Will Bella excels at AFL Draft Combine, excited for his chance

He would be the first player from Mackay to make an AFL list since David Armitage, but Will Bella is not nervous at all as the draft approaches.

The chance to create history at the AFL draft could be a daunting prospect, but a young Sarina footballer is not feeling the pressure.

Will Bella’s strong performance at the draft combine has given Mackay hope the region will have a listed men’s player for the first time since David Armitage retired in 2019.

Despite carrying the weight of Mackay on his broad shoulders, Bella said he was not feeling nervous about the process, and hoped to hear his name called out in November.

“If I do make it, it’d be really good to be that second AFL player for Mackay, it’d be an honour to make it on a list,” he said.

Will Bella at the AFL draft combine in Brisbane, October 10, 2021. Picture: Russell Freeman

“There’s no pressure from back home though, everyone just wants to see how I go and I’m just trying to put my best foot forward.”

The hulking key forward is linked to the Gold Coast through its academy program, meaning the Suns would have first rights to Bella if another club bid on him at the draft.

Bella also made his VFL debut for the Suns, which gave him a clearer understanding on the step up that is required to play at an elite level.

“It was really good to play VFL, a bit of a shock to get the call up,” he said.

“You are surrounded by all the older boys and you get to see how they go about it day in and day out, which was definitely a plus leading into the draft.

Will Bella testing his vertical leap at the AFL draft combine in Brisbane, October 10, 2021. Picture: Russell Freeman

“Just to be around the elite as well and get to pick their brains, they’ve been through what I’m going through, so I was just trying to learn as much as I could from them.”

With the Suns trading the majority of their draft hand into 2022, it is unlikely Bella will make it to Gold Coast through the national draft, but he is a chance in the rookie and pre-season supplementary phase.

If drafted to Gold Coast, Bella will join his sister Lauren at the Suns.

Lauren Bella could be joined by her brother Will at the Suns if he drafted via their academy. Gold Coast, Australia. Picture: Chris Hyde

The pair would become the first siblings drafted to the same club, with Shaun and Danielle Higgins (Geelong), Tom (Richmond) and Beth (North Melbourne) Lynch, and Rory (Adelaide) and Shae (Melbourne) Sloane other brother-sister combinations at the elite level.

Bella said his sister had been a big influence on him.

“Being able to live with her has been a real positive, because she’s been through it as well,” he said.

“Watching her go through it all and asking how she dealt with it, and having her down on the Gold Coast also made the move (from Sarina) a lot easier.”

Originally published as Will Bella excels at AFL Draft Combine, excited for his chance