AFL Northern Territory (AFLNT) is pleased to announce that seven Territorians have been invited to test at the NAB AFL and AFLW National Draft Combine.
Janet Baird, Joel Jeffrey, Brodie Lake and Freda Puruntatameri will head to Queensland for testing on Saturday 3 October, while Mattea Breed will take part in South Australia's Combine on Wednesday 30 August. Maurice Rioli Jnr and Stephanie Williams, who are both based in Victoria for schooling, will also test at a Combine on a date which is TBC due to current COVID-19 restrictions.
They are part of the 82 female players and 96 male players invited to the 2020 NAB AFL and AFLW National Draft Combines, which are state-based this year due to COVID-19.
Today's exciting news comes off the back of the AFL last week announcing that the annual NAB AFL Under-18 National Championships and NAB AFL Draft Combines will be state-based in 2020.
The All-Stars games in the NT will take place on Friday 25 September for both male and female squads and will be played at TIO Stadium in Darwin, with live streams available for anyone to view.
It is AFL Northern Territory's (AFLNT) intention to select the very best under 18s from across the NT to form two teams of males and two teams of females.
There will be an Under 18s side selected in each of the games that is reflective of what would've been chosen to represent the Cazaly's NT Thunder Academy in the NAB National Under 18s Championships had the games and carnivals taken place.
The opposing sides will see the best young male and female prospects from right across the NT come together on the evening in what is sure to be an exciting array of talent.
Opposing teams will also include a mix of;
- underage talent that narrowly missed selection this year, or are likely to make it in the coming years
- mature players that are on AFLW or VFLW lists, or under consideration in the case of females
- players that may have previously been overlooked, but still show draft ability (under 23 in the case of males)
The games take place ahead of the Draft Combines and will provide an opportunity for players to push their case for a chance at an AFL or AFLW dream.
Overseeing the AFLNT Talent program in this unusual year, Brendan Parker said a lot of hard work was ahead for the next three weeks.
"Ideally, our best young talent would have had the opportunity to represent the Cazaly's NT Thunder Academy on a national stage against their interstate counterparts.
"This format, which is being replicated right around the country, represents a significant opportunity for all of our talented young players to showcase their abilities to AFL clubs and their recruiting departments.
"It also represents an opening for several players, who otherwise may have missed out, to press their case.
"The players have been back at training since early July, under the guidance of Academy Head Coach Jason Roe and a team of talented assistants and support staff who have shown great support by volunteering their time. Our remote players have also been given training programs, so we expect a great showing in a few weeks.
"We also congratulate the seven players selected for Combine testing; it is testament to the hard work they're all putting in and off the field, and in the case of Janet, it is a great reminder that persistence is rewarded," he said.
The 2020 NAB AFLW Draft will occur on Tuesday 6 October, and the 2020 NAB AFL Draft will occur in December with an exact date to be confirmed.
NAB AFL Under-18 All-Star Matches (subject to State Government restrictions)
Northern Territory
Girls – Friday 25 September
Boys – Friday 25 September
New South Wales/ACT
Girls – TBC
Boys – Saturday 8 August and Saturday 15 August
Queensland
Girls – Sunday 4 October
Boys – Sunday 9 August and Sunday 16 August
South Australia
Girls – Thursday 11 September
Boys – Weekend of 23 October
Tasmania
Girls – Wednesday 30 September
Boys – Wednesday 30 September
Victoria
Girls – TBC
Boys – TBC
Western Australia
Girls – Saturday 3 October
Boys – Saturday 10 October and Saturday 17 October
NAB AFL Draft Combine (subject to State Government restrictions)
Find NAB AFLW Draft Combine nominees here.
Find NAB AFL Drft Combine nominees here.
Queensland / Northern Territory
Girls – Saturday 3 October
Boys – Saturday 3 October
New South Wales/ACT
Girls – Tuesday 29 September
Boys – Sunday 25 October
South Australia
Girls – Wednesday 30 September
Boys – Wednesday 30 September
Tasmania
Girls – Week of Monday 21 September
Boys – Week of Monday 21 September
Victoria
Girls – TBC
Boys – TBC
Western Australia
Girls – Wednesday 30 September
Boys – Wednesday 30 September