A group of 23 Medium Midfielders will attend the 2015 NAB AFL Draft Combine at Etihad Stadium in October.
Four players from this group were included in the NAB AFL Under-18 All-Australian teams of the last two years and eight are graduates of the NAB AFL Academy.
AFL National and International Talent Manager Kevin Sheehan said Medium Midfielders had been chosen at No.1 in the Draft more than any other position.
“This year will be the 30th year of the Draft and Medium Midfielders have been selected at number one on 10 occasions with the likes of Brett Deledio, Marc Murphy, Bryce Gibbs, David Swallow, Adam Cooney and Lachie Whitfield given that honour,” he said.
“They are the playmakers and generally read the game exceptionally well, make great decisions and use the ball with rare efficiency. They also have the elite athletic ability to excel at AFL level with the very best having exciting speed, rare agility and the endurance to excel immediately at AFL level. Again this year’s Medium Midfielders look very talented.”
A total of 82 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).
Keep checking afc.com.au’s Draft & Trade Hub for analysis of the remaining groups as follows:
Medium Forwards - August 26
Medium Defenders - September 2
Tall Forwards/Rucks - September 9
Tall Defenders - September 16
Small Def/Mid/Fwds - September 23
2015 NAB AFL National Draft Combine
Medium Midfielders
NSW/ACT
Jacob Hopper
North Ballarat Rebels/Leeton-Whitton
6/02/1997
Height: 186cm
Weight: 82kg
Medium midfielder with an excellent work ethic who has the ability to win the footy both on the inside and outside. Shows excellent composure with the ball in hand , making smart decisions and executing well. A boarder at St Patrick’s College in Ballarat, he is also a member of the GWS Giants Academy. He won the NSW/ACT MVP. Member of NAB AFL Academy. Averaged 26.7 disposals (16.3 contested), 6 inside 50s and 8.7 clearances a game during the NAB AFL Under-18 Championships winning All-Australian honours.
Callum Mills
North Shore
2/04/1997
Height: 186cm
Weight: 80kg
Outstanding medium midfielder who's season has been ruined by shin and foot injuries. An All-Australian at Under-18 level in 2014 he is a prolific ball winner, courageous, strong overhead and a good ball user. Member of the Swans Academy and NAB AFL Academy.
Victoria
Harley Balic
Sandringham Dragons/Parkdale
15/01/1997
Height: 186cm
Weight: 80kg
Medium forward/midfielder who is strong in the air and is very good one-on-one. Is an extremely agile and elusive player who has clean hands and is an excellent decision-maker. Strong bodied player who is composed with the football in his hands and looks to have time when the ball is in his possession .All Australian at Under 18s level this year.
Ryan Clarke
Eastern Ranges/Knox
17/06/1997
Height: 180cm
Weight 77kg
Medium midfielder who has a thirst for the contest. A prolific ball winner with elite endurance. Thrives with his contested ball winning ability, and can also find it out in space due to a terrific work rate. Averaged 19 disposals (10 contested), 3.8 clearances and 3.2 tackles in five games at the NAB AFL Under-18 Championships.
Rhys Mathieson
Geelong Falcons/Bell Park
10/01/1997
Height: 185cm
Weight: 79kg
Extremely tough and competitive medium midfielder who plays a physical brand of football. Possesses excellent game sense and football smarts while reading the ball very well in flight off the boot. A great extractor of the football out of tight situations using his clean hands to great effect. Is now a back-to-back Under-18 All-Australian. Averaged 20 disposals, five clearances and four inside 50s at the NAB AFL Under-18 Championships. Member of NAB AFL Academy.
Nash Holmes
Gippsland Power/Sale
13/03/1997
Height: 180cm
Weight: 74kg
Hard working medium midfielder whose contested ball winning ability as well as his tackling pressure are features of his game. Very smart around goals, generally being first to move using his footy smarts. Averaged 16 possessions and 3.8 inside 50s in six matches at the NAB AFL Under-18 Championships.
