Two talented South Australians are among 12 Small Forwards/Midfielders/Defenders set to attend the 2015 AFL National Draft Combine at Etihad Stadium in October.
SA’s U18s MVP Will Snelling and fellow U18s All Australian Luke Partington are among an impressive group featuring highly-touted youngsters such as Jade Gresham and Nick O’Kearney of Vic Metro, Queensland’s Ben Keays and Victoria Country’s Darcy Parish.
AFL National and International Talent Manager Kevin Sheehan said the group was arguably the most dynamic of this year’s draft crop.
“Increasingly AFL clubs are looking for smaller players who can play at either end of the ground in specialised roles or through the midfield in dynamic bursts,” Sheehan said.
“This year’s group of smaller players is as talented as we have ever produced and we look forward to some impressive results in testing at the Draft Combine.”
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).
Keep checking afc.com.au’s Draft & Trade Hub for the latest draft analysis leading into the 2015 AFL National Draft meet in Adelaide on November 24.
2015 AFL Draft Combine – National
Small Defenders, Midfielders & Forwards
South Australia
Luke Partington
Norwood/Tumby Bay
5/03/1997
Height: 181cm
Weight: 72kg
Hard working medium midfielder with good speed and excellent endurance. Can find the ball around the stoppages, however his ability to spread quickly from the contest makes him equally as dangerous on the outside. Composed player who used the ball exceptionally well by hand and foot, he plays with great passion. Member of NAB AFL Academy. Averaged 24.3 possessions (eight contested) across six games at the NAB AFL Under-18 Championships winning All-Australian honours.
Will Snelling
West Adelaide/Goodwood
6/08/1997
Height: 176cm
Weight: 75kg
Small midfielder who captained South Australia and is a prolific ball winner and strong tackler. Won South Australia’s MVP and All-Australian Under-18 honours Already impressed at senior level with West Adelaide this year playing 13 matches and averaging 19.8 disposals. Averaged 21.7 disposals, 7.2 tackles and four clearances across six matches at the NAB AFL Under-18 Championships.
Northern Territory
Davin Ferriera
Wanderers/Norwood
15/09/1996
Height: 174cm
Weight: 68kg
Small forward/midfielder who takes the game on using his pace and agility. Strong overhead for his size he attends Rostrevor College in Adelaide after moving from Wanderers in the NTFL. Represented NT in NAB AFL Under-18 Championships this year and impressed in senior debut for Norwood in SANFL gathering 18 disposals and kicking three goals against Sturt.
Daniel Rioli
St Marys/North Ballarat Rebels
16/04/1997
Height: 179cm
Weight: 65kg
Small forward or defender who is extremely dangerous around goals and very capable overhead for his size. Cousin of Cyril and really impressed in round three of the championships against Tasmania. Averaged 12.3 possessions (10.3 contested) and 4.7 tackles at the NAB AFL Under-18 Championships. Impressed with his four goals against the Geelong Falcons in the TAC Cup finals earlier this month.
Queensland
Ben Keays
Morningside/Lions Academy
23/02/1997
Height: 185cm
Weight: 78kg
Medium midfielder/forward who is a ball magnet with terrific work rate and uses the ball with great efficiency on his preferred left foot. Can push forward where he regularly impacts the scoreboard. Now a dual Under-18 All-Australian and won the Queensland MVP and the Harrison Medal – Division Two Best and Fairest. Member of NAB AFL Academy and Lions Academy. Averaged 28.7 disposals (11 contested) in three matches at the NAB AFL Under-18 Championships.
Corey Wagner
Sandgate/Aspley
23/03/1997
Height: 180cm
Weight: 71kg
Medium midfielder with excellent speed and endurance and a good user of the ball. Smart player who is composed with the football in his hands. Impressive for Queensland in the TAC Cup matches this year with his 31 disposals against the Dandenong Stingrays outstanding. Averaged 18.7 possessions (78.6 percent efficiency) and four clearances at the NAB AFL Under-18 Championships. Member of Brisbane Lions Academy.
Tasmania
Kieran Lovell
Kingston Tigers
16/05/1997
Height: 174cm
Weight: 80kg
Prolific ball-winning small midfielder who can win his own ball at the stoppages and link up on the outside to provide run for his team. Has good speed and elite endurance as well as the ability to win the ball overhead in one-on-one contests. Won the Tasmanian MVP and All-Australian Under-18 honours. Averaged 35 possessions (14 contested) and 5.5 clearances during the NAB AFL Under-18 Championships.
Victoria
Jade Gresham
Northern Knights/South Morang
24/08/1997
Height: 177cm
Weight: 74kg
Small midfielder/forward with elite speed and power. Excelled at stoppages and was able to push forward and kick some important gaols for his team. Indigenous player who was a member of the Flying Boomerangs in 2012. Won the Vic Metro MVP and TAC Cup coaches award this year. Averaged 23.2 possessions (76.7 percent efficiency), six marks and 5.2 clearances across five games at the NAB AFL Under-18 Championships winning All-Australian honours.
