Bumper year for NSW/ACT AFL talent

A record seven players primary-listed and three players rookie-listed at this year’s 2013/2014 NAB AFL Draft, capping off a bumper year for the talent department of AFL NSW/ACT.

The Joss Talented Player Program has gone from strength to strength in 2013 with 50 NSW/ACT players on AFL lists and a record 12 players making their senior debuts. Additionally, former NSW/ACT RAMS duo Isaac Smith and Luke Breust both enjoyed premiership success with Hawthorn’s win over Fremantle. At the emerging talent level, seven NSW/ACT players were named across the two AIS-AFL Academy Programs.

AFL NSW/ACT General Manager Tom Harley said the results were a great indication of considerable progress elite football in the region.

“2013 has been a huge year of achievement for our local talent, and I have loved watching our players reach the pinnacle of the game,” he said.

We are seeing the results of many years of hard work from our talent department, who have identified and developed these players from junior football to the elite level.”

“NSW and the ACT have some great programs in place, both on a state level and through the Swans and Giants Academies, and young players can look at people like Kieren Jack and Jarrad McVeigh to see just how far they can get playing footy right here in their home state.”

First time primary listed:
Dane Rampe – Sydney Swans
Brandon Jack – Sydney Swans
Jake Barrett – GWS Giants
Zac Williams – GWS Giants
Will Langford – Hawthorn
Sam Lloyd – Richmond Tigers
Mitch Clisby – Melbourne Demons

First time rookie listed:
Lloyd Perris – Sydney Swans
Max King – Melbourne Demons
Jarred Ellis – Gold Coast Suns

2013 Debutantes
Will Sierakowski (North Melbourne),Dane Rampe (Sydney), Brandon Jack (Sydney), Zac Williams (GWS Giants), Mitch Clisby (Melbourne), Dean Terlich (Melbourne), Taylor Duryea (Hawthorn), Will Langford (Hawthorn), Jackson Ferguson (St Kilda), Craig Moller (Fremantle), Jarrod Witts (Collingwood), and Sam Rowe (Carlton).

AIS-AFL Academy Participants:

Level One
Dylan McDonald (Murray Bushrangers/Albury), Jacob Hopper (Murray Bushrangers/Leeton-Whitton), Jock Cornell (Murray Bushrangers/Mangoplah-Cue), Callum Mills (Swans Academy/North Sydney Swans)

Level Two
Isaac Heeney (Swans Academy/Cardiff Hawks), Liam Griffiths (GWS Academy/Ainslie), Nicholas Coughlan (GWS Academy/Murray Bushrangers/Albury)