THREE Northern Football League players are headed to AFL clubs after being selected in the 2015 National Draft.
South Morang’s Jade Gresham, Greensborough and Research’s Brayden Fiorini and Banyule’s Brayden Sier were all selected in the top 32 in Tuesday night’s draft at Adelaide’s Convention Centre.
Gresham was selected by St Kilda with pick 18, Fiorini at pick 20 by Gold Coast Suns and Sier by Collingwood at pick 32.
Gresham made history by becoming the first player from South Morang to be drafted by an AFL club.
The Northern Knights captain had a stellar 2015 campaign, winning both the Knights best and fairest award and the TAC Cup Coaches Award. He was also runner-up in the Morrish Medal.
Selected in the centre of the TAC Cup Team of the Year, Gresham was also a standout for Vic Metro in the AFL Under-18 National Carnival, winning the team’s Most Valuable Player award.
Fiorini played his junior football with Greensborough and Research and was a dominant midfielder for the Northern Knights in 2015.
After playing every match in his bottom-aged season with the Knights, Fiorini emerged further in 2015, averaging 30 possessions in 13 TAC Cup matches this season.
His performances were enough to force his way in the Vic Metro team after initially being overlooked in the squad.
Sier was perhaps the surprise selection in the draft, snapped up by Collingwood with its first selection, despite playing just two TAC Cup games and not attending either the national or state draft combine.
The 18-year-old midfielder played six senior games for Banyule in its debut season in the NFL and was twice adjudged his side’s best player, including in its Round 19 win over grand finalist Epping.
Sier spent the majority of the season playing school football for Marcellin, where he won the best and fairest.
A fourth Northern Knights player was selected in the draft, with Tyrone Leonardis recruited by Sydney with pick 51.
Leonardis was aligned with North Heidelberg in 2015 after transferring from Bundoora Junior Football Club, although didn’t feature for the Bulldogs.
He played five games for Vic Metro at the AFL Under-18 National Carnival and was named among the best players in seven of his 12 TAC Cup matches with the Knights.
More to follow shortly…
