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Americans named among Draft Combine ruckmen

  • Wednesday, September 18 2013 @ 12:44 am ACST
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The AFL today announced the final group of players in position that will attend the 2013 NAB AFL Draft Combines in October.
 
The Ruckmen group comprises of 19 players who are between198 and 207cm in height and includes two players from the United States combine.  They are Jason Holmes and Mark Cisco who trialled with the Sydney Swans alongside Patrick Mitchell (who was signed as an international rookie by the Swans).  New Melbourne coach Paul Roos worked closely with the three athletes during their time in Australia and if they are likely to make the transition to Australian rules we would expect to see Melbourne list one of these two as an international rookie.
 
Further internationals invited to the combine are expected to be announced in the coming weeks.

 

AFL National and International Talent Manager Kevin Sheehan said: “In the 26 years of the AFL Draft ruckman have been taken as the number one choice in the nation on six occasions and rank second only to the medium midfielders who have had eight number one Draft selections to be the most popular. Carlton’s Matthew Kreuzer was the last Ruckman to be selected at number one in 2007 with the likes of Josh Fraser (1999), Michael Gardiner (1996) and Jeff White (1994) also having that honour.”

One hundred and eleven players will attend the 2013 NAB AFL Draft Combine in Melbourne at Etihad Stadium from Tuesday October 1 to Friday October 4. State Draft Combines will be held in Melbourne (October 5), Adelaide (October 12) and Perth (October 13).

2013 NAB AFL Draft Combine – National

Ruckmen

Vic Metro

Michael Apeness

Club: Eastern Ranges

D.O.B.: 28.1.95

Height: 199cm

Weight: 101kg

Aggressive and super competitive Ruckman/Tall Forward that consistently gets his hand to the ball providing his midfielders with first use.  Has very strong hands overhead and can also be dangerous playing as a Tall Forward.  Comes from a rugby background.  Averaged 10 disposals and 19 hit-outs at the NAB AFL Under-18 Championships.

 

Cameron Conlon

Club: Northern Knights

D.O.B.: 3.7.95

Height: 198cm

Weight: 87kg

Ruckman/Tall Forward with fantastic athleticism.  Possesses an excellent leap which allows him to give his midfielders first use through his tap work as well as providing a jumping/leading target up forward where he’s a threat in the air.  An agile player who is always looking to be involved in the contest.  Missed the NAB AFL Under-18 Championships due to injury. An AIS-AFL Academy graduate.

 

Vic Country

Jack Leslie

Club: Gippsland Power

D.O.B.: 27.4.95

Height: 198cm

Weight: 94kg

Ruckman who is a fierce competitor and also capable of playing as a tall defender using his natural spring and strong marking to advantage. Averaged 10 disposals and 16 hit outs in five matches for Victoria Country in 2013.

 

VFL

Ben Brown

Club: Werribee

D.O.B.: 20.11.92

Height: 199cm

Weight: 99kg

Ruckman/Tall Forward in his first year of VFL football at Werribee.  Former Tasmanian Under-18 & senior representative with terrific aerobic capacity and contested marking ability that also competes ferociously at ground level.  Kicked 25 goals in the VFL during season 2013, his most impressive game of the year coming against Port Melbourne where he gathered 20 possessions, nine hit-outs, eight marks and booted two goals.

 

South Australia

Joshua Miller

Club: Glenelg

D.O.B.: 7.1.95

Height: 204cm

Weight: 94kg

Ruckman who is very athletic and uses the ball well by hand & foot. Has progressed from the Under-18s playing 12 games at reserves level at Glenelg with his best game in Round 21 vs North Adelaide, gathering 13 disposals and 29 hitouts.

 

Western Australia

Darcy Cameron

Club: Claremont

D.O.B.: 18.7.95

Height: 203cm

Weight: 102kg

Mobile ruckman with the ability to distribute effectively by both hand and foot.  An agile player who provides a very good marking target around the ground and is capable both in the air and at ground level.  Averaged 11 disposals and 19 hit-outs at the NAB AFL Under-18 Championships.

