The AFL today announced the fourth 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 Defenders comprise of 12 players including four members of the 2018 NAB AFL Under-18 All-Australian team and international prospects Anton Tohill and Mark Keane from Ireland. A further 16 Tall Defenders 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: “In search of the next Alex Rance or Jeremy McGovern the tall defender group has many well credentialed and gifted prospects with varying attributes and backgrounds. The likes of Ben Silvagni, Will Kelly, Jacob Koschitzke and Riley Grundy have fathers, brothers and cousins that have gone before them making their surnames synonymous with our game already.
“Buku Khamis and Connor Idun have their heritage in Africa and are the faces of the next generation of AFL stars who our making AFL their preferred code. Additionally, two prospects from Ireland in Mark Keane and Anton Tohill are part of this diverse talls group and aim to transition from Gaelic to Australian football as they join the Draft Combine.”
2018 NAB AFL Draft Combine – National
Tall Defenders
Kyle Reid Vic Country/Gippsland Power
12/08/2000 Height: 193cm Weight: 85kg
Tall defender who is strong overhead, mobile and composed under pressure. Strong in one-on-one contests and was a shining light for Vic Country averaging 12 disposals and containing the oppositions’ tall forwards throughout the NAB AFL Under-18 Championships. Won All-Australian honours.
Jacob Koschitzke Allies/Albury/Murray Bushrangers
11/07/2000 Height: 196cm Weight: 94kg
Tall defender who can also go forward, he is an excellent contested mark and strong in one-on-one contests. Uses the ball well by foot and is very competitive. Had an excellent championships earning All-Australian honours. He nullifies opposition key forwards and showed composure under pressure. Cousin of St Kilda star Justin Koschitzke.
Will Kelly Vic Metro/Oakleigh Chargers/Glen Iris
16/08/2000 Height: 193cm Weight: 83kg
Tall athletic defender who has the ability to play one-on-one and defend his direct opponent. Grew in confidence playing for Vic Metro this year reading the angles well with his intercept marking. Son of Collingwood premiership player Craig Kelly and an eligible father-son selection for the Magpies.
Ben King Vic Metro/Sandringham Dragons/Haileybury College
07/07/2000 Height: 202cm Weight: 83kg
Tall defender/forward who is strong overhead and both exceptionally quick and agile making him a difficult match up when forward. Averaged 9.5 disposals, 4.8 marks and three goals across the NAB AFL Under-18 Championships including five goals against Western Australia and four goals against South Australia earning him All-Australian honours. Also played key defence earlier in the year with the Australian Under-18 team against North Melbourne VFL winning MVP honours. An outstanding swingman prospect in the Draft along with his twin brother Max.
Ben Silvagni Vic Metro/Oakleigh Chargers/Greythorn
07/05/2000 Height: 194cm Weight: 84kg
Very competitive tall defender who is strong in the contest and has an excellent natural leap and reach. Represented Vic Metro as a defender but has also been predominant forward for the Chargers. Brother of Jack and son of Stephen Silvagni and an eligible farther-son selection for Carlton.
Riley Grundy South Australia/Sturt
28/07/2000 Height: 195cm Weight: 79kg
Developing tall defender who is strong in the one-on-one contests and fiercely competitive. Matched-up well on the oppositions’ most dangerous tall targets and held his own. Currently playing at Under-18 level in the SANFL and has big upside. Brother of Collingwood’s Brodie Grundy.
Dirk Koenan Allies/Gold Coast Suns Academy/Palm Beach
01/01/2000 Height: 194cm Weight: 84kg
Athletic tall defender who is agile and capable with his shape and size to match-up well at AFL level. Still developing and was at his best during the NAB AFL Academy Series with his work one-on-one impressive particularly against the GWS Giants and the Sydney Swans. Also represented the Allies in Division One of the NAB AFL Under-18 Championships.
Connor Idon Vic Country/Geelong Falcons/Drysdale
29/07/2000 Height: 190cm Weight: 86kg
Tall defender who can also go forward and provide a mobile, competitive marking target for his team. Impressed for Vic Country as a mobile defender who is strong one-on-one. More recently been impressed for Vic Country as a mobile defender who is strong one-on-one and more recently up forward for the Falcons. Has Ghanaian heritage from West Africa.
Buku Khamis Vic Metro/Western Jets/St Albans
24/03/2000 Height: 190cm Weight: 81kg
Sudanese-born tall defender who provided consistent rebound for his team the NAB AFL Under-18 Championships, averaging 14.8 disposals at an impressive 79 per cent efficiency and winning All-Australian honours. Reads the play well with his intercept marking a feature of his game. Also had an outstanding year for the Western Jets as he has grown in confidence. Good decision-maker and user of the ball on his preferred left foot. Eligible for the Western Bulldogs as a Next Generation Academy player.
James Blanck Vic Metro/Eastern Ranges/Park Orchards
20/11/2000 Height: 195cm Weight: 80kg
Developing tall defender who is an excellent intercept mark, quick and strong one-on-one. Impressed for Vic Metro particularly against Vic Country at the MCG this year taking six marks and providing good rebound for defence.
Mark Keane Ireland – County Cork
17/03/2000 Height: 194cm Weight: 96kg
Potential tall defender who impressed at the European Combine with his strength overhead, speed and disposal skills. Joined the NAB AFL Academy in the USA in January and has progressed to Country Under-20 level with Cork this year.
Anton Tohill Ireland – Country Derry
14/12/1999 Height: 198cm Weight: 86kg
Tall defender/midfielder/forward from Derry in Northern Ireland who is the son of former GAA and International Rules star Anthony Tohill who spent time at the Melbourne Football Club in the 1990s. Athletic 18-year-old with excellent foot skills and agility. Also joined the NAB AFL Academy in the USA earlier this year and was impressive.
2018 NAB AFL Draft Combine – State
Tall Defenders
Jacob Atley Bendigo Pioneers
04/07/2000 Height: 191cm Weight: 74kg
Chris Burgess West Adelaide
26/11/1995 Height: 193cm Weight: 84kg
Jordan Butts Murray Bushrangers
31/15/1999 Height: 197cm Weight: 80kg
Sam Collins Werribee
15/06/1994 Height: 194cm Weight: 97kg
Stephen Cumming Dandenong Stingrays
22/07/2000 Height: 199cm Weight: 104kg
Mason Fletcher Calder Cannons
08/04/2000 Height: 199cm Weight: 80kg
Caleb Graham Gold Coast Suns Academy
12/09/2000 Height: 194cm Weight: 84kg
Austin Hodge Gippsland Power
02/04/1999 Height: 190cm Weight: 83kg
Nathan Kreuger South Adelaide
25/06/1999 Height: 196cm Weight: 86kg
Matthew McGuinness Lauderdale
13/07/2000 Height: 192cm Weight: 75kg
Nick Murray Murray Bushrangers/GWS Giants Academy
18/12/2000 Height: 193cm Weight: 89kg
Ethan Phillips Port Melbourne
17/04/1999 Height: 195cm Weight: 83kg
Mitchell Podhajski Calder Cannons
04/01/1999 Height: 191cm Weight: 87kg
Stefan Radovanovic Western Jets
07/09/2000 Height: 192cm Weight: 85kg
Callum Wilkie North Adelaide
10/03/1996 Height: 191cm Weight: 87kg
Lachlan Young Dandenong Stingrays
06/04/1999 Height: 190cm Weight: 78kg
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 fulfill 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.
