THE AFL on Thursday announced the fifth positional group of players that will attend the 2018 NAB AFL Draft Combine at Marvel Stadium in Melbourne from October 2 to October 5.
The Medium Forwards comprise of 13 players including two 2018 NAB AFL Under-18 All-Australian players, three members of the NAB AFL Academy and two international prospects in Pierce Laverty and Jordan Morrissey from Ireland. A further 22 Medium Forwards will be tested at the State Draft Combines to be held in Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth on October 5, 13 and 14 respectively.
AFL Talent Ambassador Kevin Sheehan said: “Medium forwards in the AFL like Robbie Gray, Luke Breust and Josh Caddy all have something special – an X factor or point of difference which makes them difficult to match up on.
“Innate goal sense, strength overhead, and the ability to turn opponents inside out are some of the attributes of today’s medium forwards.”
2018 NAB AFL Draft Combine – National
Medium Forwards
Sam Sturt Vic Country/Dandenong Stingrays/Peninsula Grammar
12/05/2000 Height: 188cm Weight: 78kg
A left-footed medium forward who is courageous, strong overhead and presents well as a target up forward. Talented cricketer who only committed to peruse an AFL career after finishing school football commitments at Peninsula Grammar. Starred in the APS v AGS representative game and has shown AFL potential in his handful of games with the Stingrays late in the season.
Izak Rankine South Australia/West Adelaide
23/04/2000 Height: 180cm Weight: 76kg
Classy medium midfielder with electrifying pace and innate goal sense highlighted by his five goals in South Australia’s 2018 NAB AFL Under-18 Championships victory over Vic Metro. Averaged 15.8 disposals and three goals per match making him one of South Australia’s stars. Now a back-to-back Under-18 All-Australian highlighting his enormous potential. He has already played three years of senior football with West Adelaide in the SANFL. Member of the NAB AFL Academy.
Joel Crocker Sandringham Dragons/Brighton Grammar
14/04/2000 Height: 191cm Weight: 73kg
A versatile medium forward who is composed, competitive and has good footy smarts. Very good user of the ball by hand and foot and impressed last year with his AFL traits before ankle injury curtailed his 2018 season. Son of Darren Crocker and eligible as a father-son selection to North Melbourne where his father is part of the coaching panel.
Luke Foley Western Australia/Subiaco/Sorrento Duncraig
08/10/1999 Height: 187cm Weight: 75kg
Medium forward with a high work rate and is a good contested mark. Has a penetrating kick with clean hands and is a former state underage 400m-1500m medallist highlighting his athletic prowess. Impressed for Western Australia in the NAB AFL Under-18 Championships averaging 17.3 disposals and 3.3 marks in three matches.
Curtis Taylor Vic Metro/Calder Cannons
06/04/2000 Height: 186cm Weight: 79kg
Composed medium forward who is a strong overhead mark and reads the play well of hands, front and square. Regularly hits the scoreboard and shows mercurial ability to win the ball in traffic. At his best with eight marks and three goals against Vic Country at the MCG in the NAB AFL Under-18 Championships highlighting his potential. Member of the NAB AFL Academy.
Bailey Scott Allies/Queensland/Gold Coast Suns Academy/Broadbeach
09/07/2000 Height 186cm Weight: 74kg
Medium forward/midfielder who reads the game exceptionally well and makes good decisions with the ball. Smart around the goals, he averaged 23.8 possessions in a very productive 2018 NAB AFL Under-18 Championship series in his role as captain of the Allies, winning Under-18 All-Australian honours. Has very good running capabilities which enables him to run and support his teammates to outnumber then transition. Son of former Geelong and North Melbourne player Robert Scott he is also eligible for the Gold Coast Suns under Next Generation Academy rules.
Tarryn Thomas Tasmania/Allies/North Launceston
25/03/2000 Height: 189cm Weight: 76kg
Indigenous medium forward who can also play through the midfield or in defence. Strong overhead, quick and a good contested ball winner with natural goal sense. Won the Harrison Medal for his outstanding form for Tasmania in the AFL Academy series earlier this year. Member of the NAB AFL Academy as well as North Melbourne’s Next Generation Academy.
Charlie Sprague Vic Country/Geelong Falcons/Barwon Heads
08/05/2000 Height: 187cm Weight: 79kg
Strong marking forward who is a one-touch player with clean hands. Smart player who’s running patterns and endurance helping him present as a target and is a good decision maker with the ball in hand. Flexible type who can influence games with his ball use. Missed the 2018 NAB AFL Under-18 Championship series due to injury.
