Petracca, who stamped his authority as a contender for the No.1 position with a standout NAB AFL Under-18 Championships, will be keen to impress over the four days of testing at Etihad Stadium from September 30-October 3.
Midfielders Lachie Weller, Jayden Laverde and Connor Blakey are also members of the group likely to feature in the first round of November's draft.
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The AFL has released the names of 23 budding medium midfielders nominated to attend the four-day testing held at Etihad stadium, the week after the Grand Final.
The Brisbane Lions have two father-son selections among the batch of medium midfielders in Josh Clayton, whose dad Scott played 160 games for Fitzroy and is currently list manager at the Gold Coast, and Tyler Roos, the son of Paul Roos.
Another 27 draft hopefuls have been invited to test at the state combines.
NATIONAL NAB AFL DRAFT COMBINE – MEDIUM MIDFIELDERS
(Profiles supplied)
NSW/ACT
Isaac Heeney (Cardiff)
5.5.1996 Height: 185cm Weight: 82kg
Hard-edged medium midfielder who excels in the one-on-one and contested situations. Very good clearance player averaging five per game together with 23.7 disposals at 73.2 per cent efficiency and 4.7 tackles. Won the Harrison Medal for best and fairest in division two of the NAB AFL Under-18 Championships and was also rewarded with All Australian honours. Member of the NAB AFL Academy and in the Sydney Swans Academy.
Jack Hiscox (Sydney Uni)
23.3.1995 Height: 184cm Weight: 74kg
Very athletic player who continually runs hard through the midfield. A former national 800m champion who in January ran an elite time of 9.04 for a 3km time trial as well possessing elite leg speed. Is continuing to learn the game. He thrives in the defensive areas of the game where he is not afraid to put his head over the ball. Averaged 18 disposals in his two matches for NSW/ACT at the NAB AFL Under-18 Championships.
Tyler Roos (Sandringham Dragons)
24.3.1996 Height: 185cm Weight: 73kg
Medium midfielder whose athletic traits allow him to continually outwork his opposition. Uses the ball very well by foot and has good game sense. Averaged 19.3 disposals, at 69 per cent efficiency in three matches at the NAB AFL Under-18 Championships. Plays for the Sandringham Dragons in the TAC Cup but was eligible under state of origin rules to play for NSW/ACT. Son of former Fitzroy and Sydney Swans star Paul Roos.
Jack Steele (Belconnen)
13.12.1995 Height: 186cm Weight: 82kg
Strong and powerful midfielder/forward who can create something out of nothing. Shows excellent poise and balance when in possession and is a clever user by hand or foot. A very effective lead-up player that once going can be hard to stop. NSW/ACT's MVP in the NAB AFL Under-18 Championships, averaging 20.7 disposals at 79 per cent efficiency, 5.7 marks and two goals on his way to winning All Australian under-18 honours.
WESTERN AUSTRALIA
Connor Blakely (Swan Districts)
2.3.1996 Height: 186cm Weight: 81kg
Medium midfielder who excels at stoppages and is a prolific ball winner. Runs all day using his impressive endurance base and has good speed. Averaged 21 disposals at 79 per cent efficiency, seven clearances and five tackles during the NAB AFL Under-18 Championships and was rewarded with All Australian honours. Plays regular senior football for Swan Districts in the WAFL.
SOUTH AUSTRALIA
Peter Bampton (Norwood)
15.4.1996 Height: 182cm Weight: 83kg
Hard running, strong bodied medium midfielder with an appetite for the contest. Has played senior football over the past couple of seasons for Norwood before injuring his ankle and missing the NAB AFL Under-18 Championships. Has an excellent ability to extract the footy from the stoppage and run hard forward. Averaging 19 disposals and three clearances at senior SANFL level.
Dean Gore (Sturt)
26.6.1996 Height: 183cm Weight: 86kg
Medium midfielder who reads the game very well and is very strong in the contest. Has good bursts of speed and elite endurance and played a pivotal role in South Australia's NAB AFL Under-18 Championships winning team averaging 15.3 possessions (7.7 contested) and 6.5 tackles across all six matches. Has played senior football with Sturt.
Alex Neal-Bullen (Glenelg)
9.1.1996 Height: 182cm Weight: 77kg
Damaging medium midfielder particularly around stoppages uses his quick, clean hands to great effect. Key player in the NAB AFL Under-18 Championships averaging 18.7 disposals (10.2 contested) and 4.2 tackles. Is a courageous footballer with elite endurance and has played senior football for Glenelg.
