Story by Tim Michell
CALDER Cannons would like to congratulate the six players who have been selected to attend this year’s AFL State Draft Combine.
Midfielders Jackson McDonald, Ben Ronke and Hayden Blythe will be joined at the combine by key forward Mitch Lewis and defender Zach Guthrie.
The group have been rewarded for their consistent form with Calder over the 2016 TAC Cup season and will have the opportunity to impress AFL recruiters during the combine.
Lewis has played eight TAC Cup matches this season, dividing his time between Assumption College where was football vice-captain, and Rams Arena.
McDonald, Ronke and Blythe were all named in the initial Vic Metro squad for the under-18 national championships.
Blythe played the opening game of the carnival alongside Cannons forward Karl Brown, but did not feature in any other matches for the Big V.
Ronke has been a consistent contributor since joining Calder this season from Victorian Amateur Football Association club St Bernard’s, where he played in a senior premiership last year.
He has been named in Calder’s best players nine times from 12 matches this season.
McDonald, from Aberfeldie, is a member of the Cannons’ leadership group.
He has averaged 20.6 disposals per game and five tackles throughout 2016.
Guthrie, the younger brother of Geelong midfielder Cam, has performed strongly in defence this year playing on a variety of tall and small opponents.
Michael Romero, who is eligible to be drafted as a father-son by the Western Bulldogs, also made the cut.
Romero’s father Jose played 211 AFL matches with the Bulldogs and North Melbourne.
Michael has featured in two VFL games for Footscray this season.
The state screening will be held in October.
Last Modified on 05/08/2016 09:34
