Medium Defenders named for 2015 NAB AFL Draft Combine
Queensland’s Reuben William is amongst the third group of players – Medium Defenders – announced by the AFL to attend the 2015 NAB AFL Draft Combine in October at Etihad Stadium in Melbourne.
Born in South Sudan, William moved to Queensland at five years of age.
Described as an “Instructive player who also tackles strongly”, William showed lighting speed and good ball use from defence in the NAB AFL Under-18 Championships, averaging 17 possessions and eight handball receives.
A member of Brisbane Lions Academy, William has also honed his skills through club footy, with Zillmere and Wilston Grange.
He played five matches in the TAC Cup for Queensland, his 28 disposals against top side North Ballarat his most outstanding performance.
Also named in this group was Aspley’s Josh Wagner, whose brother Corey – a 2015 Queensland Under 18 player – has also been invited to test.
AFL National and International Talent Manager Kevin Sheehan said: “The skill set of the Medium Defender has expanded well beyond the ability to close down dangerous forwards to now becoming playmakers who can set up the game on the rebound often using their extreme pace or evasive ability as their X- Factor, as well as often having pin-point accuracy by hand and foot. This group has a depth of talent sure to impact the AFL in the years to come.”
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).
The remaining positions groups will be released as follows:
Tall Forwards/Rucks September 9
Tall Defenders September 16
Small Def/Mid/For September 23
2015 NAB AFL Draft Combine – National
Medium Defenders
Victoria
Thomas Cole Sandhurst/Bendigo Pioneers
28/05/1997 Height: 185cm Weight: 76kg
Classy medium defender/midfielder who is highly skilled with his ball use by either hand or foot. Can play in a range of roles for his team and thrives in contested situations. Averaged 14.3 possessions and 4.2 tackles in six games at the NAB AFL Under-18 Championships. Member of NAB AFL Academy. Has impressed also with step up to VFL level in three matches with Geelong. Averaged 25 disposals with the Pioneers in 2015.
Benjamin Crocker Oakleigh Chargers/Kew Comets
19/02/1997 Height: 185cm Weight: 81kg
Medium defender/forward who is a fierce competitor. Outstanding overhead both as a lead up player when forward and in contested situations. Is a versatile player who can go into the midfield to make an impact. Averaged 15.4 possessions, 6.6 handball receives and four marks in five games at the NAB AFL Under-18 Championships. Member of the NAB AFL Academy. Impressed when progressed to play two matches at VFL level with Port Melbourne this year.
Thomas Doedee Geelong Falcons/St Joseph’s
1/03/1997 Height: 187cm Weight: 80kg
Medium defender who excels one-on-one, is strong overhead and clean below his knees. Solid performer for Vic Country in four matches in NAB AFL Under-18 Championships this year after representing his state in basketball at Under-18 level last season. Team orientated player who averaged 12 disposals in 11 matches with the Falcons this year. Capable of playing on taller or smaller players in defence.
Tyrone Leonardis Northern Knights/North Heidelberg
22/02/1997 Height: 182cm Weight: 78kg
Medium defender/midfielder who possesses a terrific step through traffic when in possession. Disposes of the ball neatly on his preferred left foot and is prepared to take the game on. Averaged 13 possessions and three tackles in five games at the NAB AFL Under-18 Championships. At TAC Cup level, has averaged 17.6 disposals at 75 percent efficiency in 12 matches this year.
Alex Morgan Oakleigh Chargers/Forest Hill
28/01/1996 Height: 180cm Weight: 80kg
Dashing medium defender with damaging foot skills on both sides and also creative with his hands. Has good step through traffic and was impressive for Vic Metro in the NAB AFL Under-18 Championships, playing four matches and averaging 17 disposals. 19-year-old who has also averaged 20 disposals in his matches with the Chargers this year.
Bailey Rice Beaconsfield/ Dandenong Stingrays
10/02/1997 Height: 184cm Weight: 81kg
Medium midfielder/defender with excellent speed and power, regularly on display when bursting from the stoppages or defensive 50. Is a versatile player, being able to play in various roles within the team. Son of former Carlton premiership player Dean Rice and is eligible for Carlton or St Kilda under the father-son rule. Averaged 22 disposals (75 percent efficiency) and 4.5 rebound 50s in 11 games with the Stingrays and represented Vic Country in the NAB AFL Under-18 Championships this year.
Darcy Tucker Horsham Saints/North Ballarat Rebels
23/01/1997 Height: 184cm Weight: 78kg
Left footed medium midfielder who loves to run and carry when distributing the ball. Very good with his hands in contested situations, regularly disposing the ball effectively via hand to his team mates. Averaged 17.5 possessions, 9.8 handball received and 2.7 inside 50s in six games at the NAB AFL Under-18 Championships. All-Australian at Under-18 level in 2014. Member of NAB AFL Academy. Has averaged 24 disposals with the Rebels this year.
