Peel duo to be tested at draft combine

YOUNG Peel duo Dylan Winton and Brad Walsh have been invited to the WA State Draft Combine, as they look to secure a spot on an AFL list at this year’s National Draft.

Both Walsh and Winton represented Western Australia at the NAB Under 18s National Championships last month, with Walsh captaining the side and Winton a member of the leadership group.
The pair missed out on invitations to the national combine, but will be tested at a number of state-based combines held around the country.

An inside midfielder, Walsh averaged almost 17 possessions in the carnival, while Winton showed his versatility as a defender, averaging 12 possessions and three marks a game.

The invitation to the combine is another step for both players, but it also caps a strong year for Walsh, who was appointed the captain of the AIS-AFL Academy for its European tour earlier this year.

His performance with the Academy saw him finish second in the Ben Mitchell Medal as the player who best embodies team values in the Academy, and is regarded as one of the best leaders in the current crop of prospects.

“As skipper you have to try and lead the boys the best you can even if things aren’t going your way, so I tried to put that into perspective with my performance,” Walsh said.

“It’s how you handle things, but when the team isn’t performing as well as hoped, there is a bit more pressure, but it’s important to not let it get to you because you have to lead and keep their heads up.”

Winton shook off injury in the championships to perform strongly against South Australia, while both players have experience in Peel’s league side.

The WA-based combine will be held in Perth on October 12.