NSW to host Giant Draft

THE 2011 NAB AFL Draft will be held in Sydney on November 24, NSW Minister for Sport and Recreation Graham Annesley and AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou announced on Wednesday.

New franchise GWS GIANTS will dominate the draft.

Under the establishment rules for the GIANTS, they will have pick one in each round of the draft, along with selections two, three, five, seven, nine, 11, 13 and 15 in round one.

The club can trade any of these selections.

Demetriou is delighted the NSW Government and Events NSW chose to support the placing of the 2011 NAB AFL Draft in Sydney.

“The GWS GIANTS have been preparing for their AFL entry for more than two years, under the leadership of Tony Shepherd and Dale Holmes, and the decisions the club will make at the 2011 NAB AFL Draft will be pivotal to the club’s future over the next decade,” Demetriou said.

“When the GIANTS take their place in our competition alongside the Sydney Swans, who have been a wonderful club in the state for nearly thirty years, AFL football will finally be played in NSW for every week of our premiership season.”

Annesley has been impressed by the progress the AFL and GWS have made in the area and is excited by the prospect of having the GIANTS in Western Sydney.

“I was privileged to be invited to do the coin toss at a recent GIANTS trial game and was impressed with both the structure and plans that AFL has for Western Sydney and the game,” Mr Annesley said.

“The AFL have made a substantial investment in Western Sydney and the arrival of the Greater Western Sydney GIANTS will see increased participation and competition between all sporting codes and deliver greater opportunities and entertainment for fans.”

Demetriou said the decision to place the draft in NSW this year, after it was held on the Gold Coast in 2010 before the entry of the Suns into the competition, reflected the desire of the AFL to further build its talent pathway in the state.

“While there are now nearly 20 players across the competition who list NSW as their original state, we are determined to uncover more NSW talent for our competition,” he said.

This sentiment was echoed by Annesley.

“Western Sydney has always proven to be an excellent breeding ground for quality athletes across all sports and the AFL has clearly recognised the potential of the region,” Mr Annesley said.

“Securing the 2011 AFL Draft is a major coup for the NSW Government and again highlights our commitment to kick goals for the people of this state.”