Americans named among Draft Combine ruckmen
- Wednesday, September 18 2013 @ 12:44 am ACST
- Contributed by: Troy Thompson
- Views: 2,627
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