Josh Glenn (Central District)
10.3.1994 Height: 180cm Weight: 78kg
Mature age medium midfielder that has had a brilliant year with Central District averaging 20.5 disposals and 3.6 clearances per game at senior level. His consistency has become a genuine strength along with his disposal efficiency, particularly his ability to use the ball by foot on both sides of his body.
QUEENSLAND
Lachlan Weller (Southport)
23.2.1996 Height: 181cm Weight: 74kg
Medium midfielder with pace, poise and neat disposal by hand and foot. Always seems to have plenty of time when in possession. Averaged 18 disposals in three matches at the NAB AFL Under-18 Championships, going at 74 per cent efficiency while also laying an average of 4.3 tackles. Won the McLean Medal at the Under-16 Championships in 2012. A member of the NAB AFL Academy and brother of Maverick at St Kilda.
VICTORIA
Jackson Nelson (Geelong Falcons)
15.3.1996 Height: 187cm Weight: 81kg
Medium midfielder/defender with excellent game sense, speed and use of the ball by hand and foot. Prolific kick of the footy who also shows balance and precision when executing by foot. Averaged 12.2 disposals and 4.3 tackles across six games at the NAB AFL Under-18 Championships. A member of the NAB AFL Academy.
Angus Brayshaw (Sandringham Dragons)
9.1.1996 Height: 187cm Weight: 86kg
Medium midfielder who distributes the ball very effectively by either hand and on both feet. Clearance specialist who reads the game exceptionally well using is athleticism to get to and away from stoppages. His football nous is brilliant. Averaged 21.8 disposals, five inside 50s and four tackles during the NAB AFL Under-18 Championships. A member of the NAB AFL Academy.
Angus Brayshaw (below) is likely to be an early first round draft pick. Picture: AFL Media
Damien Cavka (Calder Cannons)
3.6.1996 Height: 184cm Weight: 79kg
Elite endurance player with the capacity run all day. Has shown the ability to play a variety of roles, including shutting down opponents through the midfield as well as rebounding from half back. Shows excellent football character and work ethic. Averaged 17.5 disposals and 6.5 tackles for Vic Metro at the NAB AFL Under-18 Championships.
Josh Clayton (Sandringham Dragons)
17.1.1996 Height: 190cm Weight: 80kg
Very athletic and versatile player who reads the game very well and makes smart decisions when in possession. His aerial skills coupled with his lateral movement often sees him step through traffic with ease. Currently averaging 21.9 disposals for the Sandringham Dragons at TAC Cup Level. Son of former Fitzroy Lion and Gold Coast list manager Scott Clayton.
Jordan Cunico (Gippsland Power)
7.5.1996 Height: 184cm Weight: 72kg
Medium midfielder with an exciting burst of speed and can run all day. Strong overhead for his size and consistent ball winner in championships where he read the play very well, particularly at stoppages. Averaged 15.6 disposals at 74 per cent efficiency playing for Vic Country in the NAB AFL Under-18 Championships.
Nathan Drummond (Murray Bushrangers)
19.1.1995 Height: 181cm Weight: 85kg
Tough, inside medium midfielder with elite speed/endurance combination. Has had excellent TAC Cup year after being injured in 2013. Playing as a 19-year-old, he averaged 15 disposals, four marks and six tackles for Vic Country in the NAB AFL Under-18 Championships. Good leap and overhead mark for his size.
Corey Ellis (Western Jets)
9.10.1996 Height: 185cm Weight: 76kg
Left-footed medium midfielder who is a star at the clearances with his clean hands and courage. Uses the ball well by hand and foot and has good game sense. Provided a dangerous target up forward either in the air or at ground level. Averaged 13.6 disposals and 4.4 tackles in the NAB AFL Under-18 Championships.
Matthew Goodyear (Calder Cannons)
20.7.1996 Height: 185cm Weight: 77kg
Extremely athletic medium midfielder with elite speed and endurance. Prolific ball winner at the Cannons and had a taste of the NAB AFL Under-18 Championships playing in three matches, averaging 13 disposals in limited game time. His drive and rebound from half-back as well as through the midfield often breaks the game open.
Billy Gowers (Oakleigh Chargers)
10.6.1996 Height: 184cm Weight: 81kg
A versatile and very well balanced medium midfielder who reads the play well. Possesses excellent foot skills on either side of the body while also showing the ability to mark strongly overhead for a player of his size. Averaging 15.1 disposals for the Oakleigh Chargers this year. Son of former Hawk Andy Gowers.
