Melbourne father-son pick Jack Viney will likely be the first player to have his name called at the national draft meeting, to be held on the Gold Coast on November 22, but there are several other highly credentialed players in the group.
South Australian's Ben Kennedy, Sam Colquhoun and Harley Montgomery, Vic Metro's Nathan Hrovat, Northern Territory pair Jed Anderson and Jake Neade and Western Australia's Adam Carter all pressed their claims for early selection with strong performances at the NAB AFL Under-18 Championships.
Approximately 120 players will attend the national combine, to be held at Etihad Stadium from October 2-5, with the first group of invites comprising 32 players who are 180cm or under in height.
"Physical size has never stopped a player progressing to star at AFL level," AFL national talent manager Kevin Sheehan said.
"'If you're good enough, you're big enough', has always been the catch cry in AFL.
"You only have to look at Hawthorn's Cyril Rioli (177cm) or North Melbourne's Brent Harvey (172 cm), both stars of the game; they set the game alight with their speed, agility and footy nous.
"This year's group of 'smalls' includes players with similar capabilities."
State combines will also be held in Adelaide (October 13), Perth (October 14) and Melbourne (October 6), which will take the number of players taking part in athletic testing as part of the national talent identification process to around 200.
Six more groups - medium midfielders, medium defenders, medium forwards, tall defenders, tall forwards and ruckmen - will be released over the next six weeks.
Kevin Sheehan's take on the small defenders, midfielders and forwards at this year's national 2012 NAB AFL Draft Combine:
VICTORIA
Will Hams
Club: Gippsland Power - TAC Cup
Age: 18
Height: 180 cm
Weight: 70 kg
"Small midfielder/defender that can also push forward if required. His relentless attack on the football and the opposition are a real feature of his game. Is very neat in his disposal either by hand or foot and possesses a never say die attitude. Averaged 11.5 disposals in four games for Vic Country at the NAB AFL Under 18 Championships."
Nathan Hrovat
Club: Northern Knights- TAC Cup
Age: 18
Height: 174 cm
Weight: 76 kg
"Dynamic small midfielder who is a prolific ball winner and great user of the footy. Averaged 25.2 disposals (10 contested) and 4.4 clearances in winning Vic Metro's Most Valuable Player and All Australian honours this year."
Adam Saad
Club: Calder Cannons - TAC Cup
Age: 18
Height: 177 cm
Weight: 73 kg
"Small defender with excellent disposal and penetration on his preferred left foot. Reads the play very well, is agile and a fantastic overhead mark. Sets up counter attacks from half back regularly and is averaging 16.1 disposals this season at TAC Cup level. In 2011 played for the world team in NAB AFL Under 16 Championships and won the most valuable player award. "
Tom Temay?
Club: Sandringham Dragons - TAC Cup
Age: 18
Height: 179 cm
Weight: 74 kg
"Small defender/midfielder who is a great competitor and is rarely beaten in a one-on-one contest. Prolific ball winner for Vic Metro averaging 19 disposals at 77 per cent efficiency in NAB AFL Under 18 Championships. Father Paul played 52 games for St Kilda."
Jack Viney
Club: Casey Scorpions- VFL/Oakleigh Chargers - TAC Cup
Age: 18
Height: 178 cm
Weight: 80 kg
"Left-footed small inside midfielder who attacks the ball with ferocity and tackles strongly. Was prominent for SA at NAB AFL Under 16 level in 2010 before shifting back to Victoria and playing for Vic Metro in the NAB AFL Under 18 Championships in 2011. Signed father/son to Melbourne, where father Todd played. Played the last two NAB AFL Under 18 Championship matches for Vic Metro this year, averaging 17 disposals and four clearances."
SOUTH AUSTRALIA
Sam Colquhoun
Club: Central Districts - SANFL
Age: 17
Height: 179 cm
Weight: 72 kg
"Small defender who is a brilliant reader of the play and rarely fumbles. Set up many rebounds for SA in the NAB AFL U18 Championships, averaging 28 disposals and six marks across the five matches. Won SA's most valuable player and rewarded with All Australian honours."
Ben Kennedy
Club: Glenelg - SANFL
Age: 18
Height: 174 cm
Weight: 76 kg
"Left-footed small forward/midfielder with explosive pace and rare agility. Prolific ball winner who excels at stoppages and is extremely dangerous around goals with set shots or snaps. In 2011 won All Australian NAB AFL Under 18 Championship honours as a bottom-aged player and debuted at senior level. Backed it up this year with All-Australian honours, averaging 26 disposals."
Harley Montgomery
Club: Sturt - SANFL
Age: 18
Height: 177 cm
Weight: 75 kg
"Small defender who reads the play very well and is a smart decision-maker. Uses his natural pace to close down opponents and set up the play. Impressive for SA in the NAB AFL Under 18 Championships and later debuted for Sturt at senior level."
