AFL draft 2021: Bendigo’s bonanza crop of talented players

A 201cm kid by the name of Brereton, an endurance beast and readymade stars are among the Pioneers’ draft prospects.

Sam Conforti takes a kick for Vic Country. Pic: Michael Klein

Nineteen Bendigo Pioneers players have nominated for next week’s AFL draft.

Pioneers coach Danny O’Bree has urged league clubs to take a “calculated risk” on the boys from Bendigo, believing there are some rising stars among them.

“An opportunity to get involved in a professional setting; I think a lot of our kids would absolutely thrive in that environment,” O’Bree said.

The tallest Pioneer of them all, Jed Brereton, 201 cm, hailing from Leitchville Gunbower, could be a draft smoky, according to O’Bree.

“His growth this year has been significant,” he said.

“We tried him as a ruckman to start with but with his skillset we put him back as a defender and his improvement just went through the roof.

“He just got better as the year went on.

“He’s a very, very good kick and he’s very good below his knees for a 200cm player.

“His improvement in the next 12 months is going to be a really big watch.”

Cooper Hamilton of Vic Country looks on during the 2021 NAB AFL Draft Victoria Training Day at Trevor Barker Oval. Picture: Dylan Burns

Harvey Gallagher excelled for the Pioneers when given an opportunity in the midfield.

“He’s had a really impressive season,” O’Bree said of Gallagher.

“He’s got an impressive footy IQ, he’s got great speed, he’s got great endurance, well above AFL average, he’s an incredible decision maker, yeah, I think he would really impress a club if he got that opportunity.”

Jed Brereton receives his Bendigo Pioneers jumper. Picture: Facebook

O’Bree said the “incredibly athletic” Xavier Mitchell was another exciting prospect.

“He turned some heads with a few games he played,” he said.

“He played forward earlier (in the season) and then we put him back after the break and his impact on games was quite good. I wouldn’t be surprised if he had a lot of interest (from AFL clubs).”

Other Bendigo Pioneers nominated for the draft include Sam Conforti (pictured, top), Caleb Ernst, Jack Evans, Oskar Faulkhead, Mitchell Hallinan, Cobi Maxted, Ricky Monti, Nyawi Moore, Ryan O’Keefe, Cooper Smith, Bode Stevens, Louis Thompson, Lincoln White and twins Hugh and Cooper Hamilton.

“We’ve got a lot of good potential players there,” O’Bree said.

“If clubs wanted to take a calculated risk with some of our younger players…”