2019 NAB AFL & AFLW Draft Combines – All you need to know
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - SEPTEMBER 29: Matthew Rowell is tackled by Liam Delahunty during the NAB Under 17 All Stars match between Team Bartel and Team Riewoldt at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on September 29, 2018 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Adam Trafford/AFL Media)
What is the NAB AFL and AFLW Draft Combine?
The NAB Draft Combines seek to identify potential AFL and AFLW players capable of combining athletic and mental abilities with AFL skills.
Each potential draftee will be put through a range of physical, medical, psychological, psychomotor and skills tests to compare the best against the best from around Australia.
Testing includes a kicking skill test designed to measure technique, speed of delivery, trajectory and accuracy over varying distances, a handball test, goal kicking test, and a personality/psychometric test.
The testing results measured at the combine are used to inform recruiters of players’ athletic attributes and skills heading into the AFL and AFLW Draft.
How do you get invited to the AFL Draft Combine?
To be eligible for the AFL Draft Combine, a player must receive at least 5 nominations from AFL clubs.
Draft hopefuls who don’t receive enough nominations for the national combine but still receive 3 or 4 nominations will have the opportunity to attend their respective state screening.
How do you get invited to the AFLW Draft Combine?
AFLW clubs submit a list of players they are interested in, from there a final group of invitees is selected.
Who’s participating from NSW/ACT?
GIANTS Academy pairing, Tom Green (Canberra) and Liam Delahunty (Coolamon) will be among the standout prospects at the NAB AFL Draft Combine, alongside Oakleigh Chargers forward Cooper Sharman (Leeton).
Considered one of the leading Academy players in this year’s pool, Tom Green is a tough and strong ball-winner who has been likened to Carlton superstar Patrick Cripps.
Fellow GIANTS young gun Liam Delahunty is a medium sized forward with power and the ability to produce something from nothing in attack.
Relocating from Leeton to Melbourne earlier this year Cooper Sharman finished with 20 disposals, five marks and a goal in his Oakleigh Chargers debut, announcing himself as a genuine draft prospect.
AFL NSW/ACT will be represented by Georgia Garnett (East Coast Eagles), Eloise Hiller-Stanbrook (Dubbo), Georgia Breward (Grafton Tigers) and Brenna Tarrant (East Coast Eagles) at the NAB AFLW Draft Combine.
Growing up in the rugby league heartland of Western Sydney, Georgia Garnett is a member of the GWS GIANTS Academy and was named the Eastern Allies captain in 2019.
Fellow East Coast Eagle Brenna Tarrant is a key defender who is capable of playing across the ground and was rewarded with All-Australian selection this season.
Georgia Breward, a promising footballer from the Grafton Tigers, suffered a devastating Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) injury last year, and will look to impress throughout the combine on her road to redemption.
Eloise Hiller-Stanbrook averaged 14 hitouts per game in the AFL Women’s Under-18 Championships this year and will impress AFLW recruiters with her vertical ability.
Where is it being held?
The 2019 AFL and AFLW Draft Combines will be held at the MCG, Margaret Court Arena and Collingwood’s Holden Centre (for the 2km time trial).
The NAB AFL Draft Combine will be held over four days, from the 1st to 4th of October, with the NAB AFLW Draft Combine being held on the 1st and 2nd of October.
When’s the AFL Draft?
The 2019 AFL Draft will be held at Melbourne’s Marvel Stadium on the 27th and 28th of November.
When’s the AFLW Draft?
The 2019 NAB AFLW Draft will be held on Tuesday, October 22nd in the Victoria Pavilion at Melbourne Showgrounds.
Former Sydney Swans and Allies midfielder Sam Fisher will attend the AFL State Draft Combine after impressing in the VFL. (Photo by Adam Trafford/AFL Media)
What’s the NAB AFL Draft State Combine?
Draft hopefuls who didn’t receive enough nominations for the AFL’s National Combine are eligible to attend the NAB AFL State Draft Combine, held on the 4th and 5th of October.
Over the course of two days, players will have their physical measurements recorded while also having their athletic traits such as speed, aerobic capacity, vertical leap and agility tested.
Similar to the National Combine, AFL recruitment staff will have the opportunity to profile players’ character through a series of interviews throughout the testing period.
Who’s participating from AFL NSW/ACT?
Eight players from NSW and the ACT were invited to the NAB AFL State Draft Combine to be held in Melbourne later this week.
The GWS GIANTS and Sydney Swans Academies will each have two representatives at the State Combine with Matt McGrory, James Peatling (GIANTS), Hamish Ellem and Luke Parks (Swans) all attending.
Former Sydney Swan, Sam Fisher (Canberra) will also attend the combine, impressing in the VFL with the Northern Blues since being delisted by Sydney in 2017.
Canberra Demon, Angus Baker who was named the NEAFL’s Rising Star in August will join Ben Kelly and William Chandler, both from the Murray Bushrangers in attendance too.
Anthony Treacy formerly of the Sydney Swans Academy will attend the West Australian State Combine after showcasing his lightning speed with the Claremont Tigers in the WAFL this season.
In past years, several players who have attended NAB AFL State Combines have been drafted, including James Bell (Sydney), Liam Ryan (West Coast), Matthew Parker (St Kilda), Bayley Fritsch (Melbourne) and Jack Ross (Richmond).
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