Hisham Kerbatieh
Calder Cannons/Hadfield
16/05/1997
Height: 177cm
Weight: 77kg
Small forward/midfielder who is very smart around goals using his speed and long kicking to advantage. A good mark for his size, he represented Vic Metro in the NAB AFL Under-18 Championships kicking nine goals in five matches. Had an excellent year for the Cannons averaging 20 disposals and kicking 22 goals in 14 matches.
Darcy Macpherson
Northern Knights/Diamond Creek
29/10/1997
Height: 174cm
Weight: 72kg
Small midfielder/forward who is a prolific ball winner averaging 21 disposals in eight matches with the Knights this year. Missed the NAB AFL Under-18 Championships due to injury. Eligible for Father/Son to Western Bulldogs where his father Steve played and progressed to play three VFL matches with the Bulldogs this year.
Nicholas O’Kearney
Calder Cannons/Keilor
13/02/1997
Height: 182cm
Weight: 71kg
Medium defender/midfielder that is efficient by hand and generally uses it well on either foot. Possesses strong hands overhead and reads the ball well in flight. A super competitive player who rarely fumbles and has the ability to find the footy both on the inside and outside. Makes very good decisions under pressure. Member of NAB AFL Academy . Averaged 21.8 disposals (73 percent efficiency) across five games across the NAB AFL Under-18 Championships winning All-Australian honours.
Darcy Parish
Geelong Falcons/Winchelsea
27/07/1997
Height: 181cm
Weight: 73kg
Medium midfielder/forward that reads the game exceptionally well. A quick and agile player with elite decision making ability. Prolific ball winner that hunts the ball and has the capacity to make something out of nothing. Uses the ball very effectively by hand and foot. A back-to-back Under-18 All-Australian and a member of the NAB AFL Academy. Averaged 21.8 disposals and four clearances during his four matches in the NAB AFL Under-18 Championships.
2015 NAFL Draft State Combines
Small Defenders, Midfielders & Forwards
Kade Answorth
Oakleigh Chargers - VIC M
3.10.1996
Height: 180cm
Weight: 79kg
Jared Bell
Perth - WA
27.5.1997
Height: 184cm
Weight: 82kg
Dyson Budarick
Southport/Labrador - QLD
8.8.1997
Height: 173cm
Weight: 74kg
Deven Costigan
Gippsland Power - VIC C
10.4.1997
Height: 179cm
Weight: 65kg
Jayden Cyster
Eastern Ranges - VIC M
20.1.1997
Height: 180cm
Weight: 67kg
Brendan Dew
Central Districts – SA
8.5.1997
Height: 181cm
Weight: 73kg
Andrew Gallucci
Williamstown – VFL
28.1.1994
Height: 178cm
Weight: 67kg
Michael Hagan
NT Thunder/Darwin – NT
5.11.1997
Height: 177cm
Weight: 67kg
Hugh Haysman
West Adelaide – SA
26.2.1997
Height: 178cm
Weight: 72kg
Matthew Johnston
North Ballarat Rebels - VIC C
21.9.1996
Height: 181cm
Weight: 78kg
Jesse Joyce
Palm Beach Currumbin - QLD
17.8.1997
Height: 180cm
Weight: 76kg
Jordan Matera
Sandringham Dragons - VIC M
11.4.1997
Height: 182cm
Weight: 82kg
Shane McAdam
Claremont – WA
28.5.1995
Height: 181cm
Weight: 78kg
Matthew Nunn
Norwood – SA
18.4.1997
Height: 182cm
Weight: 75kg
Ryan Nyhuis
NT Thunder/Nightcliff – NT
6.9.1996
Height: 181cm
Weight: 82kg
Maris Olekalns
North Adelaide – SA
29.8.1997
Height: 182cm
Weight: 72kg
Tom Papley
Gippsland Power - VIC C
13.7.1996
Height: 176cm
Weight: 71kg
Fraser Pearce
Oakleigh Chargers - VIC M
29.7.1996
Height: 186cm
Weight: 75kg
Baden Remmos
Geelong Falcons - VIC C
17.9.1997
Height: 182cm
Weight: 78kg
William Sexton
Geelong Falcons - VIC C
14.5.1997
Height: 175cm
Weight: 76kg
John Shaw
Swan Districts – WA
8.7.1997
Height: 177cm
Weight: 75kg
Kade Stewart
South Fremantle – WA
16.1.1997
Height: 180cm
Weight: 67kg
Lachie Tardrew
Bendigo Pioneers - VIC C
6.9.1997
Height: 182cm
Weight: 70kg
Lachlan Williams
Dandenong Stingrays - VIC C
25.2.1997
Height: 180cm
Weight: 72kg
