Three GIANTS Academy members have been invited to the 2017 NAB AFL Draft Combine in Melbourne in early October.

Western Sydney’s Nick Shipley, Canberra’s Jack Powell and Wagga Wagga’s Brendan Myers will head to Melbourne for the combine thatwill assess each players’ strength and skills through a number of tests including standing vertical jump, agility tests and running tasks.

The trio have all played in the GIANTS’ NEAFL side this year and also represented the Allies at the 2017 NAB Under 18 Championships last month. 

GIANTS Academy Coach Head Coach Jason Saddington said he was pleased that three GIANTS Academy members made up the five players invited from NSW/ ACT.

“I’m really happy that they impressed AFL clubs enough to be invited,” he said. 

“It’s good reward for those boys who have been playing well and gives them the opportunity to really showcase what they can do.” 

The development of Shipley has been one that has caught the eye of many after Campbelltown product made the switch to AFL from soccer. 

“In the past few years we’ve had a few boys from South West NSW and the ACT come through the system, Western Sydney was sort of that last frontier for us,” Saddington said.

“It’s great to see Nick performing well and how he’s developed since transferring from soccer at the age of 15.

“To impress in the way he has we’re really proud of Nick and looking forward to seeing what takes place for him in the rest of the year. 

“With Jack from Canberra and Brendan from Wagga it’s also nice to see that this program, across all areas, is developing these boys to really good levels.”

The 2017 NAB AFL Draft Combine to be held on Tuesday October 3 to Friday October 6 at Etihad Stadium in Melbourne.