Six Picked Up From Regional WA In AFL Draft

Regional Western Australia has been well represented in the 2017 NAB AFL Draft on Friday night.

While most of the focus is on Cameron Rayner going number one in the Draft to the Brisbane Lions, there were celebrations in Esperance overnight, with Brayden Ainsworth selected at number 32 for the West Coast Eagles.

Ainsworth is a product of the Ports Football Club in the Esperance & Districts Football League, playing senior footy at just 16.

This year, he was one of the stand outs for WA at the NAB AFL Under-18 All-Stars match at the MCG on Grand Final day.

He then moved to Perth to play reserves footy for Subiaco in the WAFL.

Talking about his experiences of playing senior footy at a young age in a country league, Ainsworth relised the challenge.

“You’re a bit nervous in your first game because there are a couple of blokes with big bodies, but it’s not too bad." Ainsworth told The West Australian.

Also success for Kyron Hayden, selected at number 62 and heading to North Melbourne.

Also playing footy at Subiaco in the WAFL, Hayden has spent plenty of time in the regions.

His grandparents hail from Merredin and Katanning, while Kyron and his dad, Clive Jr, would go on father-son trips near Northam and Katanning catching marron, hunting and more.

At 186cm, he stunned many at the national draft combine in Melbourne in October by breaking Nic Naitanui's running vertical jump record by 1cm (103cm).

In the Goldfields, it was Benjamin Miller's name being read out at number 63 which brought celebrations.

The former Railways Football Club youngster heading to Richmond following the draft.

The 196cm and 98kg 18-year-old had time in the ruck and forward line for WA during this year's national under-18 championships and played colts footy at Subiaco.

And in the South West, it's a Busselton lad who will be walking into the Fremantle Dockers in 2018.

Scott Jones has waited a long time to make an AFL list following a frustrating run of injuries.

Jones had to recover from a broken leg in 2013 when he should have been drafted, along with more minor injuries in the last couple of years.

But the Dockers locked in the tall at pick 75 and will be looking to him taking a ruck role in the coming years.

2018 NAB AFL Draft - West Aussies Selected

• 9 - Western Bulldogs - Aaron Naughton
• 18 - Brisbane Lions - Brandon Starcevich
• 19 - Gold Coast Suns - Wil Powell
• 21 - West Coast Eagles - Oscar Allen
• 24 - Geelong Cats - Tim Kelly
• 26 - West Coast Eagles - Liam Ryan
• 28 - GWS Giants - Sam Taylor
• 32 - West Coast Eagles - Brayden Ainsworth
• 56 - GWS Giants - Zac Giles Langdon
• 58 - Port Adelaide - Jake Patmore
• 62 - North Melbourne - Kyron Hayden
• 63 - Richmond - Benjamin Miller
• 75 - Fremantle - Scott Jones
• 76 - Essendon - Matt Guelfi
• 78 - Carlton - Jarrod Garlett