Jayden Laverde (Western Jets)
DOB 12.4.1996 Height: 189cm Weight: 82kg
Smooth moving medium midfielder/forward with neat disposal skills. Can turn opponents inside out with his agility and is dangerous around goals. Strong overhead and a difficult match up with athletic attributes in forward half or in midfield. Averaged 16.8 disposals at 74 per cent efficiency and five marks during the NAB AFL U18 Championships, winning All Australian honours.
Daniel McKenzie (Oakleigh Chargers)
17.5.1996 Height: 183cm Weight: 77kg
Midfielder with superb athletic traits across all areas - speed, endurance and agility. His excellent vertical leap also gives him the versatility to not only play on opponents his size but also those that are taller. Shows very good game sense and awareness. Averaging 14 disposals and three tackles for Oakleigh at TAC Cup level.
Connor Menadue (Western Jets)
19.9.1996 Height: 188cm Weight: 69kg
Excellent athlete who uses his pace and running capacity to run and carry the footy and often breaks the lines. A quiet kid by nature, he has the ability to play on a range of opponents regardless of size. Currently averaging 19.6 disposals per game in his 14 matches for the Western Jets. Consistency is his greatest strength.
Christian Petracca (Eastern Ranges)
4.1.1996 Height: 186cm Weight: 92kg
Powerful inside midfielder/forward who is strong overhead and is a clearance star. Breaks tackles with his elite agility and tackles strongly. Vic Metro MVP and Larke medallist of the NAB AFL Under-18 Championships. His kicking has become a real asset. Averaged 25 disposals, 5.4 marks and five clearances on his way to winning All Australian under-18 honours.
STATE NAB AFL DRAFT COMBINE – MEDIUM MIDFIELDERS
Haiden Schloithe
South Fremantle/WA
16.6.1993 Height: 183cm Weight: 74kg
Robert Blood
Southport/QLD
21.1.1996 Height: 183cm Weight: 75kg
Blaine Boekhorst
Swan Districts/WA
2.9.1993 Height: 184cm Weight: 69kg
Daniel Coghlan
Essendon VFL/VIC M
8.1.1991 Height: 186cm Weight: 86kg
Brad Coulson
Port Adelaide/SA
16.11.1996 Height: 183cm Weight:78kg
Nick Dixon
Geelong Falcons/VIC C
8.10.1996 Height: 180cm Weight: 74kg
Billy Evans
Bendigo Pioneers/VIC C
19.10.1996 Height: 187cm Weight: 82kg
Campbell Floyd
Geelong Falcons/VIC C
12.7.1996 Height: 184cm Weight: 68kg
Jordan Foote
UNSW-Easts/NSW
1.2.1996 Height: 182cm Weight:74kg
Will Fordham
Sandringham Dragons/VIC M
14.3.1996 Height: 188cm Weight: 78kg
Taylor Grace
Sandringham Dragons/VIC M
17.4.1995 Height: 184cm Weight: 77kg
Liam Griffiths
Ainslie/ACT
12.1.1996 Height: 182cm Weight: 79kg
Caleb Hislop
Burnie/TAS
13.5.1996 Height: 184cm Weight: 74kg
Jack Johnstone
Williamstown/VIC M
4.8.1993 Height: 185cm Weight: 85kg
Tim Jones
Western Storm/TAS
10.11.1996 Height: 181cm Weight: 78kg
Harrison Kol
Geelong Falcons/VIC C
15.5.1996 Height: 180cm Weight: 69kg
Ryan Lim
Claremont/WA
20.3.1996 Height: 185cm Weight: 75kg
Adam Marcon
Williamstown/VIC M
28.7.1992 Height: 180cm Weight: 80kg
Nick Mellington
Murray Bushrangers/VIC C
22.5.1996 Height: 187cm Weight: 88kg
David Mennen
Murray Bushrangers/VIC C
16.12.1996 Height: 185cm Weight: 77kg
Billy Myers
Western Jets/VIC M
5.5.1996 Height: 187cm Weight: 84kg
Dylan Nelson
Swan Districts/WA
24.8.1996 Height: 181cm Weight: 74kg
Fraser Pearce
Oakleigh Chargers/Vic M
29.7.1996 Height: 186cm Weight: 76kg
Zac Richards
Norwood/SA
5.8.1996 Height: 184cm Weight: 73kg
Tom Templeton
North Ballarat Rebels/VIC C
11.4.1996 Height: 182cm Weight: 83kg
Brett Turner
West Adelaide/SA
11.1.1996 Height: 183cm Weight:79kg
Alec Waterman
Claremont/WA
19.8.1996 Height: 183cm Weight: 89kg