Players will have the last chance to put their hand up in the spotlight in front of recruiters in the annual Victorian Young Guns game.
The game will be held at 11.30am on Sunday at Trevor Barker Oval in Sandringham and promises to be one that recruiters have marked in their diary.
Strong performances in these games can see players convince clubs to draft them, as Jayden Hunt & Adam Saad did in 2014.
Former Collingwood and Northern Bullants player Frankie Raso & Coburg’s Development League coach Marcus Hastings will coach the two teams.
Nearly 300 players were nominated by AFL, VFL and TAC Cup clubs and the match could well cement names on to AFL clubs’ draft boards.
Carlton Father/Son prospect Jake Bradley is one of four Northern Knights players in the squad. Bradley averaged just under 20 disposals in the TAC Cup this season whilst juggling school football for Carey Grammar. He does remain an outside chance to be drafted after being overlooked last year.
There is also a strong VFL representation with 12 players making the squads, including ‘The Recruit’ contestant Jackson Sketcher. Sketcher was ‘delisted’ on Fox 8’s TV show on Wednesday night and will be looking to boost his case to be drafted after winning the Morrish Medal back in 2010.
For the Black team, some of the names to watch include St Kevin’s College student Ollie Hanrahan who had a superb season at APS school boy level. Hanrahan is a lively half forward who can push into the midfield and hits the scoreboard. His game in the APS v AGSV rep match was superb and left a few clubs wanting a further look at him.
Talls Sean Masterson and Harrison Bult have both shown signs throughout the year at TAC Cup level that they could be drafted. Masterson’s work at full back for the Gippsland Power has been strong this season. Bult looked most at home playing further up the ground on the wing or half back when playing for PEGS at school football using his strong left foot.
For the Green team, Callan Wellings is certainly one to jot down. Wellings had 30 disposals on the weekend in the North Ballarat Rebels‘ loss to the Oakleigh Chargers in the TAC Cup Semi Final. Wellings kicks the ball well off his right boot and has often been tasked with the kickouts for the Rebels.
After being overlooked in the 2015 draft, Hisham Kerbatieh and Nash Holmes have had good seasons stepping up the VFL. Kerbatieh kicked 21 goals in 18 games whilst Holmes was in the best in seven out of 12 games for the Essendon VFL side.
Brighton Grammar’s Alex Mastromanno is another who isn’t on a TAC Cup or VFL list and will play in the contest. Mastromanno caught the eye of recruiters booting goals for fun in the APS school football competition, whilst also making the step up to VAFA Senior football.
[embedyt] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PGqfW2edYBM[/embedyt]
Former North Ballarat Rebel Sam Dunstan will run out for the Green team. Dunstan starred in the Vic Country v VAFA U19 rep game on the opposing team as Mastromanno. Dunstan has been named in the best in 10 out of the 16 games he has played in the North Central Football League for Donald.
Squads:
YOUNG GUNS | The final squads of 21 have been announced for the Young Guns game. Preview: https://t.co/WMI474a3Rw pic.twitter.com/1B39HIzA2D
— Draft Central (@DraftCentralAus) September 16, 2016
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