AFL Queensland CEO, Michael Conlan today joined GC SUNS List & Strategy Manager, Scott Clayton, to launch the activities in Queensland being staged as part of the 2012 NAB AFL Draft being held on the Gold Coast this Thursday, 22 November.
The Gold Coast will become the home of the Draft for the next three years, and was first held at the Gold Coast Convention & Exhibition Centre in 2010.
Long-standing major partners of the Draft and the entire AFL talent pathway, NAB, are looking forward to another great event this week.
“Since 2002 NAB has been helping Australia’s most talented young footballers reach their potential through the NAB AFL Rising Star Program,” Kevin Ramsdale, National Australia Bank Acting Chief Marketing Officer, People, Marketing & Communications said.
“We’re really proud to be associated with this program and the extraordinary calibre of young men represented at the NAB AFL Draft each year. We are all looking forward to the best of the talent from the pathway program making their way onto AFL Club lists on Thursday at the NAB AFL Draft.”
AFL Queensland CEO, Michael Conlan said there was no better place for the AFL to stage the event.
“The fact that the AFL, with NAB and Queensland Government support, is prepared to commit to staging its second biggest media event of the year here, for the next three years, is a fantastic testimony to the Gold Coast’s facilities for business and major events.
“In 2010, the national sports’ spotlight was centred here. The publicity was valued at over $9million – that’s a huge amount of positive exposure for the Gold Coast. And over the past two seasons more than 63,000 interstate fans have attended SUNS matches at Metricon,” he said.
“For our local players, volunteers and administrators it has also become a major focus for the year, with a week-long program of training courses, talent identification programs and awards.”
The NAB AFL Draft is the major recruiting tool for all AFL Clubs and critical to the AFL Commission’s objective of developing an even competition. First held in 1986, the NAB AFL Draft sees the very best 100 young players from around Australia put forward for selection by the 18 AFL Clubs.
GC SUNS List and Strategy Manager, Scott Clayton said recruiters from all clubs had spent countless hours assessing the talent pool.
“The Gold Coast SUNS recruiting team, in fact all recruiting teams, spend a huge amount of time judging and eventually deciphering the talent available in each draft pool.”
“Clubs have travelled the country watching these talented juniors play, as well as interviewing not only the players but, family, friends, coaches and teachers.”
“The young men selected on Thursday gain the chance to fulfil their footballing dream, and some will go on to be stars of the competition in the years ahead.”
“The NAB AFL Draft is not only an exciting time for the clubs, but fans around the country will have their eyes set on the Gold Coast in anticipation of who their teams future stars will be,” Clayton said.
AFL Queensland will stage a week-long program of events catering for local coaches, players, staff and talented athletes both within the AFL system and from other sports.
Up to 1500 members of the local football community and AFL Club members and fans are likely to attend the Draft at the Gold Coast Convention & Exhibition Centre in Broadbeach. The Draft will also be broadcast live nationally on FOX FOOTY, 3AW, 5AA, SEN, Gold FM and streamed on afl.com.au.
The NAB AFL Draft is part of the NAB AFL Rising Stars Program, which supports grassroots players and football communities and helps young Australians fulfil their dream of playing in the AFL.
The NAB AFL Rising Stars Program provides recognition and a clearly identifiable direction for a player’s career, and comprises the following elements:
· NAB AFL Rising Star
· NAB AFL Draft
· NAB AFL Draft Combine
· NAB AFL Under 18 Championships
· AIS-AFL Academy
· NAB AFL Under 16 Championships
The NAB AFL Draft is supported by Events Queensland as part of a growing calendar of sporting, business, regional and cultural events throughout the state.
For more details on the 2012 NAB AFL Draft on the Gold Coast visit aflq-new.fspdev.com/nabafldraft.
