With North Melbourne's second pick in the 2014 National Draft, it selected Daniel Nielson from the Eastern Ranges.

Height: 193cm
Weight: 90cm
Position: Defender
Recruited from: Eastern Ranges

Bryce Lewis says: “He’s your powerful, strong, last-line key defender. He’s a guy that you know will get the job done.

“At the National Combine he was third overall for repeat speed. So that’s the stop-start, on the lead, closing speed.

“We see him playing on the power forwards in time. He was a Vic Metro representative and really developed well under Darren Bewick at the Eastern Ranges.”

“It’s important to note that while it was an area of the ground we could address, we didn’t reach. We thought legitimately he was a pick 25.”

AFL.com.au says: Strong defender rarely beaten one-on-one. Plays both ends of the ground. At his best when he keeps things simple. Athleticism and competitiveness are his greatest strengths. Often played on opposition's most dangerous tall forward in his four games in the NAB AFL Under-18 Championships. Averaged seven disposals and two tackles at 62 per cent efficiency during the carnival. Averaged 12 touches in 13 games at TAC Cup level. Finished third in the repeat sprint (23.99 sec) at NAB AFL Draft Combine.

Nielson to Monash Weekly (September 1)

“I felt it was a pretty solid year for me personally.

“I had a concussion early in the season that took me a little while to get over, but after that I thought I played pretty solid footy with a good group of guys.

“To get the chance to be drafted, and get invited to the combine is really humbling, but it doesn’t affect my mind too much. I’ll have to train hard for it, make sure I’m at peak fitness and give it my best, but after that it’s out of my control a bit.”

PRESS PLAY above to watch highlights of Nielson | YouTube



More to come