Two Queenslanders were today selected in the NAB AFL Rookie Draft, taking the total number of Queensland draftees in 2016 to eight, following six selections in the NAB AFL Draft.
On Friday night, Jack Bowes, Declan Watson, Josh Williams, Elliot Himmelberg, Jacob Allison and Brad Scheer were all selected in the NAB AFL Draft, earning a spot on a senior AFL list.
Today, Max Spencer and Blake Grewar were both pre-selected before the Rookie Draft got underway.
The SUNS were able to pre-select Spencer, who was a member of their Academy, while the Lions had access to Grewar through the Queensland zone selection.
Seven of the eight were members of the Queensland State Academy in 2016, while Grewar was picked on the back of his form in the NEAFL this year.
Four of the draftees were members of the Gold Coast SUNS Academy, while the Hyundai Help for Kids Brisbane Lions Academy had three selected.
Included in the draft crop were Josh Williams and Jack Bowes, who both moved to the Gold Coast from North Queensland to be a part of the SUNS Academy, Brad Scheer, who is the youngest ever Palm Beach Currumbin senior debutant, and Declan Watson, a third-generation Queensland footballer.
AFL Queensland CEO, Mr Dean Warren, said this draft result is direct evidence of the health of the game in Queensland.
“Today was a fantastic day for football in Queensland. If you listen to the experts, many were saying this was the strongest draft in years, so to have eight Queenslanders selected shows the health of football in this state,” Mr Warren said.
“It also reaffirms the strength of the talent pathway. These young men have all come through either the Brisbane Lions, Gold Coast SUNS and Queensland Academies, or the NEAFL.
“We must also congratulate their families, friends, and the dedicated volunteers and coaches that supported their development at club level, because without them, results like this wouldn’t be possible.
“We wish all eight the best with their AFL careers, and we can’t wait to watch them on the big stage.”
2016 NAB AFL Draft selections
Jack Bowes (Manunda Hawks/Cairns Saints/Surfers Paradise)
Pick 10 – Gold Coast SUNS
(Gold Coast SUNS and Queensland Academies)
Declan Watson (Redcliffe/Aspley)
Pick 34 – North Melbourne
(Brisbane Lions and Queensland Academies)
Josh Williams (Hermit Park/Surfers Paradise)
Pick 36 – North Melbourne
(Gold Coast SUNS and Queensland Academies)
Elliot Himmelberg (Mt Gravatt/Redland)
Pick 51 – Adelaide
(Brisbane Lions and Queensland Academies)
Jacob Allison (Kedron/Aspley)
Pick 55 – Brisbane Lions
(Brisbane Lions and Queensland Academies)
Brad Scheer (Palm Beach Currumbin)
Pick 67 – Gold Coast SUNS
(Gold Coast SUNS and Queensland Academies)
2016 NAB AFL Rookie selections
Max Spencer (Palm Beach Currumbin)
Pre-selected rookie – Gold Coast SUNS
(Gold Coast SUNS and Queensland Academies)
Blake Grewar (Redland)
Pre-selected rookie – Brisbane Lions
(Redland NEAFL player)
By Andrew Wiles
Follow @andrewjwiles
