For six Queenslanders, tonight their AFL dreams became a reality, selected in the 2016 NAB AFL Draft.
Jack Bowes, Declan Watson, Josh Williams, Elliot Himmelberg, Jacob Allison and Brad Scheer are all now on AFL lists.
Jack Bowes was the first selection of the night. Sydney bid their pick 10 on the Cairns product, which was then matched by the Gold Coast SUNS.
Declan Watson is headed south, selected by North Melbourne with pick 34. The Brisbane Lions chose not to match that bid.
Joining Watson at the Roos is Josh Williams. The kid from Townsville was selected with pick 36, after the Gold Coast SUNS chose not to match North’s bid.
Elliot Himmelberg was the next cab off the rank when the Adelaide Crows selected him with pick 51. As he has only been in Queensland one year, he was not aligned with any Academy.
Jacob Allison is staying put in Brisbane. St Kilda bid their pick 55 for the versatile Aspley junior, which was then matched by the Brisbane Lions.
Rounding out the night was Brad Scheer. Geelong bid their pick 67 on the youngest ever Palm Beach Currumbin senior, but the SUNS weren’t letting him out of their sights, matching the bid.
Now we wait for Monday’s NAB AFL Rookie Draft to see if any more Queenslanders will join these six in the elite system.
Stay tuned…
DRAFTEES
Jack Bowes (Cairns Saints/Surfers Paradise)
Pick 10 – Gold Coast SUNS
Declan Watson (Aspley)
Pick 34 – North Melbourne
Josh Williams (Hermit Park/Surfers Paradise)
Pick 36 – North Melbourne
Elliot Himmelberg (Redland)
Pick 51 – Adelaide
Jacob Allison (Aspley)
Pick 55 – Brisbane Lions
Brad Scheer (Palm Beach Currumbin)
Pick 67 – Gold Coast SUNS
By Andrew Wiles
Follow @andrewjwiles
