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AFL names head to US Nationals

  • Monday, October 14 2013 @ 06:02 am ACDT
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The following story courtesy usafl.com

The USAFL is excited to announce there will be an AFL contingent attending the 2013 Nationals.  St. Kilda Saints Captain Nick Riewoldt will be in Austin on Sunday, October 20 for the finals and participate in pre-game ceremonies and awards presentations.

Riewoldt’s newest teammate American Jason Holmes who signed a 2-year international rookie contract with the Saints earlier this month, will also make the trip to Austin.  Holmes journey to the AFL began in April at the secondAFL US Combine in Los Angeles.  After the combine Holmes returned home to Chicago where he began training with the Chicago Swans in hopes the AFL would call and he would be prepared to take advantage of the opportunity.  His hard work has paid off and he is excited to begin his AFL career.

Patrick Mitchell who attended the April Combine along with Holmes and signed his own 2-year International Rookie contract with the Sydney Swans will be in Austin as well.  Mitchell was signed after a trial with the Swans in July.  A Des Moines native he has also been training with his local USAFL club, the Roosters, as he gets ready to head down under.

The man who paved the way for Holmes and Mitchell, Eric Wallace will also make his way to Austin.  Wallace was the first American to come out of AFL US Combines and sign an international rookie contract with an AFL club.  Wallace was the top athlete to come out of the inaugural US Combine last August.  He signed with the North Melbourne Kangaroos last December and saw some game action this past season playing for the club’s VFL side.

Tony Woods, AFL International Development Manager will be attending his first USAFL Nationals. Tony is the driving force along with the AFL's talent department behind the implementation of the Combine program to ensure the pathway and accelerate an elite US player outcome. Woods, Holmes, Mitchell and Wallace will all be in Austin throughout the weekend and are looking forward to meeting and interacting with the USAFL community.