Suns Academy product destined to impress at AFL Draft Koenen’s a natural
TOWNSVILLE’S Aussie Rules community has watched this year’s AFL Draft with bated breath as a record four local talents chase an opportunity to play at the elite level.
The AFL’s annual meat market is being held in Melbourne and Hermit Park Tigers juniors Dirk Koenen and Ryan Gilmore and Northern Beaches Suns product Emmanuel Baru have all thrown their names in the ring.
Winger/ halfback Josh Williams is also looking to revive his career through the draft after being delisted by North Melbourne, where he made his AFL debut in 2017.
There has been strong interest in Koenen in particular after the 194cm defender was invited to last month’s Draft Combine.
Koenen started with the Gold Coast Suns through their Townsville academy before shifting south to play football and finish school at Palm Beach Currumbin.
The Magnetic Island product will be following in the footsteps of older sister Breanna, who is a regular for the Brisbane Lions in the AFLW, if he is picked up by an AFL club.
AFLQ regional manager Kath Newman said Koenen had the size and athleticism to succeed at the highest level and she was optimistic about his draft prospects.
“He’s a tall defender, but he’s really athletic and fast off the mark and just a really smart football player as well,” Newman said.
“Anyone who’s after a tall defender who’s going to work really hard and is athletic then he’s the one they’ll be looking at.
“Whether that’s a spot on the full AFL list or it means a rookie list, but I feel confident he’s done enough to warrant a selection.”
All four potential draftees have come through the Suns Academy and Newman said it showed there was a strong pathway to the elite level from Townsville.
“They’ve come right through from when they were 12 or 13 and they’ve now put their hands up for the draft which speaks volumes about the quality of the Suns Academy program,” Newman said.
“We know it is a hard selection process to get in the draft and if they don’t make it through to the AFL then they’ll all play really good quality footy in that NEAFL level.” AGE: 18 HEIGHT: 194cm WEIGHT: 87kg POSITION: defender JUNIOR CLUB: Hermit Park Tigers