A NUMBER of this year's top draft prospects make up the group of medium midfielders heading to October's NAB AFL Draft Combines.
 
South Australian James Aish, Victorians Josh Kelly, Christian Salem and Matt Crouch, and Western Australia's Dom Sheed head the list of 40 players in the category.
 
Aish has long been seen as a likely early pick at November's NAB AFL Draft, and has come into excellent form of late playing for SANFL side Norwood.

 
Kelly attended last year's draft combine, when he won the three-kilometre time trial as a 17-year-old prospect eligible for the mini-draft. Now ready for the national draft, the 18-year-old looms as a top-five selection.
 
The medium midfielders group includes players between 180-189cm in height. 

Clubs will watch the players test at Etihad Stadium between October 1-4, with Geelong Falcons ball-winner James Tsitas, Sandringham Dragons speedster Nathan Freeman, and South Australian pair Trent Dumont and Luke Dunstan others to be considered.  
 
The national combine group includes two mature-aged players.
 
Former Sydney Swan Nathan Gordon, now playing at North Adelaide, has caught the attention of clubs, while 26-year-old Chris Cain will also attend the combine after a consistent season at Port Melbourne.
 
Sixteen others will test at state combines in a bid to make it onto an AFL list.

2013 NAB AFL Draft Combine – National: Medium Midfielders

VIC METRO

Karl Amon

Club: Sandringham Dragons
D.O.B.: 19.8.95
Height: 180cm
Weight: 73kg
Medium Midfielder/Forward with penetrating left foot and exciting speed . Strong overhead for his size and has excellent endurance. Represented Vic Metro in NAB AFL Under-18s Championships in 2013 and has averaged 14.5 playing with the Dragons this year.

Nathan Freeman
Club: Sandringham Dragons
D.O.B.: 16.6.95
Height: 182cm
Weight: 85kg
Medium midfielder that accumulates possessions at will.  A genuine clearance specialist who continually puts himself in the right place to find the ball.  Has a quick and explosive change of direction and distributes effectively by hand and foot.  Averaged 20 disposals at 71.7 per cent efficiency and 5 clearances during the NAB AFL Under-18 Championships in 2013

Will Maginness
Club: Oakleigh Chargers
D.O.B.: 13.1.95
Height: 182cm
Weight: 75kg
Medium midfielder who can also go forward.  A very driven individual and genuine student of the game.  His clearance work and ability to make the right decisions under pressure is a real feature of his game as is his hard running.  Averaged 16 disposals and one goal throughout the NAB AFL Under-18 Championships in 2013.

Christian Salem
Club: Sandringham Dragons
D.O.B.: 15.7.95
Height: 183cm
Weight: 81kg
Medium midfielder /forward with elite kicking ability on his preferred left foot.  Is strong overhead, is a very good decision maker and can really hurt the opposition when delivering the footy inside forward 50.  Shows good game sense and rarely misses a shot on goal.  Averaged 16 disposals and four marks during the NAB AFL Under-18 Championships. Graduate of the AIS-AFL Academy in 2013.

Josh Kelly
Club: Sandringham Dragons
D.O.B.: 12.2.95
Height: 183cm
Weight: 75kg
Medium midfielder that is an elite kick on his preferred left foot.  Shows composure beyond his years and has excellent endurance.  Is brilliant in his decision making and reads the game very well.  Provides excellent run and carry with the ability to kick long goals.  Averaged 27 disposals and five marks during the NAB AFL Under-18 Championships earning All-Australian honours. Joint winner of the Ben Mitchell Medal for his all-round performances in the AIS-AFL Academy this year.

VIC COUNTRY

Nick Bourke

Club: Geelong Falcons
D.O.B.: 22.2.95
Height: 188cm
Weight: 80kg
Medium midfielder with fantastic athleticism and overhead-marking ability.  Can play at both ends of the ground as well as through the midfield.  Is a thumping left-foot kick and loves to run and carry the footy on the outside.  Has very clean hands and likes to bring his team-mates into the game. AIS-AFL Academy graduate .

Matt Crouch
Club: North Ballarat Rebels
D.O.B.: 21.4.95
Height: 180cm
Weight: 78kg
Medium midfielder with prolific ball winning ability. He excels at the stoppages and thrives  in the contest; his game sense, awareness and vision are excellent and allow him to bring  his team-mates into the game through his ability to make smart decisions when in possession.  Has very clean hands and uses the ball well on his preferred left foot. AIS-AFL Academy graduate and brother Brad plays at the Adelaide Crows.

James Harmes
Club: Dandenong Stingrays
D.O.B.: 5.10.95
Height: 185cm
Weight: 78kg
Medium midfielder with good game sense and versatility. Attacks the ball aggressively and has a hard edge. Averaging 20.5 disposals for the Dandenong Stingrays this year in the TAC Cup & played two games for Vic Country, averaging 16.5 disposals in the NAB AFL Under-18 Championships.

