2019 AFL State Combine Invitees

By ZAC MILBANK

Strong Statewide Super League performances have ensured Glenelg’s Luke Partington, Eagle James Rowe and Redleg Cole Gerloff are among the 21 South Australians to be tested at the 2019 AFL State Combine on October 12.

Delisted by West Coast at the end of last season, 22-year-old Partington has been a revelation for the Bays in the midfield with his ability to find the ball and hit the scoreboard while being considered among the favourites to win this year’s Magarey Medal.

Rowe, who was overlooked in both AFL Drafts in 2018, has stamped himself as one of the competition’s best goal sneaks, sitting third in the race for the Ken Farmer Medal with 31 majors.

The 19-year-old son of former Crow Stephen Rowe knows exactly where to position himself at the feet of his fellow forwards while proving elusive with ball in hand.

After making his Statewide Super League debut last year, Norwood’s Gerloff, 20, has taken his game to another level in 2019, averaging 18 disposals and kicking 17 goals for the season.

The trio are among a host of mature-age hopefuls including 24-year-old Tom Hutchesson and 22-year-old Jy Farrar, who are the first Adelaide development-listed players to be invited to a State Combine.

Playing in a premiership with Millicent last year, Hutchesson has been a great success story for the Crows through the midfield as he continues to catch the eye with his clearance-winning ability.

Originally from Western Australia, Farrar has been playing with Scotch Old Collegians for the past two seasons and stepped up to be the Crows’ match-winner with two final term goals against Sturt in Round 11.

Sturt brothers Mihail and Anzac Lochowiak will press their athletic claims in front of AFL scouts, with 19-year-old Mihail showing off what he can do in attack with a nine-goal haul for the Double Blues’ Reserves in Round 14.

The son of Port Adelaide premiership star Peter Burgoyne, Trent Burgoyne, is also on the screening list while there is also plenty of height to be put under the microscope at Prince Alfred College.

Sturt’s Lachlan Burrows, South’s Damon Freitag and Norwood’s Henry Crauford are among the ruck/key position prospects to be put through their paces while Double Blues utility Oliver Grivell has shown he can play tall and small at either end of the field.

Similar to the AFL National Combine held in Melbourne from October 1-4, players will have their physical measurements recorded while also having their athletic traits – such as speed, aerobic capacity, jump and agility – tested.

Luke Beecken (Woodville-West Torrens) SMOSH West Lakes FC
Trent Burgoyne (Woodville-West Torrens) Port District FC
Lachlan Burrows (Sturt) Uraidla Districts FC
Brad Close (Glenelg) North Gambier FC
Jamie Coff (Woodville-West Torrens) Salisbury North FC
Henry Crauford (Norwood) Mount Burr FC
Elliot Dunkin (West Adelaide) PHOS Camden FC
Jy Farrar (Adelaide) Scotch OC FC
Damon Freitag (South Adelaide) Wisanger FC
Cole Gerloff (Norwood) Eastern Ranges FC
Oliver Grivell (Sturt) Hahndorf FC
Lachlan Hoile (Woodville-West Torrens) Southern Eagles FC
Tom Hutchesson (Adelaide) Millicent FC
Reid Kuller (Glenelg) West Gambier FC
Mihail Lochowiak (Sturt) Payneham Norwood Union FC
Anzac Lochowiak (Sturt) Payneham Norwood Union FC
Harrison Magor (North) Ports FC
Jed McEntee (Sturt) Mitcham FC
Jordan Moore (Glenelg) PHOS Camden FC
Luke Partington (Glenelg) Tumby Bay FC
James Rowe (Woodville-West Torrens) Henley FC