Six NAB League Boys players are among the sixth and final positional grouping announced for this week’s 2019 NAB AFL Draft Combine: Tall Forwards/Ruckmen.
The AFL Draft Combine began in Melbourne on Tuesday October 1 and continues until Friday October 4, with the 10 total Tall Forwards/Ruckmen to undergo various tests in front of AFL clubs alongside several other positional groupings among the 79 overall invitees.
“Tall Forwards/Ruckmen have been selected as pick number one in seven of the last 20 NAB AFL Drafts,” AFL Talent Ambassador Kevin Sheehan said. “The first of those seven was Josh Fraser, chosen by Collingwood in 1999.
"Within four years, Fraser was amongst Collingwood’s best in the 2002 and 2003 AFL Grand Finals before going on to play 200 games for the club, then moving to the newly established Gold Coast Suns at the end of his playing career to help their young players develop.
“His work rate, ability in the air and running patterns, together with his versatility to play as a key forward and ruck, are aspects of his game that AFL clubs will be looking for in this group this year.”
See Kevin Sheehan’s comments on the NAB League Boys players named in the Tall Forwards/Ruckmen grouping for the 2019 NAB AFL Draft Combine below.
JACK BELL (Sandringham Dragons - pictured, left)
200cm, 73kg
Lean ruckman/tall forward who is still developing physically but can impact the game going forward with his leading and marking. He has excellent endurance and clean hands below his knees and is very coachable. He played two matches for Vic Metro in the 2019 NAB AFL Under-18 Championships, giving him the opportunity to progress his ruck and body work at a higher level. As a prominent player for the Sandringham Dragons, he averaged 9.4 disposals, 3.6 marks and 11.3 hitouts in 14 NAB League matches.
NICK BRYAN (Oakleigh Chargers)
202cm, 87kg
A developing young ruckman who does not turn 18 years old until October this year, his agility and natural leap at centre bounces are impressive assets of his game. His willingness to compete in the air for marks, bring the ball to ground and follow up by providing support for his teammates is also notable. He has an effective kick for a tall player and showed his potential playing with Vic Metro, particularly in their win over South Australia in the 2019 NAB AFL Under-18 Championships. He averaged 9.2 disposals, four marks and 22 hitouts overall in his four matches. After an impressive start to the year with the Oakleigh Chargers in the NAB League, he was included in the Under-18 Australian team that played against the Casey Demons earlier in the season.
CHARLIE COMBEN (Gippsland Power - pictured, centre)
199cm, 82kg
Tall forward/ruckman who has improved in leaps and bounds this year. Agile and strong overhead, he can provide a great marking target up forward. He excelled for Vic Country in the 2019 NAB AFL Under-18 Championships in his three matches. With thin slices of his natural talent on display, he averaged 8.7 disposals, 3.7 marks and 16 hitouts. He has also been a key player for Gippsland Power in the NAB League, providing mobility around the ground and a marking target up forward.
EMERSON JEKA (Western Jets)
197cm, 87kg
Tall forward/defender who has solid speed and agility for his size and presents well as a leading target when forward. He has very quick hands, showing good team orientation in passing quickly to teammates on the move. He suffered a knee injury playing for the Under-18 Australian team against the Casey Demons earlier in the year which set him back, restricting him to just two games for Vic Metro in the 2019 NAB AFL Under-18 Championships, where he averaged 9.5 disposals and five marks. A very neat kick for a 197cm key-position player who turned 18 years old in September.
HARRISON JONES (Calder Cannons)
194cm, 75kg
Tall forward who is very lightly built and has massive upside physically. He has a safe set of hands overhead and he presents well as a marking target up forward. He is an accurate set shot for goal and showed this skill with four goals in a Vic Metro trial game in April. He then played all four games for Vic Metro in the 2019 NAB AFL Under-18 Championships, averaging 9.2 disposals, 3.2 marks and a goal a match. He has been a highly promising player all year, playing College football at Essendon Grammar and in the NAB League with the Calder Cannons.
COOPER SHARMAN (Oakleigh Chargers - pictured, right)
194cm, 80kg
Tall forward/midfielder who emerged from relative obscurity mid-year to become a draft prospect after impressing at Balwyn Football Club in the Eastern Football League in June. Hailing from the Riverina of New South Wales and moving to Melbourne to study at Deakin University, this former GWS Giants Academy member showed he had a vice-like grip on the ball overhead and innate goal sense in eight matches with the Oakleigh Chargers. He is a late developer who is mobile and agile. He kicked 14 goals in the NAB League, including four goals against the Eastern Ranges in Round 14.
