AFL drafts eight NSW/ACT products, four in top 20

The NAB AFL Draft has selected eight NSW/ACT products, including an unprecedented four players in the top 20 picks last night at the Adelaide Convention Centre.

NSW has had just 13 players in total selected into the top 20 ever since the AFL National Draft began in 1986, but this year’s draft was filled with the finest products from NSW/ACT. AFL NSW/ACT chief executive Sam Graham was delighted with the Draft result, describing the outcome as a “watershed moment” in the history of Australian Rules Football in the region.

“Having eight players drafted from the NSW/ACT region is an outstanding result, and to see four NSW/ACT boys in the top 20 picks is unprecedented,” Graham said. “The AFL football community should be incredibly proud of this landmark result and I hope it will inspire the next generation of footballers, as they watch these NSW/ACT players become local heroes.”

The Sydney Swans matched Melbourne’s bid to take their Academy product Sydney’s Callum Mills with pick no. 3, while the GWS Giants also matched bids to nab Leeton’s Jacob Hooper at no. 7, Wagga’s Matthew Kennedy at no. 13, and Canberra’s Harrison Himmelberg at no. 16.

NSW/ACT capped off the night with GWS Giants selecting Narrandera’s Matthew Flynn at no. 41, and Michael Hartley of Sydney at No. 68 as Essendon’s pick.

In the past five years, NSW/ACT has averaged 9.5 percent of the total National Draft pool. Eight players were primarily listed at the National Draft last year, including breakout Sydney Swans star Isaac Heeney. Moreover, the 8.6 percent of the total Draft pool, which represented six local selections of 70 overall NSW/ACT products, suggests that the region is continuing to produce top end talents in recent years.

Meanwhile, Aaron Vandenberg of Canberra and Sam Naismith of Gunnedah, drafted by Melbourne Demons and Sydney Swans respectively, rounded out the eight locals to be primary listed for the first time, with both men upgraded from the rookie lists of their club.

The drafted players will arrive at their new AFL clubs later in the week to begin preseason training, while the NSW/ACT players who missed out in last night’s National Draft will get another chance to join AFL clubs on Friday’s rookie draft.

Contact the writer at feedback@ibtimes.com.au, or let us know what you think below.