Brandon White Beaconsfield/Dandenong Stingrays
13/01/1997 Height: 188cm Weight: 77kg
Well rounded medium midfielder/defender with excellent closing speed. He makes very good decisions and distributes the ball well on his preferred foot. Quality mark overhead for a player of his size. Averaged 15.3 disposals (72 percent efficiency) and 2.2 tackles for the Stingrays this year and impressed in three games for Vic Country in the NAB AFL Under-18 Championships.
South Australia
Cameron Hewett North Adelaide/Broughton Mundoora
26/02/1997 Height: 189cm Weight: 76kg
Very clever defender/midfielder with good football smarts and game sense. Rarely loses his feet in the contest and also spreads hard to create opportunities for his team mates. Excels at the stoppages where he uses his body to ensure he gets first opportunity to extract the ball. Played two games for South Australia at the NAB AFL Under-18 Championships, averaging 19 disposals and 4.5 clearances. Brother of Sydney Swan George Hewett.
Stephen Tahana North Adelaide/Gaza
2/02/1997 Height: 183cm Weight: 78kg
Medium midfielder/defender who has excellent speed and agility, regularly displayed when rebounding from defence. Shows great ability with his clean hands in the contest and has a team first attitude with his work in defence. Averaged 12.3 possessions and three tackles over sixgames at the NAB AFL Under-18 Championships. Member of NAB AFL Academy, he won South Australia’s MVP at Under-16 level in 2013. Already played six matches at senior level in North Adelaide over the last two years.
Queensland
Reuben William Wilston Grange/Zillmere
7/10/1997 Height: 182cm Weight: 74kg
Born in South Sudan, moved to Queensland at five years of age. Showed lighting speed and good ball use from defence in the NAB AFL Under-18 Championships averaging 17 possessions and eight handball receives. Instructive player who also tackles strongly. Member of Brisbane Lions Academy. Also played five matches in TAC Cup for Queensland with his 28 disposals against top side North Ballarat an outstanding performance.
2015 NAB AFL Draft Combine – State
Medium Defenders
Jack Agostino West Adelaide SA
11.6.1997 Height: 182cm Weight: 77kg
Tom Anderson Oakleigh Chargers VIC
3.9.1997 Height: 189cm Weight: 68kg
Daniel Beddison Oakleigh Chargers VIC
18.8.1997 Height: 189cm Weight: 80kg
Anthony Brolic Eastern Ranges VIC
12.9.1996 Height: 183cm Weight: 86kg
Thomas Faul NSW/ACT Rams ACT
24.1.1996 Height: 186cm Weight: 85kg
James Harrold East Fremantle WA
6.2.1997 Height: 183cm Weight: 79kg
Jack Irvine NSW/ACT Rams NSW
2.11.1997 Height: 188cm Weight: 80kg
Chris Jansen Central District SA
12.7.1995 Height: 189cm Weight: 83kg
Ben Long NT Thunder/St Marys NT
21.8.1997 Height: 180cm Weight: 60kg
Brad Lynch Swan Districts SA
11.7.1997 Height: 187cm Weight: 70kg
Jake Marshall Murray Bushrangers VIC
13.2.1997 Height: 180cm Weight: 75kg
Ben McCarthy Geelong Falcons VIC
16.10.1997 Height: 185cm Weight: 76kg
David Mennen Murray Bushrangers VIC
16.12.1996 Height: 186cm Weight: 80kg
Marlon Pickett South Fremantle WA
6.1.1992 Height: 187cm Weight: 83kg
Bailey Rogers Claremont WA
22.3.1997 Height: 184cm Weight: 80kg
Ben Simpson North Ballarat Rebels VIC
14.11.1997 Height: 185cm Weight: 75kg
Andrew Tashevski-Beckwith Sandringham Dragons VIC
18.5.1997 Height: 183cm Weight: 83kg
Matthew Taylor Perth WA
27.3.1997 Height: 187cm Weight: 86kg
Theo Thompson Sandringham Dragons VIC
25.7.1997 Height: 185cm Weight: 81kg
Josh Wagner Aspley QLD
24.6.1994 Height: 189cm Weight: 81kg
Lachlan Walker Oakleigh Chargers VIC
5.6.1997 Height: 187cm Weight: 80kg
Francis Watson Claremont QLD
29.9.1995 Height: 186cm Weight: 79kg
The NAB AFL Draft Combine 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.
NAB has been Footifying Australia since 2002 through the NAB AFL Rising Stars Program which comprises the following elements:
· NAB AFL Rising Star
· NAB AFL Draft
· NAB AFL Draft Combine
· NAB AFL Trade Period
· NAB AFL Under-18 Championships
· NAB AFL Academy
· NAB AFL Under-16 Championships
