Fifteen NAB League Boys players are among the fifth positional grouping announced for October’s 2019 NAB AFL Draft Combine: Medium Midfielders.

The AFL Draft Combine will be held in Melbourne from Tuesday October 1 to Friday October 4, with the 25 total Medium Midfielders to undergo various tests in front of AFL clubs alongside several other positional groupings among the 79 overall invitees.

“Medium midfielders have been the most popular of the positional groups to have a player go with the first selection in the NAB AFL Draft,” AFL Talent Ambassador Kevin Sheehan said. “The likes of Sam Walsh, Marc Murphy, Tom Scully, David Swallow, Bryce Gibbs and Lachie Whitfield have all taken the top spot in recent years.

"The 20-metre sprint times, yo-yo results and 2km times become an important part of the analysis for the medium midfielders.”

 

 

See Kevin Sheehan’s comments on the NAB League Boys players named in the Medium Midfielders grouping for the 2019 NAB AFL Draft Combine below.

 

NOAH ANDERSON (Oakleigh Chargers)

188cm, 86kg

Medium midfielder/forward with elite repeat efforts, using his footy smarts and ball-winning ability to impact games. As Vic Metro’s captain in the 2019 NAB AFL Under-18 Championships, he was a highly competitive player, averaging 23.5 disposals (10.8 contested) and 5.2 clearances to win NAB AFL Under-18 All Australian honours. Strong overhead and in one-on-one contests, he also has uncanny goal sense. He starred for the Oakleigh Chargers averaging 28.7 disposals and 3.3 tackles and kicked 14 goals in six matches in the NAB League. Son of former Hawthorn and St Kilda star Dean Anderson, however he is not eligible for either club under Father/Son rules.

 

MILES BERGMAN (Sandringham Dragons - pictured, right)

186cm, 75kg

Medium midfielder/forward who is strong one-on-one both in the air and at ground level. He does not turn 18 until October so has plenty of physical upside. Has natural speed and power and has been a consistent performer this year at club, school and representative levels. He averaged 13.2 disposals and 5.2 marks for Vic Metro in the 2019 NAB AFL Under-18 Championships and 14.1 disposals, 5.5 marks and four tackles across 13 NAB League matches with the Sandringham Dragons. He was named the Neale Daniher Medal winner as the best player for St Bede’s in the Herald Sun Shield final this year.

 

RYAN BYRNES (Sandringham Dragons)

181cm, 80kg

Medium midfielder who has had an outstanding year with the Sandringham Dragons, with his prolific ball-winning ability (particularly at stoppages) a real feature of his game. Has very good game sense and creativity with his hands and has developed his leadership skills across the season, captaining his side in the NAB League. He had a taste of representative football, playing one game for Vic Metro in the 2019 NAB AFL Under-18 Championships and winning 14 possessions, and has been an ultra-consistent performer at club level averaging 25.6 disposals, 3.5 marks and 3.5 tackles across 15 games. Another prominent member of St Bede’s, which won its first-ever Herald Sun Shield final this year.

 

DARCY CHIRGWIN (Sandringham Dragons)

191cm, 80kg

Medium midfielder with excellent football nous who reads the play exceptionally well and is the first to move whether up forward or around the ground. He is a prolific ball-winner at stoppages and in contested situations as well as being strong overhead when up forward. From St Mary’s Football Club in Geelong, he was only back from injury for one game for Vic Country in the 2019 NAB AFL Under-18 Championships. However, he has been prominent ever since with the Sandringham Dragons, averaging 24.7 disposals and 7.9 tackles in seven NAB League matches.

 

THOMSON DOW (Bendigo Pioneers)

182cm, 72kg

Medium midfielder who is explosive and reads the game exceptionally well. He makes good decisions – particularly with his creative hands – and is composed with the ball but missed a lot of football in 2018 due to injury. He does not turn 18 until October, so there is plenty of upside with his game and physical development. He played all four games for Vic Country in the 2019 NAB AFL Under-18 Championships and his 18 disposals against Vic Metro at the MCG were encouraging. He averaged 19 disposals and 3.8 marks in five NAB League matches, mixing his football between the Bendigo Pioneers and Geelong Grammar. He is the brother of Carlton’s rising star Paddy Dow.

 

FINN MAGINNESS (Sandringham Dragons)

187cm, 80kg

Medium midfielder who is an aggressive and consistent ball-winner in the midfield and can push forward and hit the scoreboard. He is strong overhead and in stoppage situations, he has good vision and is very creative by hand and foot. Overcoming the disappointment of missing Vic Metro’s initial squad, he became a consistent performer for them in the 2019 NAB AFL Under-18 Championships, averaging 18.2 disposals (50 per cent contested) and 7.5 tackles. He starred for Scotch College all year and was a prominent performer for the Sandringham Dragons, averaging 20.8 disposals and 5.4 tackles in nine NAB League matches. Son of Hawthorn dual premiership player Scott Maginness and eligible for Father/Son selection by the Hawks.