Nick Holman
Club: Murray Bushrangers
D.O.B.: 29.5.95
Height: 187cm
Weight: 79kg
Medium Midfielder. Uses the ball effectively on his preferred left foot. Star at the stoppages with his clearance work including his clean hands & strong tackling. Hard running player who won Vic Country's MVP in the Under-18's this year, averaging 17.4 disposals.

Darcy Lang
Club: Geelong Falcons
D.O.B.: 21.11.95
Height: 181cm
Weight: 77kg
Dashing and versatile midfielder who wins his own ball and can also run and carry on the outside, very good player one on one on the inside as well as a neat user of the ball by hand & foot. Was in terrific form for Vic Country in the NAB AFL Under-18 Championships averaging 19 disposals before unfortunately breaking his leg in the final game at Etihad Stadium.

James Tsitas
Club: Geelong Falcons
D.O.B.: 3.3.95
Height: 181cm
Weight: 78kg
Medium midfielder with an appetite for the contest. His work rate and endurance are excellent, allowing him to get to a number of contests. He excels at stoppages and displays very clean hands. Shows very good courage and rarely fumbles the football, and can also go forward and influence the scoreboard. A tough inside player who finds a lot of the footy, averaging 19.8 disposals for Vic Country this year. Co-captain of the Geelong Falcons, indicating his leadership potential. Graduate of the AIS-AFL Academy in 2013.

VFL

Chris Cain

Club: Port Melbourne
D.O.B.: 14.7.87
Height: 181cm
Weight: 82kg
Medium Midfielder having an outstanding season with Port Melbourne in the VFL averaging 27 disposals as well as winning the Frank Johnson Medal as Victoria's best player versus Western Australia this year where he gathered 32 disposals. Has good speed , agility and excels at clearances.

NSW/ACT

Jake Barrett
Club: Temora
D.O.B.: 8.11.95
Height: 182cm
Weight: 82kg
Medium midfielder with a terrific work rate that can dominate the stoppages as well as hurt opposition teams on the outside with his ball use on his preferred left foot.  Has the ability to push forward and kick goals.  Averaged an impressive 19 disposals and five clearances for NSW/ACT at the NAB AFL Under-18 Championships in 2013. Has played four games for the Giants in NEAFL at senior level averaging 15 disposals.

Kieran Ellis
Club: Murray Bushrangers
D.O.B.: 30.1.95
Height: 187cm
Weight: 74kg
Medium Midfielder / defender with a soccer background and only three years in the game. Reads the play very well, has clean hands, and makes sound decisions with the footy. Represented NSW/ACT in all five matches in the the NAB AFL Under-18 Championships in 2013.

SOUTH AUSTRALIA

James Aish

Club: Norwood
D.O.B.: 8.11.95
Height: 184cm
Weight: 75kg
A smooth-moving medium midfielder with excellent disposal on both sides of his body by hand or foot.  Also a prolific finder of the ball, with rare game sense. His decision-making and composure under pressure are features of his game. Demonstrates terrific leadership ability: debuted at senior level last year, becoming the youngest player to ever do so at Norwood. Was an All-Australian as a 17-year-old at the 2012 NAB AFL Under-18 Championships and backed that up again this year with All-Australian honours . Graduate of AIS-AFL Academy.

Trent Dumont
Club: Norwood
D.O.B.: 30.6.95
Height: 186cm
Weight: 83kg
Medium midfielder who can play inside or outside. Possesses a penetrating right foot and makes good decisions with his disposal. Finds plenty of the ball and always looks to run and carry, showing an uncanny ability to keep his feet in the contest. Rarely fumbles and displays an excellent work rate that allows him to get to a high number of contests. Has played at senior level at Norwood this year and was a key member of winning South Australian team in NAB AFL Under-18s Championships . AIS-AFL Academy Graduate.

Luke Dunstan
Club: Woodville West Torrens
D.O.B.: 29.1.95
Height: 185cm
Weight: 83kg
Medium midfielder with terrific leadership qualities. A prolific ball winner who is strong in the contest and displays very clean hands. He makes very good decisions with the ball, either by hand or on his preferred left foot. Is a good overhead mark who can push forward and influence the scoreboard. His clearance work is a real feature of his game. Has debuted and impressed at senior level this year with WWT and had outstanding NAB AFL Under-18 Championships being joint winner of South Australia's MVP and earning All-Australian honours.

Nathan Gordon
Club: North Adelaide
D.O.B.: 12.2.90
Height: 186cm
Weight: 86kg
Former Sydney Swans player in his first year at North Adelaide having a consistent year, averaging 17.3 disposals. Hard running player with strong work ethic and dangerous around goals. He is strong overhead and a good user of the ball.

