Regional Based New Zealand Representatives Josh Mackie, Brad Mavor and Misilifi Faimalo will headline Category 3 in tomorrow night’s 2017 AFL New Zealand National Draft.
All three players played for the Northern Suns during the 2017 AFL New Zealand Premiership and with each side only able to retain one player in that category, this meant that they would then be entered back into the National Draft.
The 2017 AFL New Zealand National Draft will take place tomorrow night (November 21st) at 8.00pm and will see all players placed into one of four list categories. Highlighting the logistics of the competition and scheduling at QBE Stadium, the list categories are determined by national representation, age and regions throughout New Zealand.
The four categories involved are:
Category 1: AFL New Zealand Academy Graduates
Category 2: Auckland based players
Category 3: Regionally based New Zealand Representative
Category 4: Regionally based players
Brad Mavor
Cantabrian Brad Mavor is a player that every team would love to have in their side.
After a stunning debut season in the Premiership, the key forward Brad was selected in the ‘2017 Team of the Year’ and followed that up with selection in the New Zealand national side to play the AFL academy in April.
The 23 year old was a recent 2017 Canterbury AFL Premiership winner with the Christchurch Bulldogs.
Misilifi Faimalo
Misilifi Faimalo is an exciting young talent from Wellington who is lightning fast on the footy field.
First introduced to the game through the AFL Cup Secondary Schools competition, Misilifi‘s pace, skills and evasiveness shows why he was a standout at this year’s AFL International Cup.
A key player for the Northern Suns in the AFL New Zealand Premiership, Misi was the difference in the Suns victory over the Southern Saints in what was the game of 2017.
Josh Mackie
18 year old Josh Mackie from Otago is fearless in the way he plays and is developing week by week.
His efforts and dedication to the sport didn’t go unnoticed when NZ and Central Giants head coach Rob Malone included him in the 2017 AFL International Cup squad.
His agility along with his height gives him the ability to take strong marks but also the attribute of evading players which showed in his performances throughout this year’s International Cup.
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