WEST Australian Blaine Boekhorst shapes as the first mature-age player picked at next week's NAB AFL Draft, with the midfielder in top-30 contention.

 

The 21-year-old, who played 19 of 20 games this season for Swan Districts, flew to Melbourne this week to undergo a medical test for clubs at AFL House.

 

He had been due to go on a fishing trip near Broome, but instead was under the microscope of clubs, having had significant attention in the lead-up to the draft.

 

Boekhorst is believed to have attracted the interest of Collingwood and Carlton, with Fremantle another club linked to the 184cm on-baller.

He averaged 21 disposals for Swan Districts and impressed with his run and carry and speed, and was invited to test at the West Australian state draft combine in October.

 

He spent three seasons as a fringe player for Swan Districts – playing a total of just 25 WAFL games – but improved considerably this season to be seen as a second-round pick in the eyes of many scouts.

 

Boekhorst was one of 12 players to have a medical on Tuesday, among them likely early draft selections Christian Petracca, Angus Brayshaw, Jake Lever and Peter Wright.

 

The medical assessments came following requests from clubs and were organised by the League, who tightened procedures around interviews, medicals and testing by clubs last year.

 

This year's national draft is unlikely to see many state league players find AFL homes, with Frankston's Nick Newman considered one of the better chances out of the VFL.