Posted on Friday 25th November, 2022

HOPEFULS SET FOR 2022 AFL DRAFT

Thirteen players from across Melbourne’s west have nominated for the 2022 NAB AFL Draft.

AFL Mitch Wallis (Western Bulldogs) and Ben Ronke (Sydney) have both nominated for Monday’s Draft after being delisted last month.

The duo both played their junior footy with St Bernard’s and will be hoping another AFL club provides them with a lifeline heading into the 2023 season.

One of the WRFL’s other top prospects is Matthew Payne.

Payne played juniors with Williamstown Juniors, before transferring to Spotswood in 2021. This season he played three games in the Senior men’s team.

The small forward averaged 13 disposals, 3 marks and 2 inside-50s in those three games for the Woodsman this year.

Payne also played NAB League in 2022 with the Western Jets. There he averaged 11 disposals, 2 marks, and a goal.

The young gun was invited to the state-wide combine earlier this year. He topped the agility test with a time of 7.713 seconds and also finished second in the 20m sprint, recording a time of 2.87 seconds.

Payne has won two league Best and Fairest awards – 2015 Under 11 Division 1 and 2017 Under 13 Division 1 Best and Fairest medals. He has also represented the WRFL at Junior Interleague and played footy for Vic Metro at various levels throughout his Junior career.

Other players to nominate for the draft include:

  • Caleb Burquest, Calder Cannons (St Bernard’s)
  • Jamieson Jarvis, Calder Cannons (St Bernard’s & PEGS)
  • Luke Said, Calder Cannons (St Bernard’s)
  • Zayne Galea, Western Jets (Williamstown Juniors)
  • Billy Kolyniuk, Western Jets (Point Cook)
  • Joshua Kuppen, Western Jets (Point Cook)
  • Jaelen Pavlidis, Western Jets (Werribee Districts)
  • Thomas Rowland, Western Jets (North Footscray, Altona Juniors, Altona)
  • Mutaz El Nour, Northern Bullants (Caroline Springs, St Albans, Deer Park)
  • Lachlan Green, Yarraville Seddon Eagles

Round 1 of the NAB AFL Draft will be announced on Monday from 6.30pm. The remaining round selections will be announced on Tuesday at 7pm.

The Rookie and Pre-season Draft will be held on Wednesday from 3pm.