A NEW look and new era is about to take off as Draft Central will now become known as Rookie Me Central, in a bid to expand its market into more diverse sports, whilst still maintaining a major focus and expertise on the AFL and AFL Women’s Draft pathways.

The rebrand has come just ahead of the 2021 National AFL Draft, with all eyes on the November 24-25 event. Rookie Me Central will be the place to visit in the lead-up, on draft night and post-draft with more than 120 AFL Draft Profiles, as well as our soon-to-be released 2021 AFL Draft Guide.

Nationwide, our writers have worked tirelessly in an unprecedented football climate to continue to bring ethical, quality-driven and newsworthy articles, to keep you well informed about everything draft-related.

With over 2.6 million site views and a loyal social media following, AFL Draft Central has been delivering draft news to you for over a decade. Ranked as the number one AFL Draft site in the country for all your draft news.

So why the name change?

AFL Draft Central has been under the Rookie Me brand umbrella for years, but the growth of the team and demand for a larger range of content forced an internal decision to strengthen the brand trajectory.

CEO and Founder of Rookie Me, Adham ‘Adz’ Dimachki said he recognised the value of such a communication medium.

“It will be bigger, badder and better than ever before. It will be a platform host for sporting news across the board, while remaining a specialist in the draft sector,” he said.

“The evolution of the athlete has transformed over recent years. It is shaping the future of how fans view sporting individuals. Audiences want more information, faster and more explosive than ever before.

“Capturing the pathway of draft prospects and familiarising these individuals with fans, allows a new sense of understanding and appreciation of footballers. Supporting your team and upcoming talent has never meant more in the current sporting market to enthusiasts.”

Rookie Me works in all facets of sports and trumps innovation in sports technology and community support. It believes firmly in the growth of the sporting landscape and providing inclusion and solutions for all consumers. Rookie Me is the Official Coaching Technology Partner of the AFL.

Rookie Me Central Chief Editor Peter Williams backs the new brand move and is excited to grow the audience over the coming years with an expansion into other sporting codes and a diverse coverage of sporting topics. Rookie Me Central will remain dedicated to its audience, and looks to expand into other sports such as cricket and soccer in the near future.

Williams, who founded the Rising Stars program on Bound For Glory News in 2012, which eventually became AFL Draft Central, said the rebrand was an exciting development for everyone involved.

“This step allows us to continue our online growth and presence; current in-house developments and anticipate what lies ahead for the future,” Williams said.

“Rookie Me Central will continue providing around-the-clock coverage of the great developmental efforts conducted at Aussie Rules grassroots level, both male and female athletes.

“The Rookie Me Central team is looking forward to remaining the number one AFL Draft content provider, whilst continually expanding its market to increase the diversity of its offerings.

“We’re incredibly excited by the opportunity to grow and provide the best possible content to our fantastic audience who have supported us over the years.”

If you’re interested in contributing to the team, email Chief Editor Peter Williams at peter.w@rookieme.com.