THE COUSIN of former Saint Justin Koschitzke is one of 20 tall draft prospects taking part in a camp this week designed to fast-track the development of key position and ruck options.
Jacob Koschitzke, a 195cm swingman from the Murray Bushrangers, was selected by the AFL to be included in the three-day training stint under the tutelage of former West Coast and North Melbourne big man Drew Petrie.
While the group comprises players aged 17-19, Koschitzke, whose cousin played 200 games for St Kilda between 2001-13, is eligible for this year's NAB AFL Draft.
After dealing with knee tendinitis last year, Koschitzke had a strong pre-season and has shown an ability to play both ends of the ground.
The camp is part of a push from the AFL to have a more hands-on approach with developing talls to meet the demand for clubs searching for key position players and ruckmen.
Clubs were able to make suggestions to the League for who could be in the program, with the final selections to be made by the AFL's talent department.
The group trained at Essendon on Monday, has a session scheduled at Carlton and will also hear from Collingwood ruck duo Brodie Grundy and Mason Cox during the camp.
Other notable players at the camp include Oakleigh Chargers ruckman Bailey Griffiths, whose uncle is Port Adelaide premiership player Dean Brogan, along with Dandenong Stingrays twins Stephen and Matthew Cumming.
TALLS CAMP PROSPECTS (club, height)
Angus Rana (North Adelaide, 198.5cm)
Bailey Griffiths (Oakleigh Chargers, 200cm)
Bailey Schmidt (Dandenong Stingrays, 198.8cm)
Ben Kelly (Murray Bushrangers, 201.8cm)
Jacob Koschitzke (Murray Bushrangers, 195cm)
Jake Steele (Glenorchy, 194.7cm)
Joe Furphy (Northern Knights, 202cm)
Joe Griffiths (Sandringham Dragons, 202.4cm)
Josh Hart (West Adelaide, 205cm)
Kian Dennis (Lions Academy, 195cm)
Mark Marriot (Murray Bushrangers, 201.5cm)
Matt Conroy (Gold Coast Academy, 199.7cm)
Matthew Cumming (Dandenong Stingrays, 198.3cm)
Ryan Henkel (Gippsland Power, 200cm)
Sam Conway (Geelong Falcons, 201.5cm)
Stephen Cumming (Dandenong Stingrays, 199.2cm)
Brynn Teakle (East Fremantle, 202cm)
Tim Auckland (Launceston, 197.5cm)
Tom Hallebone (Northern Knights, 201.1cm)
Tom Jones (Glenelg, 202cm)
Tyler Watts (Greater Western Sydney Rebels, 197.9cm)
