From 1.30pm on Sunday, Nick Naitanui and the rest of the Western Australian U18s will take on SA’s U18s in an important NAB National Championships match.
Widespread opinion in the AFL is Naitanui is a certainty to be the first pick at November’s NAB AFL Draft.
You won’t miss him. He is a giant Fijian ruckman with dreadlocks for hair and the athletic ability of countryman David Rodan.
Next year he will become the third Fijian in the AFL behind Rodan and Power teammate Alipate Carlile.
Western Australia is likely to provide a high percentage of early draft picks. Captain Daniel Rich (with longish blonde hair) is another to look out for on Sunday.
For South Australia, Hamish Hartlett is one seemingly certain to be an AFL player next year.
The two sides have both started the national U18 championships in good form. SA defeated TAS in its first game, while WA beat NSW/ACT by more than ten goals. This will be their second game of the tournament which is being played right around the nation.
The match is the curtain raiser to the Port Adelaide v Carlton match at AAMI Stadium. SA v WA is from 1.30pm while the main fixture begins at 4.10pm.