Nathan Stark
Club: Glenelg - SANFL
Age: 18
Height: 177 cm
Weight: 70 kg
"Small midfielder who bodylines the ball and is aggressive in the contest, winning plenty of one-on-one footy. Consistent performer for SA at NAB AFL Under 18 level averaging 19 disposals (7 contested) and 2.6 tackles."
WESTERN AUSTRALIA
Adam Carter
Club: South Fremantle - WAFL
Age: 18
Height: 179 cm
Weight: 70 kg
"Small midfielder/defender who is extremely clean with his ball handling and ball use making good decisions and executing well. Averaged 16 disposals at an impressive 78 per cent for WA at NAB AFL Under 18 level. Brother to Mitch Carter at Carlton."
Chris Deluca
Club: Subiaco - WAFL
Age: 17
Height: 176 cm
Weight: 87 kg
"Small forward/midfielder with a penetrating left foot and explosive turn of speed. Has the ability to win his own ball on the inside as well as being a dangerous finisher on the outside. He is a strongly built player with an appetite for the contest who reads the play very well. Currently playing senior football for Subiaco."
Shannon Taylor?
Club: Claremont - WAFL
Age: 18
Height: 177 cm
Weight: 72 kg
"Composed small midfielder who can play an inside or outside role. Has excellent pace as shown when he was the fastest player over 20m (2.86 seconds) at last year's NAB AFL Draft Combine at Etihad Stadium when considered for the mini draft. Represented WA again in the NAB AFL Under 18 Championships, averaging 15 disposals, four inside 50s and three tackles. Good user of the ball by hand and foot."
NORTHERN TERRITORY
Jed Anderson
Club: NT Thunder - NEAFL
Age: 18
Height: 178 cm
Weight: 75 kg
"Left footed small midfielder/defender who is exceptional overhead for his size and a relentless tackler. Was an All Australian at NAB AFL Under 18 level in 2011 and this year won NT's most valuable player for his performances in the NAB AFL Under 18 Championships, averaging 16 possessions and six tackles per match."
Jake Neade
Club: North Ballarat Rebels/ NT Thunder
Age: 18
Height: 170 cm
Weight: 64 kg
"Pocket rocket midfielder/forward who attacks the ball aggressively and tackles strongly. Has terrific speed and endurance and is very creative in setting up the play. Had an outstanding NAB AFL Under 18 Championships averaging 18 disposals and 3.6 tackles in winning the Harrison Medal (Division two best and fairest) and All Australian honours."
Jarrod Stokes ?Club
Darwin - NEAFL
Age: 17
Height: 175 cm
Weight: 63 kg
"Small midfielder/forward with brilliant leg speed and very clean hands. Is very composed under pressure and attacks the ball at pace. Averaged 12 possessions at the NAB AFL Under 18 Championships. Can be very dangerous when playing forward and has the ability to take opposition defenders on."
2011 NAB AFL Draft Combines - state level
MELBOURNE
Anthony Bonnadio
Club: Northern Knights - TAC Cup
Age: 18
Height: 174 cm
Weight: 73 kg
Andrew Galucci
Club: Calder Cannons - TAC Cup
Age: 19
Height: 176 cm
Weight: 65 kg
Sean Hetherington
Club: Calder Cannons - TAC Cup
Age: 17
Height: 185 cm
Weight: 72 kg
Brady Jones
Club: Clarence - Tas State League
Age: 18
Height: 177 cm
Weight: 75 kg
Sam Martyn
Club: Murray Bushrangers - TAC Cup
Age: 18
Height: 176 cm
Weight: 74 kg
Mark Walsh
Club: North Launceston - Tas State League
Age: 18
Height: 178cm
Weight: 74 kg
Harry O'Meara
Club: Bendigo Pioneers - TAC Cup
Age: 17
Height: 178 cm
Weight: 75 kg
Kenny Ong
Club: Sandringham Dragons - TAC Cup
Age: 18
Height: 178 cm
Weight: 72 kg
Nick Rippon
Club: North Ballarat Rebels - TAC Cup
Age: 18
Height: 176 cm
Weight: 79 kg
Anthony Tipungwuti
Club: Gippsland Power - TAC Cup
Age: 19
Height: 174 cm
Weight: 72 kg
Jordan Williams
Club: Eastern Ranges -TAC Cup
Age: 18
Height: 178 cm
Weight: 77 kg
ADELAIDE
Todd McKay
Club: South Adelaide - SANFL
Age: 17
Height: 177 cm
Weight: 74 kg
Ben Rioli
Club: St Marys - NT
Age: 18
Height: 179 cm
Weight: 62 kg
PERTH
Bayden Antonio
Club: West Perth - WAFL
Age: 17
Height: 176 cm
Weight: 64 kg
Dylan Clarke
Club: Subiaco - WAFL
Age: 20
Height: 175 cm
Weight: 60 kg
Shaquille McKenzie
Club: East Perth - WAFL
Age: 18
Height: 179 cm
Weight: 67 kg
Shane Nelson
Club: West Perth - WAFL
Age: 19
Height: 179 cm
Weight: 73 kg
The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the AFL or its clubs.
