Seven Territorians selected to take part in NAB AFL and AFLW draft combines

SEVEN Territorians have been invited to test at the 2020 state based NAB AFL and AFLW national draft combines

Wanderers’ Joel Jeffrey was among the seven Territorians selected for the draft combine. Picture: KERI MEGELUS

SEVEN Territorians have been invited to test at the 2020 state based NAB AFL and AFLW National Draft Combines.

Joel Jeffrey, Brodie Lake, Janet Baird and Freda Puruntatameri will all head to Queensland for testing on October 3, while Mattea Breed will take part in South Australia’s Combine on September 30.

Maurice Rioli Jr and Stephanie Williams, both based in Victoria for schooling, will also test at a Combine but COVID-19 restrictions means their testing date is yet to be confirmed.

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This announcement comes off the back of the AFL last week announcing that the annual NAB AFL Under-18 National Championships will be state-based with the NT All-Stars game to take place on September 25.

There will be an under-18s side selected in each of the male and female games reflective of the side that would have represented the NT Thunder Academy in the NAB National Under-18s Championships.

The games will be played ahead of the draft combines giving players a chance to push for selection.

Overseeing the AFLNT Talent program Brendan Parker said there would be a lot of hard work to do over the next three weeks.

“Ideally, our best young talent would have had the opportunity to represent the Cazaly’s NT Thunder Academy on a national stage against their interstate counterparts,” Parker said.

“This format, which is being replicated right around the country, represents a significant opportunity for all of our talented young players to showcase their abilities to AFL clubs and their recruiting departments.

“It also represents an opening for several players, who otherwise may have missed out, to press their case.”

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The 2020 NAB AFLW Draft will occur on Tuesday 6 October, and the 2020 NAB AFL Draft will occur in December with an exact date to be confirmed.