AFLX 2019, the Australian Football League’s mid-summer event featuring all the players you’ll recognise (but all of the rules you won’t), begins tonight with the inaugural AFLX player draft. Join The Roar for live coverage and updates from 7pm (AEDT).
Well, here we are. We’re a week into AFLW and seven weeks away from AFL proper, but two national AFL leagues aren’t enough according to the men in suits, so we’re here for AFLX – Aussie rules, but on a rectangular pitch (and with Zooper Goals and Gatorade Game Changers – however excited we’re meant to be for those).
But before we get to all of that, we need to see who will play it. Unlike last year’s festivities, though, we’re going to have a draft for this thing.
Hence tonight’s events, where we’ll see the captains and vice-captains of the four teams select who they want to win AFLX 2019 with.
Those aforementioned teams are Rampage (captained by Jack Riewoldt, deputised by Patrick Cripps), Flyers (who are led by Nat Fyfe and Marcus Bomptempelli), Bolts (Patrick Dangerfield and Luke Hodge lead them) and the uniquely all indigenous Deadly team (Eddie Betts captains, Shaun Burgoyne is second in command).
All four teams will have fourteen players (including their two leaders), so we’ll see 48 players be selected for action during tonight’s broadcast. Don’t be worried about captains choosing too many players from their respective AFL teams, though – there’s a limit of four players from each AFL side to play in the AFLX tournament.
To begin the night, the captains will choose one of four pink Sherrins labelled one through through to select the order. After that, the captains will have 30 seconds per pick to choose their draftees – and they’ll want to select during that time, otherwise whatever selection they take too much time on will be relegated to the end of the night.
Join The Roar for live coverage of the AFLX player draft from 7pm (AEDT).
Liam Salter
Roar Guru
Cheers for following along, and apologies again for the convoluted blog. That was rather confusing to follow, but I did genuinely like the laid-0back drafting style with banter aplenty.
Liam Salter
Roar Guru
So, we're done with that. Here's a short recap: The AFLX 2019 draft is done and dusted, with each of the four sides selecting 12 players each in an extremely casual and occasionally convoluted drafting process. Taking place in a studio, the four captains in Nat Fyfe (the Flyers, Patrick Dangerfield (Bolts), Eddie Betts (the Deadly’s) and Jack Riewoldt (Rampage) selected twelve players each, and the pick were varied across the board. The first picks were an intriguing mix, with Brad Hill (Deadly’s), Tom Hawkins (Bolts), Scott Pendlebury (Flyers) and Lachie Whitfield (Rampage) being the first four names read out. Betts’ team of all-indigenous players also included Geelong’s Tim Kelly, Melbourne’s Stephen May, Hawthorn’s Chad Wingard and the Eagles’ young-gun Willie Rioli, among others. Superstars Andrew Gaff and Robbie Gray were among those joining the Bolts, along with young talent Andrew McGrath and Jaidyn Stephenson. Fyfe poached defenders Alex Rance and Aliir Aliir along with talent Isaac Heeney, Jeremy Cameron and Stephen Coniglio. Rampage’s notable picks included Dayne Zorko, Hawks pair Isaac Smith and Luke Bruest, along with Rory Sloane and Easton Wood. Lachie Neale and Buddy Franklin were among the superstars missing out on selection. The actual AFLX tournament, where we’ll see these teams in action, is two weeks away. That’ll be held on Friday, February 22nd at Marvel Stadium.
Jordan Klingsporn
Roar Guru
Thanks.
User
Roar Rookie
Hamling
Jordan Klingsporn
Roar Guru
Only 2 Dockers by memory. B.Hill and obviously Fyfe. Or am I missing something?
Liam Salter
Roar Guru
Final picks now! Rampage takes Zac Fisher. The Flyers take Jack Higgins. Bolts grab Jack Steele Deadly's grab Cam Ellis-Yolmen.
Liam Salter
Roar Guru
Rampage take's Tim Membrey with their second-last pick.
Liam Salter
Roar Guru
The Bolts take Robbie Tarrant. The Flyer's grab Sydney's Josh Kennedy.
User
Roar Rookie
Damn
Liam Salter
Roar Guru
The Deadly's take Willie Rioli. And also Sam Powell-Pepper.
Josh
Expert
Jinxed it :(
Liam Salter
Roar Guru
Daniel Rich is chosen initially by the Flyers, but the Bolts poach him through the steal card! The Flyers take Michael Hurley.
Josh
Expert
Only 12 picks away from no North players having to play in this... please, please.
User
Roar Rookie
No more Eagles selected would make this a great night.
Liam Salter
Roar Guru
We’re back into the action. Rampage up first, and they take Shaun Higgins from North. That’s North’s first pick so far. In Round 10.
Liam Salter
Roar Guru
It's the end of Round 9, so each team should have 9 players chosen now. Three more to go, or 12 more players to be chosen. Another advertising break at the moment.
Liam Salter
Roar Guru
Jack Billings is chosen by the Bolts. As is Aliir Aliir.
Liam Salter
Roar Guru
Nevermind, Shiel's been stolen by Rampage. The Bolts grab Andrew McGrath. The Deadly's take Anthony McDonald-Tipunwuti and Joel Hamling.
Liam Salter
Roar Guru
Fyfe's steal means he's skipped this round, so Dangerfield's picking again. He's taken Dylan Shiel.
Jordan Klingsporn
Roar Guru
Steal cards? Seriously AFL