Sweet 16! AFL Draft Combine nominees revealed

Sixteen of WA’s top AFL Draft prospects have been invited to test themselves in front of a host of recruiters at this year’s AFL Draft Combine.

Larke Medal winner and Under-18s All-Australian captain Heath Mellody headlines the State’s seven-man AFL National Draft Combine invitees list alongside fellow All-Australians Benji van Rooyen, George Gale, and Leo Steed who will feature in the three-day combine in Melbourne from October 1-3.

Claremont is the best represented with three in the National Combine – Mellody, van Rooyen and Gale – to go with West Coast father-son prospect Harper Banfield and emerging key back Tom Brown in the State Combine.

After suffering a season-ending knee injury in his senior debut for West Perth, talented forward/winger Koby LeCras received a massive boost with a National Combine invitation alongside Falcons teammate Harvey Spawton-Guy who’s coming off an eye-catching two-goal league berth and six majors across the Under-18s National Championships.

Dangerous South Fremantle goalsneak Cam Maynard, coming off an eye-catching senior debut for the reigning champs, was the seventh player to receive a National Combine invitation.

Five players invited to the State Combine are tied to WA’s AFL clubs with Banfield (father-son) and East Perth pair Garrison Kenh and Lachlan McGlade (both Next Generation Academy) linked with West Coast and South Fremantle bull Lucas Robinson and East Fremantle livewire Finlay Yeo both part of Fremantle’s NGA.

A pair of mature-aged hopefuls also made the cut with athletic Perth tall forward Kane Johnston (24) joining East Perth key defender Jake Soutar (20), as did young South Fremantle tall Hudson Graham who’s the son of Fremantle assistant coach Jaymie.

The WA State Combine will take place on Sunday, October 11, in Perth.

“We’re delighted to see 16 West Aussies invited to the National and State combines,” AAMI WA Football State Talent Manager Adam Jones said.

“One of the feel-good stories of the National Combine invitees is West Perth’s Kobe LeCras who was tracking extremely well before a season-ending knee injury for the National Champs.

“It’s great to see some of the un-sung heroes of our improved Under-18s campaign rewarded with State Combine invitations with Tom Brown so reliable in defence and Harper Banfield winning our Black Swan Award, given to the player that best displays team-first qualities and elite work ethic.

“We look forward to working with these young men over the next couple of months to make sure they’re in first-class condition to put their best foot forward in front of recruiters.

“For those who missed out, there’s still an opportunity to be added late on the back of strong performances across our WAFL, WAFL Colts and PSA competitions.”

Telstra AFL Draft Combine – October 1-3, Melbourne

Claremont: Heath Mellody, Benji van Rooyen, George Gale

South Fremantle: Cam Maynard

Swan Districts: Leo Steed

West Perth: Koby LeCras, Harvey Spawton-Guy

WA State Draft Combine – Sunday, October 11, Perth (venue TBC)

Claremont: Tom Brown, Harper Banfield

East Fremantle: Finlay Yeo

East Perth: Lachlan McGlade, Garrison Kenh, Jake Soutar

Perth: Kane Johnston

South Fremantle: Hudson Graham, Lucas Robinson