James Parsons
Eastern Ranges/Norwood
12/04/1997
Height: 189cm
Weight: 75kg
NAB AFL Academy member who has elite speed and his long kicking is a real feature of his game. His performance against Vic Country in game 1 was the highlight of his five games at the NAB AFL Under-18 Championships. Averaged 12.8 possessions at 73.4 percent efficiency.
Thomas Glen
Dandenong Stingrays/Beaconsfield
7/5/1997
Height: 187cm
Weight: 72kg
Versatile medium midfielder who can also play as a rebounding defender. Has good speed and uses the ball extremely well by hand and foot. Represented Vic Country at this year's NAB AFL Under-18 Championships showing his ability to read the play well and make good decisions under pressure. Had excellent year with the Stingrays, averaging 19 possessions at an impressive 77 percent efficiency.
Liam Jeffs
Eastern Ranges/East Ringwood
30/3/1997
Height: 192cm
Weight: 78kg
Tall midfielder who uses his height to his advantage at stoppages and distributes the ball effectively, especially by hand. Had injury interrupted year but has returned in last month with his best performance at TAC Cup level vs Geelong Falcons, gaining 19 possessions with four clearances and four tackles. Member NAB AFL Academy.
Thomas Jok
Dandenong Stingrays/Beaconsfield
1/1/1997
Height: 190cm
Weight: 72kg
Tall midfielder with excellent combination of pace and endurance. Sudanese born youngster who missed the NAB AFL Under-18 Championships due to injury but has returned to play some exciting football at TAC Cup level, averaging 17 possessions and 6.5 tackles. Kicked five goals in the AGS vs APS College representative game this month, highlighting his potential.
Kurt Mutimer
Dandenong Stingrays/Narre Warren
11/3/1997
Height: 185cm
Weight: 81kg
Left footed medium midfielder who is a penetrating kick, is strong overhead and has good natural pace. Important player of Victoria Country Championship winning team, averaging 15 possessions. Had excellent season with Stingrays, averaging 22 possessions (11 contested), 5 tackles and 4.5 clearances.
Clayton Oliver
Murray Bushrangers/Mooroopna
22/7/1997
Height: 187cm
Weight: 86kg
Strong bodied medium midfielder who has been a revelation in the TAC Cup this year, averaging 25 possessions (including 15 contested). Stoppage star who excels one-on-one and uses the ball effectively, particularly by hand. Averaged six clearances and six tackles for the Bushrangers this year and kicked 10 goals in his 12 matches to date.
Josh Dunkley
Gippsland Power/Sale
9/1/1997
Height: 189cm
Weight: 82kg
Medium midfielder who is a prolific ball winner and a smart user of the ball. Is a very good mark overhead and can play in many roles within his team. Is a natural leader who regularly lifts his team mates within games. Is eligible under the father/son rule for the Sydney Swans, where his father Andrew was a star. Was recovering from injury and missed early part of the NAB AFL Under-18 Championships before playing two games and averaged 12 possessions in limited game time. Member of NAB AFL Academy.
Braden Fiorini
Northern Knights/Greensborough
22/8/1997
Height: 186cm
Weight: 75kg
Classy medium midfielder or defender who uses the ball very well on his preferred left foot. Solid performer for Victoria Metro in NAB AFL Under-18 Championships, averaging 15 possessions in three matches but has starred for Knights in the TAC Cup, averaging 30 possessions at 76 percent efficiency across 11 matches this season.
David Cuningham
Oakleigh Chargers/Boroondara Hawks
30/3/1997
Height: 183cm
Weight: 79kg
Extremely quick medium midfielder who represented Vic Metro in the NAB AFL Under-18 Championships this year and also plays for Melbourne Grammar. Has great step through traffic and reads the ball well off hands. Been impressive for the Chargers in six matches this year, averaging 20 possessions and five clearances.
Western Australia
Greg Clark
Subiaco/Sorrento-Duncraig
24/05/1997
Height: 193cm
Weight: 82kg
Captained WA at the NAB AFL Under-18 Championships. Versatile player who has great running ability for a player of his size, regularly out working his opponent during a game. Has good hands and uses the ball effectively Averaged 17.2 possessions and 4.3 marks in six games at the NAB AFL Under-18 Championships. Member of NAB AFL Academy.