 

Rory Lobb

Club: Swan Districts

D.O.B.: 9.2.93

Height: 205cm

Weight: 98kg

Developing athletic ruckman who can take contested marks and is also competent at ground level for his size.  Distributes the ball well to his midfielders.  Comes from a basketball background and shows deft touch in his ruck work.  Has developed the ability to push forward and present an imposing target.  Played the last nine matches at senior level, with his 18 disposals, seven marks and 28 hit-outs vs East Fremantle his most impressive.

 

Scott Jones

Club: East Perth

D.O.B.: 20.5.95

Height: 203cm

Weight: 100kg

Ruckman with good athletic ability and has a real physical presence. Had an injury interrupted year breaking his tibia in Round 1 after representing Western Australia at the NAB AFL Under-18 Championships in 2012. Returned to play at Colts level for the last six games of the year. Plenty of upside but has the physical size to compete at senior level. An AIS-AFL Academy Graduate.

 

Tasmania

Toby Nankervis

Club: North Launceston

D.O.B.: 12.8.94

Height: 200cm

Weight: 100kg

Dominant and athletic Ruckman who provides an excellent strong target around the ground.  Can be very dangerous in the air when pushing forward and possesses a thumping left foot kick.  Rarely misses from set shots.  Joint winner of the Division Two Harrison Medal as well as earning All-Australian honours.  Averaged 21 disposals and eight marks during the NAB AFL Under-18 Championships.

 

Queensland

Archie Smith

Club: Mt Gravatt

D.O.B.: 19.7.95

Height: 200cm

Weight: 97kg

Exciting and athletic ruckman who comes from a basketball background.  Has an impressive vertical leap which often allows him to jump over his opponents and get first hands on the ball.  A strong competitor who thrives in the physicality of the contest both in the air and at ground level.  Had 25 hit-outs vs NSW/ACT at the NAB AFL Under-18 Championships.

 

Fraser Thurlow

Club: Labrador

D.O.B.: 6.1.93

Height: 199cm

Weight: 100kg

Mobile Ruckman/Key Forward who is strong overhead and reads the game well. Has strong work ethic and is extremely competitive by nature. Produced his best in representative game - NEAFL vs SANFL at Under-22 level with a best on ground performance having 20 disposals, taking 12 marks & kicking two goals.

 

International

Jason Holmes

Club: Moreland State University

D.O.B.: 28.10.89

Height: 203cm

Weight: 104kg

Potential key position player/ruckman from Moreland State University in Kentucky with a multiple sports background in basketball, soccer, American football, baseball and golf. Was introduced to AFL at the USA Combine in April 2013, where is vertical jump scores (SVJ - 78cm, RVJ - 91cm) were impressive. Left footer who looked very natural with the ball by hand and foot.

 

Mark Cisco

Club: Columbia University

D.O.B.: 17.7.91

Height: 207cm

Weight: 115kg

Potential Ruckman from Columbia University with a basketball and American football background. An imposing athlete who has great appetite for the competition. Has a natural leap - (SVJ - 70cm & RVJ - 85cm) both impressive together with his absolute reach for a potential ruckman at 207cm. Has a double degree in political science and psychology.

 

2013 NAB AFL Draft Combine – State

Ruckmen

 

Darcy Fort

Club: Werribee (Vic)

D.O.B.: 6.8.93

Height: 203cm

Weight: 90kg

 

 

Bart McCulloch

Club: South Launceston (Tas)

D.O.B.: 23.9.90

Height: 198cm

Weight: 96kg

 

 

Reilly O’Brien

Club: Calder Cannons (Vic)

D.O.B.: 20.8.95

Height: 200cm

Weight: 94kg

 

Nick Prowse

Club: Oakleigh Chargers (Vic)

D.O.B.: 27.8.94

Height: 199cm

Weight: 80kg

 

Jed Redden

Club: Glenelg (SA)

D.O.B.: 8.6.95

Height: 198cm

Weight: 87kg

 

Peter Steffe

Club: South Adelaide (SA)

D.O.B.: 8.12.95

Height: 205cm

Weight: 98kg