Congratulations Isaac, Kobe and Lachlan!
AFL Broken Hill would like to congratulate Isaac Cumming, Lachlan Tiziani and Kobe Mutch on being drafted on Friday night.
All 3 are Broken Hill born and bred, all 3 were coached under the wonderful junior structure we have in place and all 3 have managed to achieve their dream of being given the opportunity to play football at the highest level.
“ It is a wonderful endorsement of the strength of our game that a competition that boasts just 4 clubs can have 3 players selected at the one draft in particularly when all 3 are from the one club, this in itself would have to be some sort of record for a Country Football Club “ , Acting Chairman of AFL Broken Hill Andrew Schmidt said.
“ As a body we would like to acknowledge the North Football Club for having nurtured these 3 young men “.
Along with former North junior and current Adelaide Football Club Captain Taylor Walker the football community of Broken Hill will have 4 players to follow from 2017 and onwards.
With Isaac Cumming being selected at pick 20 by GWS this matched the selection of former Broken Hill player Brett Cook in 1991 who was drafted by Fitzroy and Dean Solomon who also went at pick 20 in 1997 to Essendon.
The selection of Kobe Mutch at pick 42 to Essendon was thoroughly deserved after an outstanding season where he gained All Australian selection in the U/18 Team.
When Lachlan Tiziani was picked up at by GWS with pick 54 the dream was complete and a reward for perseverance by Lachlan who was overlooked in the 2015 draft.
“ This is a huge boost for the game in Broken Hill, “ Mr Schmidt said.
“ It shows our junior players that if they are prepared to make a commitment it does not matter where you play AFL in Australia you can reach the top. “
The 3 players took different paths to being drafted, Isaac remained in Broken Hill, Lachlan moved to Albury to play with the Murray Bushrangers and Kobe relocated to Gol Gol where he travelled to Bendigo to play with the Pioneers.
“ In all of this we should also recognise the work by the team from AFL NSW led by Luke Carroll their Talent manager and the GWS Giants with their Academy program headed up by Jason Saddington, “ Mr Schmidt said.
“ They put the time and effort in and now they and us and the 3 players are reaping the rewards. “
“ These quality programs are allowing youngsters in the Bush to have a pathway to the highest level. “
