A number of top draft selections are expected to come from this year's crop of Tall Defenders.
The group comprises thirteen players including Jacob Weitering, Riley Bonner, Kieran Collins, Aaron Francis and Eric Hipwood who were selected as Under-18 All-Australians as well as Darragh Joyce from County Kilkenny in Ireland as the search for talent continues to broaden.
“AFL clubs are after players in this category with the potential to become the next Alex Rance, Cale Hooker, Harry Taylor or Michael Hurley who are star performers as tall defenders in the game today," AFL National and International Talent Manager Kevin Sheehan said.
"They have the ability to cover the ground with their athletic ability, are very good one-on-one, read the play exceptionally well taking intercept marks and provide great rebound for their respective teams. Many can also play the swingman role and provide a target up forward when required.”
A total of 82 players will attend the 2015 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 final positions group, Small Defenders, Midfielders and Forwards, will be released next week. Keep checking afc.com.au’s Draft & Trade Hub for the latest draft analysis.
2015 AFL National Draft Combine – National
Tall Defenders
South Australia
Riley Bonner
West Adelaide/Goodwood
7/03/1997
Height: 191cm
Weight: 80kg
Tall defender with penetrating left foot and is very efficient on his non-preferred side. Breaks the lines with his rebound from defence. Can play tall or small. Progressed from Under-18s to senior level with West Adelaide this year. Averaged 18 disposals and five rebounds 50s at the NAB AFL Under-18 Championships winning All-Australian Under-18 honours.
Aaron Francis
West Adelaide/Loxton North
10/08/1997
Height: 191cm
Weight: 81kg
Tall forward/defender with good athleticism and game sense. Knows when to come off his opponent and impact the contest. Makes smart decisions with his disposal and consistently breaks down opposition attacks by winning the ball back in the air. Also a dangerous forward, he kicked four goals against Western Australian in an outstanding performance.
Averaged 15.7 possessions and 5.7 marks across six games at the NAB AFL Under-18 Championships winning All-Australian U18 honours. Member of the NAB AFL Academy.
Luke Surman
Norwood/Rostrevor
7/12/1997
Height: 196cm
Weight: 97kg
Strong marking tall defender who can go forward or assist in the ruck. Highly competitive who holds his position well in the contest. Poised with ball in the hands and has good vision. Held down key defensive position with South Australia in AFL Under-18s this year.
Queensland
Eric Hipwood
Aspley/Caloundra
13/09/1997
Height: 200cm
Weight: 82kg
Tall defender/forward with terrific hands overhead in contested situations. Uses the ball effectively on his preferred left foot. Very agile for a player of his size. Plays both back and forward. He played a major role in Queensland winning Division Two earning All-Australian honours. Member of NAB AFL Academy and Lions Academy. Averaged 21 disposals and 7.3 marks at the NAB AFL Under-18 Championships.
Western Australia
Jesse Glass-Mccasker
Swan Districts
3/01/1997
Height: 196cm
Weight: 95kg
Tall defender who is a great athlete, moving extremely well for a player of his size. Is versatile with his ability to play at either end of the ground. Positions himself well in one-on-one duels and spoils strongly. Provides good run and carry for his team from defensive 50. Averaged 8.2 possessions in five games at the NAB AFL Under-18 Championships.
Dylan Smith
Swan Districts/Midvale
7/02/1997
Height: 198cm
Weight: 81kg
Key position player with elite speed for a player of his size. Displays many quality traits to make him an AFL prospect, including his clean hands and marking ability. Had a standout performance against South Australia in game one, collecting 18 possessions and taking eight marks. Averaged 8.2 possessions and four marks in six games at the NAB AFL Under-18 Championships.
Victoria
Kieran Collins
Dandenong Stingrays/Langwarrin
14/12/1997
Height: 191cm
Weight: 80kg
Tall defender who displays excellent strength and competitiveness in the contest. Defends very well both on the lead and in the air while making smart decisions with his disposals by either hand or foot. Has the ability to win the ball back in the air for his team through his ability to mark strongly overhead. Outstanding in matches against Western Australia and Vic Metro. Averaged 11.8 disposals at 86 percent and five marks at the NAB AFL Under-18 Championships winning All-Australian Under-18 honours. Member of NAB AFL Academy.
Jack Firns
Oakleigh Chargers/Camberwell
9/09/1997
Height: 194cm
Weight: 90kg
Tall defender with real competitive streak and excels in one-on-one contests. Uses his body well in marking duels and spoils soundly. Is intense around the football and makes excellent second efforts. Represented Vic Metro in NAB AFL Under-18 championships in five matches and averaged 11 disposals in 10 matches with the Oakleigh Chargers this year.
