Joel Hamling
Club: Claremont
Age: 18
Height: 194cm
Weight: 78kg
“Mobile forward playing in the Colts in WAFL who can also play in defence. Impressive for WA against NT and Tasmania in the NAB AFL Under 18 Championships, averaging five marks.”
Shane Kersten
Club: South Fremantle
Age: 18
Height: 190cm
Weight: 88kg
“Powerful forward who is strong overhead and a long kick. Kicked five goals against Queensland in the 2010 NAB AFL Under 18 Championships as a 17 year old but missed 2011 Championships due to injury.”
Fraser McInnes
Club: Perth
Age: 18
Height: 194cm
Weight: 87kg
“Tall forward/ruckman who is strong overhead and reads the game very well. Left footer who presents well as a target. Missed Under 18 Championships due to injury.”
2011 NAB AFL Draft Combines – State
Tall Forwards
Adelaide:
Luke Rander
Club: Norwood
Age: 18
Height: 195 cm
Weight: 85 kg
Tom Sandercock
Club: Port Adelaide
Age: 18
Height: 195 cm
Weight: 83 kg
Nicholas Dinham
Club: Norwood
Age: 18
Height: 197 cm
Weight: 88 kg
Ben Gazzola
Club: Norwood
Age: 20
Height: 194 cm
Weight: 87 kg
Tom Pinyon
Club: Sturt
Age: 18
Height: 196 cm
Weight: 94 kg
Cameron Shenton
Club: Norwood
Age: 20
Height: 187 cm
Weight: 78 kg
Perth:
Alex Devitt
Club: Peel Thunder
Age: 18
Height: 191 cm
Weight: 80 kg
A total of 104 players from all states and territories will attend the 2011 NAB AFL Draft Combine at national level at Etihad Stadium with names for this and for the State Draft Combines to be released in the following positional groups.
NEXT: Tall Defenders announced August 9
Last Modified on 02/08/2011 16:44