The AFL today announced the second positional group of players that will attend the 2018 NAB AFL Draft Combine at Marvel Stadium in Melbourne from October 2 to October 5.
The Tall Forwards comprise of 12 players including three members of the 2018 NAB AFL Under-18 All-Australian team and seven members of the NAB AFL Academy. A further 14 Tall Forwards will be tested at the State Draft Combines to be held in Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth on October 5, 13 and 14 respectively.
AFL Talent Ambassador Kevin Sheehan said: “Tall Forwards/Ruckmen have been selected as number one in six of the last 18 NAB AFL Drafts with St Kilda champion Nick Riewoldt having that honour in 2000. His career spanning 336 games, five All-Australian selections and six best-and-fairest awards set him apart from others in this category and make him the benchmark.
“His mercurial ability in the air, work-rate and running patterns together with his courage in his attack on the ball are all aspects of his game that AFL clubs will be looking for among this group this year.”
2018 NAB AFL Draft Combine – National
Tall Forwards
Zane Barzen (Vic Country/Murray Bushrangers/Shepparton United)
25/08/2000 Height: 195cm Weight 78kg
Tall forward who is strong overhead and on the lead. He has clean hands at ground level, is a member of the NAB AFL Academy and represented Vic Country in the 2018 NAB AFL Under-18 Championships. Frequently hits the scoreboard and has an elite running capability for his size.
Riley Bowman (Vic Country/Dandenong Stingrays)
25/02/2000 Height: 198cm Weight: 82kg
Developing ruckman/tall forward who can be a dangerous marking target up forward and is a neat set shot. His mobility around the ground is a key feature of his play. Is a member of the NAB AFL Academy and represented Vic Country well in the 2018 NAB AFL Under-18 Championships.
Kieran Briggs (Allies/Pennant Hills/GWS Giants Academy)
06/10/1999 Height: 200cm Weight: 98kg
Ruckman/tall forward who imposes himself on the game with his physical presence in contests and strong hands. Mobile and good below the knees, he had an outstanding NAB AFL Under-18 Championship series for the Allies winning the MVP award after winning the same honour for the GWS Giants in the AFL Academy series earlier in the year. Averaged 13.3 disposals, 4.7 marks, one goal and 22 hit outs per game earning him All-Australian honours at the Under-18 Championships.
Jack Lukosius (South Australia/Woodville-West Torrens)
09/08/2000 Height: 194cm Weight: 85kg
Tall forward who is exceptionally athletic and difficult to match up on due to his pace off the mark and clean hands overhead. Exceptional kick and was a standout for South Australia averaging 15 disposals, 7.8 marks and 2.2 goals per match winning him Under-18 All-Australian honours. Showed exceptional promise at senior level for Woodville-West Torrens over the last two seasons. He is a very composed player capable of playing either end of the ground or even on the wing. Member of the NAB AFL Academy.
Josh Corbett (Werribee VFL/North Warrnambool)
23/04/1996 Height: 190cm Weight: 90kg
A strong making tall forward who was averaging 7.6 marks per game when injury curtailed his breakout year in the VFL. Has an extremely high work-rate and a vice-like grip in the marking contest. Has kicked 22 goals in nine games this year in the VFL.
Nick Blakey (Allies/ Sydney Swans Academy)
27/02/2000 Height: 194cm Weight: 77kg
Tall forward who is exceptional overhead and extremely athletic allowing him to play in multiple positions. Long, penetrating left foot kick in general play and is a noted goalkicker. Winner of the Harrison Medal in 2017 in the Division Two NAB AFL Under-18 Championships and runner up this year. Son of John Blakey and has nominate for the Sydney Swans under the Next Generation Academy rules.
Hugo Munn (South Australia/Sturt)
03/04/2000 Height: 197cm Weight: 93kg
Tall forward who played a key role in South Australia’s 2018 NAB AFL Under-18 Championship win and also played senior football with Sturt this season. He has a real physical presence in the air with his contested marking and brings the ball to ground when out of position for his smaller teammates. Reliable set shot for goal and member of the NAB AFL Academy.