Ben McKay
Gippsland Power/Warragul
24/12/1997
Height: 200cm
Weight: 85kg
Tall defender or forward who can also assist in the ruck. Played 10 games with Gippsland Power this year after a late start with his 16 disposals, seven marks and six rebound 50s in key defence against Oakleigh Chargers impressive as a defender. Played forward and kicked four goals from 15 disposals against the Northern Knights in Round 17. Strong overhead and aggressive in the contest. Twin brother to Harry who is also attending the Draft Combine.
Jack Silvagni
Oakleigh Chargers/Greythorn
17/12/1997
Height: 190cm
Weight: 81kg
Tall forward/defender who displays terrific hands both in the air or below his knees for a player of his size. A versatile player who can play forward or back. Son of former Carlton champion Stephen and eligible for father/son selection to the Blues. His six goals vs Western Australia was an outstanding game in the championships.
Sam Skinner
Moe/Gippsland Power
29/06/1997
Height: 197cm
Weight: 96kg
Key defender who can also go forward to impact the game. Can also contribute as a second ruckman making him a very versatile player. Played two matches at the NAB AFL Under-18 Championships, averaging nine possessions and 4.5 tackles, before injuring his knee and ending his season. Now on road to recovery. Member of NAB AFL Academy.
Jacob Weitering
Dandenong Stingrays/Mt Eliza
23/11/1997
Height: 195cm
Weight: 90kg
Tall defender with very strong and clean hands in the marking contest. An athletic player with good leg speed and excellent endurance, he covers the ground very nicely. Makes good decisions when in possession on his preferred right foot and has excellent penetration in his kicking. His composure sets him apart from others both with his intercept marks and his ball use throughout the Championships. Announced as the Ben Mitchell Medallist for the NAB AFL Academy earlier this year confirming his leadership potential. Averaged 13.5 possessions and 5.8 marks during the NAB AFL Under-18 Championships and won All-Australian honours.
International
Darragh Joyce
Kilkenny, Ireland
1/06/1997 Height: 194cm Weight: 88kg
Potential tall defender with a hurling and Gaelic football background. Tough, reads the play well and makes good decisions. Impressive at International Combine held in Dublin in December 2014.
2015 NAB AFL Draft State Combines
Tall Defenders
Marcus Adams
West Perth - WA
30.6.1993
Height: 193cm
Weight: 98kg
Lachlan Behagg
NSW/ACT Rams - NSW
1.10.1997
Height: 195cm
Weight: 88kg
Nathan Broad
Swan Districts - WA
15.4.1993
Height: 191cm
Weight: 82kg
Jayden Collins
Eastern Ranges - VIC M
18.1.1997
Height: 199cm
Weight: 88kg
Michael Cronan
East Fremantle WA
19.2.1997
Height: 197cm
Weight: 80kg
Isaac Franks
Lauderdale - TAS
14.2.1996
Height: 193cm
Weight: 84kg
Ryan Gardner
Burnie - TAS
1.6.1997
Height: 196cm
Weight: 85kg
Michael Hartley
Coburg - VFL
7.6.1993
Height: 198cm
Weight: 102kg
Gareth Hunt
Aspley/Sandgate - QLD
20.2.1997
Height: 192cm
Weight: 86kg
Tom Keough
West Adelaide - SA
10.10.1991
Height: 194cm
Weight: 91kg
Kane Keppel
Eastern Ranges - VIC M
7.10.1997
Height: 190cm
Weight: 79kg
Patrick Levicki
Norwood - SA
15.1.1992
Height: 196cm
Weight: 90kg
Ned Reinhard
NSW/ACT Rams - NSW
2.6.1997
Height: 194cm
Weight: 84kg
Jordan Rouse
Dandenong Stingrays - VIC C
29.1.1996
Height: 193cm
Weight: 86kg
Zachary Rouse
Dandenong Stingrays - VIC C
29.1.1996
Height: 191cm
Weight: 84kg
Max Spencer
Palm Beach Currumbin - QLD
4.10.1997
Height: 189cm
Weight: 80kg
Matthew Uebergang
Redland - QLD
6.1.1995
Height: 194cm
Weight: 91kg
Jack Watson
Swan Districts - WA
23.7.1997
Height: 191cm
Weight: 81kg
Jack Whitehead
Oakleigh Chargers - VIC M
26.5.1997
Height: 191cm
Weight: 89kg
Jake Wilson
Werribee - VFL
1.12.1991
Height: 193cm
Weight: 94kg
Karl Brown
Calder Cannons - VIC M
1.12.1997
Height: 192cm
Weight: 90kg
