WESTERN Australia is celebrating another outstanding result in the NAB AFL National Draft with 14 players drafted, including number two selection Stephen Coniglio who was selected by Greater Western Sydney.

Claremont's Tom Mitchell was drafted by Sydney with pick 21, South Fremantle's Josh Bootsma was selected by Carlton with pick 22 and Swan Districts play Murray Newman was selected by West Coast with pick 23, seeing 4 WA players taken in the first round of the NAB AFL National Draft, highlighting the strength of the WA talent player pathway.

THE West Australian Football Commission has appointed experienced coach Rob Wiley as WA State 16s Head Coach following an extensive selection process involving a number of high quality candidates.

Wiley, who has playing and coaching experience at WAFL and AFL level, was previously involved with the State Academy as WAFC High Performance Coach from 2007 to 2010.

Prior to that he was a Skills Coach and Assistant Coach with the West Coast Eagles between 1992 and 2006 and Perth Football Club senior coach in 1988 and 1989. His playing career included 176 games for Perth, 95 for Richmond and 18 for West Coast.

THE West Australian Football Commission has appointed Michael Pratt to the role of State 18s Head Coach following an extensive selection process involving a number of high quality candidates.

Pratt, 39, is a product of the WAFL and High Performance coaching pathway, having developed under the guidance of highly regarded mentors such as Craig Starcevich, Rob Wiley, Trevor Williams and Mark Neeld .

Pratt, who has also coached WAFL Colts and been an assistant at WAFL League, State 20s and TAC Cup level, said he was looking forward to working with the most talented young players in Western Australia, as well as developing his own coaching credentials.

“I am super excited about getting involved. It is a great opportunity and I am really looking forward to getting started,” Pratt said.

The Australian Football League has announced Sydney Olympic Park Sports Centre as the venue for the 2011 NAB AFL Draft to be held on Thursday 24 November.

NSW Minister for Sport and Recreation, Graham Annesley, welcomed the AFL’s decision to hold the Draft in Western Sydney.

“Sydney Olympic Park Sports Centre is a focal point for regional, national and international sport in Western Sydney, offering the AFL the perfect venue to hold its draft next month,” he said.

This year’s event will see over 400 staff, players and management from the 18 AFL clubs head to Sydney for the occasion along with a media contingent expected to number 100 journalists and support crew.

WEST Australian players claimed awards in six different categories at the 2011 NAB AFL National Draft Combine at Etihad Stadium in Melbourne.

Brad Hill from West Perth set a new beep test record of 16(1) and also took out the 3km run in a time of 9:52. Shannon Taylor (Claremont) was the quickest over the 20m sprint, while Shane Nelson (West Perth) recorded the best score in the Nathan Buckley Kicking Test with an outstanding 29/30.

Eliot Yeo (East Fremantle) recorded the best standing vertical jump of 78cm to equal Nic Naitanui's record and also recorded an overall agility score of 7.80 to be ranked as the most agile player at the NAB AFL National Draft Combine.