Dillon O’Rielly (Western Australia/East Fremantle)
02/06/2000 Height: 194cm Weight: 89kg
A strong marking tall forward who reads the flight of the ball well and has clean hands. Mobile player capable of playing in defence. Key target for Western Australia in the 2018 NAB AFL Under-18 Championships and has played senior football at East Fremantle. Son of Stephen O’Reilly who played at Geelong Cats, Fremantle and Carlton.
Max King (Vic Metro/Sandringham Dragons/Haileybury College)
07/01/2000 Height: 202cm Weight: 87kg
A tall and extremely athletic forward who is strong overhead, taking the ball at the highest point. Consistent goalkicker with elite speed off the mark and agility for a player his size. Ruptured his ACL earlier in the year but is on the road to a full recovery. Member of the NAB AFL Academy
Bailey Williams (Vic Country/Dandenong Stingrays/The Pines)
17/04/2000 Height: 198cm Weight: 95kg
An athletic ruckman/tall forward who is quick and agile with great natural leap. Can influence the ruck and aired contests with his leap and has the ability to follow up and get down to ground level to win the ball or apply pressure. Vic Country representative in the 2018 NAB AFL Under-18 Championships for the last two years and a member of the NAB AFL Academy.
Conor McFayden (Queensland/Allies/Wilston Grange/Brisbane Lions Academy)
04/12/2000 Height: 190cm Weight:88kg
A tall forward/midfielder who has excellent game sense and clean hands. He is strong overhead and dangerous around goals. He had an outstanding NAB AFL Under-18 Championship series this year for the Allies winning All-Australian honours after averaging 17.2 possessions, nine contested.
William Kennedy (Vic Metro/Sandringham Dragons/Caulfield Grammar)
18/06/2000 Height: 198cm Weight: 86kg
A developing ruckman/tall forward who averaged 15 disposals and four marks for Sandringham this year and he shared his playing commitments with Caulfield Grammar. Strong overhead, competitive in the contests and is also very mobile around the ground.
2018 NAB AFL Draft Combine – State
Tall Forwards
Sam Conway Geelong Falcons
17/05/1999 Height: 202cm Weight: 89kg
Oliver Eastland Claremont
26/03/1998 Height: 196cm Weight: 86kg
Kody Eaton East Fremantle
01/11/2000 Height: 195cm Weight: 86kg
Harry Edwards Swan Districts
01/10/2000 Height: 195cm Weight: 80kg
Darcy Fort Central District
06/08/1993 Height: 205cm Weight: 99kg
Hudson Garoni Murray Bushrangers
25/08/2000 Height: 195cm Weight: 91kg
Noah Gown Gippsland Power
01/02/2000 Height: 193cm Weight: 91kg
Daniel Hanna Calder Cannons
24/11/1999 Height: 199cm Weight: 81kg
Jack Mayo Subiaco
22/07/1999 Height: 192cm Weight: 81kg
Hayden McLean Sandringham Dragons
20/01/1999 Height: 196cm Weight: 91kg
James Rendell Sandringham Dragons
09/05/2000 Height: 198cm Weight: 90kg
Bailey Schmidt Dandenong Stingrays
07/03/2000 Height: 199cm Weight: 97kg
Kieran Strachan Port Melbourne
05/10/1995 Height: 202cm Weight: 95kg
Jack Tomkinson Brisbane Lions Academy
07/06/1999 Height: 200cm Weight: 100kg
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. The NAB AFL Rising Stars Program comprises the following elements:
- NAB AFL Rising Star
- NAB AFL Draft
- NAB AFL Draft Combine
- NAB AFL Under-18 Championships
- NAB AFL Academy
- NAB AFL Under-16 Championships
NAB has supported the footy community for over a decade, providing boys and girls with a clear pathway from NAB AFL Auskick through the NAB AFL Rising Stars program all the way to the big time.