 

DANIEL MOTT (Calder Cannons - pictured, left)

182cm, 73kg

Medium midfielder who was an ultra-consistent performer at club and representative level this year. His contested-ball-winning ability and composure with the ball are both key features of his play. He uses the ball well by hand and foot and can react in tight situations to get out of trouble. He averaged 17.2 disposals (50 per cent contested) with Vic Metro in the 2019 NAB AFL Under-18 Championships and 25.6 disposals with the Calder Cannons in 13 NAB League matches to cap off a promising season.

 

MITCH O’NEILL (Tasmania Devils)

181cm, 70kg

Medium midfielder who is a prolific ball-winner with the ability to step through traffic with his elite agility. He is courageous and clean overhead with a long, penetrating kick. He averaged 22.2 disposals (74 per cent efficiency) and 5.5 marks playing for the Allies in the 2019 NAB AFL Under-18 Championships to win NAB AFL Under-18 All Australian honours for the second time. A consistent performer for the Tasmania Devils in the NAB League earlier in the year, he averaged 20.2 disposals including his season-high of 37 disposals against the Northern Territory. A knee injury curtailed his year after the AFL Under-18 Championships, but he is expecting a full recovery.

 

FLYNN PEREZ (Bendigo Pioneers)

187cm, 82kg

Medium midfielder who had his year stunted before it started when he injured his ACL in a pre-season camp with Vic Country. He showed his distinctive potential when he played for Team Bartel in the 2018 NAB AFL All Stars Futures game at the MCG, with his use of the ball on right and left foot a real asset. He is very clean with his hands and was previously a soccer star, captaining Victoria at under-age level before switching back to AFL as his preferred code. He is making a full recovery from injury and is on track to resume for a full pre-season.

 

SAM PHILP (Northern Knights)

185cm, 80kg

Medium midfielder whose attack on the ball, reading off hands and work rate have been features of his game at the Northern Knights all year. Somewhat of a NAB AFL Draft bolter, he didn’t play for Vic Metro in the NAB AFL Under-18 Championships this year but continued his outstanding year in the NAB League, averaging 19.4 disposals and 3.9 tackles in 16 matches as well as kicking nine goals to catch the eye of AFL clubs.

 

HUGO RALPHSMITH (Sandringham Dragons)

186cm, 70kg

Medium midfielder/forward who is a gifted all-round athlete with speed, agility and an impressive natural leap. His run and carry, overhead marking and goal sense make him a dangerous player, illustrated by his three goals, eight marks and 19 disposals in the NAB League elimination final against the Calder Cannons. He represented Vic Metro in the 2019 NAB AFL Under-18 Championships and has been impressive with Haileybury College throughout the year. He is the son of former Hawthorn and St Kilda player Sean Ralphsmith.

 

JAY RANTALL (GWV Rebels - pictured, centre)

184cm, 82kg

Medium midfielder who continued to develop and progress throughout the year. Switching back to AFL after representing Australia in basketball at last year’s World Cup in Argentina, his work rate, clean hands and creativity with the ball were all features of his game. He averaged 24.9 disposals in 12 NAB League games for the GWV Rebels and played for Vic Country in the 2019 NAB AFL Under-18 Championships, averaging 18.8 disposals and 3.5 tackles.

 

BRADY ROWLES (Bendigo Pioneers)

188cm, 72kg

Medium midfielder who is willing to take on the opposition, using his speed, run and carry as his greatest assets. He stood out with his physical size and athletic potential when playing for Vic Country in two matches in the 2019 NAB AFL Under-18 Championships, along with his performances for the Pioneers in 12 NAB League games when he averaged 11.8 disposals.

 

COOPER STEPHENS (Geelong Falcons)

188cm, 83kg

Medium midfielder who is strong in the contest and is an outstanding contested-ball-winner. He uses the ball particularly well by foot and started the season in excellent form, averaging 25 disposals in the first two NAB League games before fracturing his leg in the third match and missing the rest of the season. He showed strong form last year representing Australia at Under-17 level against New Zealand. He played for Vic Country in the 2018 NAB AFL Under-18 Championships, where his decision-making and composure were key components of his game.

 

ISAAC WAREHAM (GWV Rebels)

187cm, 80kg

Medium midfielder with initial speed off the mark and eye-catching repeat efforts when playing for Vic Country in two matches in the 2019 NAB AFL Under-18 Championships, where he averaged 13 disposals and four marks. He is a good all-round athlete who is still developing, noting he is only just eligible for this year’s NAB AFL Draft as he turns 18 in late December.