Fresh NSW/ACT talent set to explode in the AFL
Three players from NSW and the ACT were drafted into the AFL ranks in last week’s NAB AFL Draft and NAB Rookie Draft.
They join more than 50 others from our region listed at clubs in the elite men’s competition.
Campbell Chesser
Club: West Coast Eagles
Pick: 14
From: Lavington Panthers / Sandringham Dragons / Wesley College
What the club said:
Taken with the club’s first pick in the 2021 NAB AFL Draft, the Sandringham Dragons product forged an excellent junior career before the COVID interruptions and a knee injury halted his progress.
As a 16-year-old, Chesser played NAB League for the Dragons, was captain of the Vic Country under-16s team and was named All-Australian.
Frustratingly, the state-level underage sprinter rarely had an opportunity to strut his stuff in recent years, but West Coast recruiters had seen enough to pounce on the kid from Lavington (near Albury) on the border with New South Wales.
Read more about Campbell on West Coast’s website.
Josh Fahey
Club: GWS GIANTS
Pick: 42
From: Queanbeyan Tigers / GIANTS Academy
What the club said:
Josh is a medium defender/wingman who really takes the game on using his speed, step through traffic, and prodigious elite left foot to break the game open.
He starred for the Australian NAB AFL Academy team against Geelong’s VFL side in April, winning the AFL Commission Chairman’s Medal as Australia’s best player with 23 disposals at 75 per cent efficiency.
Josh played three games for the GIANTS in the VFL this year, averaging 13.3 disposals with his best being 24 disposals against Richmond.
He is an elite runner, recording an outstanding 5:59 (Strava tested) for the 2km time trial in NAB AFL Draft Combine testing.
We have tracked Josh since he was around 13 through the Academy and are delighted to finally welcome him into the club.
He is a hard-running half-back who really breaks lines with his speed and his kicking ability. He has really worked hard on his game in tough circumstances in the last two years without many opportunities to play and we see enormous upside in him as he enters a full-time program.
Read more on the GIANTS’ website.
Patrick Voss
Club: Essendon Bombers
Pick: 9 (NAB AFL Rookie Draft)
From: Turvey Park / Oakleigh Chargers / GIANTS Academy
What the club said:
The 194cm prospect arrives at the Bombers from Oakleigh Chargers and the GWS Giants Academy.
A physical player who looks comfortable in all thirds of the ground, Voss is set to bring a sharp competitive edge, strong marking and aggressive tackling in the red and black. He’s an athletic type who possesses a booming kick.
Hailing from the Riverina of NSW, Voss was a part of the GWS Giants Academy this year, but spent the season playing for Oakleigh Chargers and attending Wesley College.
He impressed for the Chargers in seven matches this season, averaging 14.7 disposals and 5.6 marks.
General manager of list and recruiting Adrian Dodoro said Voss had plenty to offer across a variety of positions.
“He’ll bring toughness, aggression, a want and desire to hunt the opposition. That was something we wanted to address with the team,” Dodoro said.
“He can play back, forward and on ball. His identity as a player is still to be addressed, but he’s a big, raw-boned kid and he’s very welcome here at the footy club.”
Read more on Essendon’s website.