Shane McAdam South Australia/Sturt/Claremont
28/05/1995 Height: 185cm Weight: 84kg
A medium forward who has made a real impression in his first season in the SANFL with Sturt after crossing from Claremont. Has kick 31 goals in 17 games with his natural leap, speed and pressure up forward real assets of his game. Nephew of AFL stars Gilbert and Adrian McAdam this 23-year-old is one of several mature aged prospects eyeing the NAB AFL Draft.
Ben Jarvis South Australia/Norwood
27/07/2000 Height: 185cm Weight 77kg
Medium forward who presents well as a lead with his speed and strong hands. Aggressive player with good recovery and agility. His 17 disposals, four marks and three goals against Western Australia in the NAB AFL Under-18 Championships was an outstanding performance. Originally from Port Lincoln, he is now at Rostrevor College in Adelaide.
Tom Sparrow South Australia/South Adelaide/Prince Alfred College
11/05/2000 Height: 182cm Weight: 81kg
Medium forward/midfielder who is a super competitive type who wins contested ball and has the ability to stay in the contest with his recovery and agility. A leader on the field he was a constant contributor for South Australia in their 2018 NAB AFL Under-18 Championships victory. Averaged 21.9 disposals at Under-18 level in the SANFL and will be a key player for South Adelaide in their premiership bid this weekend.
Jordan Morrissey Ireland/Country Carlow
20/02/1999 Height: 185cm Weight: 80kg
A medium forward who is an outstanding underage prodigy with Country Carlow. Progressed from Under-18 straight to the senior ranks and made a significant impact in an outstanding year for Carlow. Has speed, goal sense and is a natural leader. A very committed individual to his training and preparation, he is highly regarded in the Gaelic circles.
Pierce Laverty Ireland/Country Down
12/02/1998 Height: 182cm Weight: 78kg
A medium forward who is quick and has an excellent natural leap. Physically a real AFL type who has starred for his Country Down at Under-18 and Under-20 level in recent years. Is a versatile player in Gaelic football with an elite step through traffic which makes him dangerous around goals.
2018 NAB AFL Draft Combine – State
Medium Forwards
Frank Anderson South Croydon
05/08/1997 Height: 186cm Weight: 82kg
Riley Bice Murray Bushrangers/GWS Academy
26/09/2000 Height: 184cm Weight: 68kg
Oscar Chapman North Adelaide
28/03/1999 Height: 187cm Weight: 72kg
Job Colwell South Adelaide
07/04/2000 Height: 182cm Weight: 80kg
Dylan Curley East Fremantle
02/11/2000 Height: 188cm Weight: 70kg
Patrick Farrant Swan Districts
01/10/1999 Height: 189cm Weight: 75kg
Jake Gaspar Oakleigh Chargers
19/04/2000 Height: 183cm Weight: 80kg
Brayden Ham Geelong Falcons
25/04/1999 Height: 181cm Weight: 69kg
James Jordan Oakleigh Chargers
20/12/2000 Height: 186cm Weight: 84kg
Josh Kemp Calder Cannons
13/04/2000 Height: 186cm Weight: 73kg
Jeromy Lucas GWS Giants Academy
29/06/2000 Height: 184cm Weight: 81kg
Tom Medhat West Perth
16/8/2000 Height: 190cm Weight: 79kg
Louis Miller East Perth
25/05/2000 Height: 187cm Weight: 82kg
Luke Moore South Fremantle
07/04/2000 Height: 180cm Weight: 85kg
Michael Mummery NT Thunder
13/06/2000 Height: 185cm Weight: 87kg
Jai Nanscawen Dandenong Stingrays
31/03/2000 Height: 184cm Weight: 73kg
James Pearling GWS Giants Academy
21/08/2000 Height: 183cm Weight: 71kg
Jamie Plumridge Dandenong Stingrays
12/01/2000 Height: 183cm Weight: 75kg
Joey Reinhard Sydney Swans Academy
01/12/1999 Height: 190cm Weight: 84kg
Corey Rich Frankston
29/03/1997 Height: 183cm Weight: 83kg
Mathew Walker Murray Bushrangers/GWS Academy
14/02/2000 Height: 187cm Weight: 76kg
Izaak Wyatt Southern Districts
17/03/2000 Height: 187cm Weight: 72kg
The NAB AFL Draft Combine is part of the NAB AFL Rising Stars Program, which supports grassroots players and football communities and helps young Australians fulfill their dream of playing in the AFL. The NAB AFL Rising Stars Program comprises the following elements:
- NAB AFL Rising Star
- NAB AFL Draft
- NAB AFL Draft Combine
- NAB AFL Under-18 Championships
- NAB AFL Academy
- NAB AFL Under-16 Championships
NAB has supported the footy community for over a decade, providing boys and girls with a clear pathway from NAB AFL Auskick through the NAB AFL Rising Stars program all the way to the big time.
