Over 30 former players from NAB League clubs are set to take the field in Saturday’s AFL Grand Final between Richmond and the GWS Giants at the MCG.
The Tigers had 16 players who came through Victoria’s premier under-18 competition in their preliminary-final team last week, as well as two further ex-NAB League players who were among their emergencies – and therefore in the frame to replace the injured Jack Graham.
GWS, meanwhile, had 10 former NAB League players in its preliminary-final side and five other players who represented either the Giants or the NSW/ACT Rams in their limited appearances in the competition in recent years.
In addition, three of GWS’s emergencies for last week played in the NAB League in their junior days and two likely inclusions for the Giants this week – Toby Greene and Lachie Whitfield – both came through Victorian under-18 programs.
The Northern Knights have produced a remarkable 10 former players among this group, including eight of the 22 players who appeared in Richmond’s win against Geelong last week.
The GWV Rebels (five former players), Dandenong Stingrays (four), Calder Cannons (three), Oakleigh Chargers (three), Bendigo Pioneers (two), Sandringham Dragons (two) and Western Jets (two) are other NAB League clubs to have produced multiple potential AFL Grand Final players.
See the full list of former players from NAB League clubs in line to play in the 2019 AFL Grand Final below.
RICHMOND
Preliminary Final team
1. NICK VLASTUIN (Northern Knights - pictured, right)
2. DYLAN GRIMES (Northern Knights)
3. DION PRESTIA (Calder Cannons)
4. DUSTIN MARTIN (Bendigo Pioneers)
5. BRANDON ELLIS (Calder Cannons)
8. JACK RIEWOLDT
9. TRENT COTCHIN (Northern Knights)
10. SHANE EDWARDS
11. JASON CASTAGNA (Northern Knights)
12. DAVID ASTBURY (GWV Rebels)
14. BACHAR HOULI (Western Jets)
15. JAYDEN SHORT (Northern Knights)
17. DANIEL RIOLI (GWV Rebels - pictured, left)
19. TOM LYNCH (Dandenong Stingrays)
22. JOSH CADDY (Northern Knights)
23. KANE LAMBERT (Northern Knights)
25. TOBY NANKERVIS (Tassie Mariners)
29. SHAI BOLTON
34. JACK GRAHAM
35. NATHAN BROAD
47. IVAN SOLDO (Northern Knights)
48. LIAM BAKER
Preliminary Final emergencies
7. DAN BUTLER (GWV Rebels)
27. JACK ROSS (Oakleigh Chargers)
41. MABIOR CHOL
50. MARLION PICKETT
GWS GIANTS
Preliminary Final team
1. PHIL DAVIS
2. JACOB HOPPER (GWV Rebels)
14. TIM TARANTO (Sandringham Dragons)
15. SAM TAYLOR
16. BRENT DANIELS (Bendigo Pioneers)
18. JEREMY CAMERON (GWV Rebels)
19. NICK HAYNES (Dandenong Stingrays)
20. ADAM TOMLINSON (Oakleigh Chargers)
22. JOSH KELLY (Sandringham Dragons - pictured, second from left)
23. HEATH SHAW (Northern Knights)
24. MATT DE BOER
25. LACHLAN KEEFFE
27. HARRY HIMMELBERG (NSW-ACT Rams)
29. ZAC WILLIAMS (Murray Bushrangers / NSW-ACT Rams)
31. JEREMY FINLAYSON (NSW-ACT Rams)
35. AIDAN CORR (Northern Knights)
36. HARRY PERRYMAN (NSW-ACT Rams)
37. IAN HILL
38. DANIEL LLOYD (GWS Giants)
40. ADAM KENNEDY (Western Jets)
41. SHANE MUMFORD
50. SAM REID
Preliminary Final emergencies
11. TOMMY SHERIDAN (Calder Cannons)
13. ISAAC CUMMING (NSW-ACT Rams)
17. ZAC LANGDON
21. MATT BUNTINE (Dandenong Stingrays)
Likely Grand Final inclusions
4. TOBY GREENE (Oakleigh Chargers)
6. LACHIE WHITFIELD (Dandenong Stingrays - pictured, second from right)