Josh Schoenfeld
Peel Thunder/Rockingham
3/07/1997
Height: 186cm
Weight: 75kg
Hard working midfielder with elite endurance who prides himself on working to countless contests due to his ability to spread and cover the ground. Uses the ball effectively by foot often finding the short targets to maintain possession, however also gets forward and impacts the scoreboard. Played in four games for Western Australia during the NAB AFL Under-18 Championships.
Brayden Hackett
Swan Districts/Guildford Grammar
1/2/1997
Height: 183cm
Weight: 69kg
Prolific ball winning medium midfielder with excellent footy smarts and efficient user of the ball. Impressed for WA in the NAB AFL Under-18 Championships, averaging 15 possessions at 73 percent efficiency. Averages 20 possessions at Colts level with Swan Districts along with four tackles and four clearances.
Declan Mountford
Claremont/North Albany
13/2/1997
Height: 183cm
Weight: 70kg
Medium midfielder who can break the lines with his pace. Strong overhead and aggressive in the contest. Consistent performer for WA in the NAB AFL Under-18 Championships, averaging 14 possessions in five matches and has been a prolific ball winner at Colts level, averaging 24 possessions in 10 matches with six clearances and five tackles. Also handled step up to Reserves level, averaging 22 possessions in his two matches.
Tasmania
Mitchell Hibberd
Clarence
23/9/1996
Height: 191cm
Weight: 85kg
Tall midfielder or defender who has overcome significant knee and shoulder injuries to play some exciting football this year for Tasmania. Very good athletically and a sound decision maker. Averaged 23.3 possessions (71.8 percent efficiency), eight handball receives and 4.7 rebound 50s in three games at the NAB AFL Under-18 Championships.
2015 NAB AFL Draft State Combines
Medium Midfielders
Charlie Bance
Wagga Tigers/GWS – NSW
6.11.1997
Height: 183cm
Weight: 84kg
Bryce Batty
Eastern Rangers - VIC M
16.1.1997
Height: 183cm
Weight: 80kg
Thomas Cameron
Sandringham Dragons - VIC M
2.7.1997
Height: 187cm
Weight: 70kg
Mitchell Cox
Dandenong Stingrays - VIC C
24.3.1997
Height: 180cm
Weight: 78kg
Matthew Debruin
Gippsland Power - VIC C
14.1.1996
Height: 187cm
Weight: 72kg
James El Moussalli
Northern Knights - VIC M
18.6.1997
Height: 186cm
Weight: 83kg
Jake Florenca
South Fremantle – WA
15.5.1997
Height: 184cm
Weight: 78kg
Brydon Hodgson
Eastlake – ACT
16.9.1996
Height: 186cm
Weight: 81kg
Marty Hore
Bendigo Pioneers - VIC C
5.3.1996
Height: 186cm
Weight: 76kg
Matthew Jackson
Oakleigh Chargers - VIC M
15.1.1996
Height: 189cm
Weight: 80kg
Jake Lovett
Dandenong Stingrays - VIC C
9.1.1997
Height: 182cm
Weight: 81kg
Dylan McDonald
Murray Bushrangers – NSW
17.1.1997
Height: 183cm
Weight: 69kg
Sam Menegola
Subiaco – WA
7.3.1992
Height: 188cm
Weight: 90kg
Matthew Perry
Nothern Knights - VIC M
30.4.1997
Height: 187cm
Weight: 73kg
Tom Phillips
Oakleigh Chargers - VIC M
7.5.1996
Height: 184cm
Weight: 74kg
Levi Ridley
Swan Districts – WA
17.2.1997
Height: 183cm
Weight: 74kg
Tom Templeton
North Ballarat Rebels - VIC C
11.4.1996
Height: 183cm
Weight: 88kg
Jacob Wheelahan
North Ballarat Rebels - VIC C
1.8.1997
Height: 185cm
Weight: 79kg
Bailey Williams
Glenelg – SA
10.10.1997
Height: 185cm
Weight: 80kg
