Nate Caddy and Will Green, who each forged their careers at the Northern Football Netball League, were selected in the 2023 AFL Draft on Monday night.
The Northern Knights duo was each taken in the first round of the draft at Pick 10 (Caddy) and Pick 16 (Green).
Nate Caddy was selected by Essendon with pick No. 10, becoming the highest selection from an NFNL product in an AFL draft since Nik Cox (pick no. 8 in 2020).
Caddy played the entirety of his junior football with Yarrambat, playing over 130 games with the club, while also making two appearances at senior level with Bundoora in 2022.
He won two league best and fairest awards at junior level and also represented the NFNL in the AFL Victoria Metro Junior Development Series in 2019 at Under-14 level.
He finished runner up in the Brent Harvey Medal (Northern Knights Boys Best & Fairest) for the second straight year, kicking 25 goals in nine matches during the Coates Talent League season, earning a spot at Centre Half Foward in the 2023 Team of the Year.
The forward also spent time in 2023 representing the AFL Academy, Vic Metro and Carlton’s VFL side.
Sydney selected Will Green with pick No. 16 of the draft, becoming the second NFNL junior to earn a selection in the first round.
The 204cm ruck played with Northcote throughout his junior career, playing over 120 games in the league, and was an NFNL representative at Under-14 level.
After a strong year with the Knights in 2022, he was named as co-captain of the Boys side in 2023, and played 13 games, averaging over 22 hit outs a game, on his way to being named in the Coates Talent League Team of the Year.
He also played three games with Vic Metro in this year’s AFL Under 18 Championships.
The Northern Football Netball League congratulates Nate and Will on being drafted and wishes them the best of luck throughout their AFL careers.
