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Three Fremantle Next Gen Academy products, former Eagles train-on and Sydney Swan’s brother invited to combine

Jordan McArdle The West Australian
Josh Draper, Conrad Williams and Jasper Scaife are all Fremantle NGA products invited to the State combine.
Camera IconJosh Draper, Conrad Williams and Jasper Scaife are all Fremantle NGA products invited to the State combine. Credit: The West Australian Sport

A trio of Fremantle Next Generation Academy talents and a mature-aged prospect were among 12 West Aussies invited to the State combine in October.

It comes in addition to the dozen WA teens getting invitations to the National Draft Combine a week earlier.

The Dockers have priority access to athletic Peel Thunder tall Josh Draper, who is closing in on a return from an ankle injury, Claremont and Hale School speedster Conrad Williams and West Perth superboot Jasper Scaife, all part of their NGA, in the draft provided they fall outside of the top-40 picks.

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Scaife has kicked 16 goals in eight games for colts ladder leaders West Perth and showed some promising signs in the national under-18s carnival and was joined on the combine list by his captain Kane Bevan and fellow teammate Griff Julian.

South Fremantle defender Toby McQuilkin, 21, also made the cut amid a career-best WAFL campaign.

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McQuilkin trained with West Coast during the pre-season but was overlooked for a Pre-Season Supplemental Selection Period (SSP) rookie spot.

Pictures of West Coast Eagles training in Lathlain, Perth.
Picture of Toby McQuilkin
Camera IconToby McQuilkin trained with West Coast during the pre-season. Credit: Ross Swanborough/The West Australian

His best game of the season came against East Perth in round eight when he amassed a career-high 42 possessions and 11 marks.

Perth midfielder and Aquinas College captain Connor McDonald, the younger brother of Sydney Swans forward Logan, is one with AFL family ties.

East Perth tall Bailey Maxwell, Perth on-baller Baxter Philip and East Fremantle/Wesley College goal-kicking midfielder Kaleb Smith were all nominated from outside of the State 18s squad.

Sport. PSA Football. Aquinas College v Guildford Grammar School at Aquinas College. Aquinas player Connor McDonald marks ahead of Guildford Grammar player Oliver Zolnier-Owens. Picture Jackson Flindell The Sunday Times
Camera IconConnor McDonald is the brother of Sydney Swans forward Logan. Credit: Jackson Flindell/The Sunday Times

Smith is highly rated by his Wesley coach Michael Broadbridge and finished the PSA season with a massive couple of games after an injury-interrupted start to the year.

All up 66 players Australia-wide were invited to various state combines to go with 68 in the national version from October 7-9 in Melbourne.

The WA combine will be held on October 16.

WA STATE COMBINE INVITEES

Kane Bevan (West Perth)

Jackson Broadbent (Peel Thunder)

Jack Cleaver (East Fremantle)

Josh Draper (Peel Thunder)

Griff Julian (West Perth)

Bailey Maxwell (East Perth)

Connor McDonald (Perth)

Toby McQuilkin (South Fremantle)

Baxter Philip (Perth)

Jasper Scaife (West Perth)

Kaleb Smith (East Fremantle)

Conrad Williams (Claremont)

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