George Hewett
Club: North Adelaide
D.O.B.: 29.12.95
Height: 185cm
Weight: 79kg
Medium midfielder with neat skills on right and left sides and shows great courage in the contest. Has good awareness and vision allowing him to set the play up for his team. Impressed for South Australia in the NAB AFL Under-18 Championships averaging 16 disposals ,4.2 clearances and 3.4 tackles in championship winning team. Has averaged 27.3 disposals per game for North Adelaide at Colts level this year.

Riley Knight
Club: Woodville West Torrens
D.O.B.: 27.3.95
Height: 180cm
Weight: 72kg
Medium midfielder who plays with attitude and hunger for the contest. Has excellent work rate and combination of speed and elite endurance. His work ethic, ball winning ability and strong tackling are assets. Good performer in AFL Under-18s averaging 16.6 disposals and 3.2 tackles in five matches as South Australia took out the NAB AFL Under-18 Championships for the first time.

TASMANIA

Brady Grey

Club: Burnie Dockers
D.O.B.: 20.7.95
Height: 180cm
Weight: 82kg
Medium midfielder/forward who has represented Tasmania in soccer, cricket as well as football at under age level. Has good speed, agility and tackles aggressively & can win his own ball. Averaged 17.2 disposals in five matches for Tasmania at Under-18 level this year.

Eli Templeton
Club: Burnie Dockers
D.O.B.: 19.8.95
Height: 182cm
Weight: 75kg
Medium midfielder with excellent endurance and clean hands.  Rarely fumbles and makes smart decisions when executing by hand or foot.  Runs hard to receive and can win the ball either on the inside or outside.  Marks very well overhead and has the ability to push forward and impact the scoreboard.  Averaged 23 disposals and five tackles during the NAB AFL Under-18 Championships. Graduate of the AIS-AFL Academy in 2012.

WESTERN AUSTRALIA

Patrick Cripps

Club: East Fremantle
D.O.B.: 18.3.95
Height: 188cm
Weight: 90kg
Strong bodied medium midfielder that excels around the stoppages.  Keeps his feet very well under pressure and executes very effectively by hand.  A one touch player that makes smart decisions when in possession.  Averaged 19 disposals and six clearances earning All-Australian honours at the NAB AFL Under-18 Championships in 2013

Dom Sheed
Club: Subiaco
D.O.B.: 10.4.95
Height: 184cm
Weight: 83kg
Medium midfielder who is a prolific ball winner.  His work rate is excellent as is his ability to win his own ball.  Makes very good decisions either by hand or on his preferred left foot.  Can play outside or inside and is very good around stoppages.  Averaged 28 disposals and six clearances during the NAB AFL Under-18 Championships.  Winner of the Larke Medal and All-Australian honours. Graduate of the AIS-AFL Academy in 2013.

2013 NAB AFL Draft Combine – State: Medium Midfielders

Ziggy Alwin
Club: Frankston (Vic)
D.O.B.: 23.11.88
Height: 185cm
Weight: 87kg

Jake Best
Club: Casey Scorpions (Vic)
D.O.B.: 20.10.89
Height: 184cm
Weight: 84kg

Brett Bewley
Club: Western Jets (Vic)
D.O.B.: 14.4.95
Height: 186cm
Weight: 86kg

Aaron Christensen
Club: Calder Cannons (Vic)
D.O.B.: 15.11.95
Height: 190cm
Weight: 76kg

Jedd Clothier
Club: Calder Cannons (Vic)
D.O.B.: 4.5.95
Height: 189cm
Weight: 82kg

Isaac Conway
Club: Aspley (Qld)
D.O.B.: 29.5.95
Height: 184cm
Weight: 83kg

Jarred Ellis
Club: Broadbeach (Qld)
D.O.B.: 18.4.95
Height: 189cm
Weight: 80kg

Nick Favretto

Club: West Adelaide (SA)
D.O.B.: 19.5.95
Height: 189cm
Weight: 89kg

Jake Greiser
Club: Western Jets (Vic)
D.O.B.: 22.8.95
Height: 180cm
Weight: 88kg

Liam Jacka
Club: North Adelaide (SA)
D.O.B.: 5.6.95
Height: 180cm
Weight: 73kg

Ben McNeice
Club: Morningside (Qld)
D.O.B.: 16.7.92
Height: 184cm
Weight: 82kg

Liam Nash
Club: Gippsland Power (Vic)
D.O.B.: 2.12.95
Height: 187cm
Weight: 79kg

Jake Owen
Club: Calder Cannons (Vic)
D.O.B.: 11.11.94
Height: 191cm
Weight: 84kg

Sam Russell
Club: Geelong Falcons (Vic)
D.O.B.: 29.12.95
Height: 179cm
Weight: 75kg

Jake Sharp
Club: Murray Bushrangers (Vic)
D.O.B.: 11.1.95
Height: 187cm
Weight: 75kg

Jordan Walker
Club: Eastern Ranges (Vic)
D.O.B.: 30.12.94
Height: 185cm
Weight: 79kg