Night one of the 2022 AFL Draft saw another two Gippsland League players realise their dreams after being drafted by AFL clubs. The AFL Draft over the past few years has been split into two separate sittings with night one delivering the first-round picks from this year’s crop of talent. Moe talent Bailey Humphrey was the highest touted player from this year’s Gippsland Power team and there were no surprises as he was selected with the 6th pick by the Gold Coast Suns. Humphrey originally a Trafalgar and Newborough junior player featured in a number of matches for Moe this season outside his Gippsland Power duties including in the Seniors against Drouin where he kicked two goals. Humphrey joins fellow Gippsland League former players Ben Ainsworth (Morwell) and Sam Flanders (Moe) at the Suns who were also drafted with first round selections.
More information: https://www.goldcoastfc.com.au/news/1252609/bailey-humphrey-joins-the-suns-with-pick-6
Fellow talent Jacob Konstanty from Drouin was also drafted in the first round after being picked up by the Sydney Swans. Konstanty was viewed as a top 20 pick by AFL.com.au draft expert Cal Twomey who had the young Drouin star at pick 16 in his phantom draft. Konstanty’s selection had a nervous wait to it as Sydney bid on two father son selections before trading out pick 18 and ultimately selecting him with their next selection at pick 20. Konstanty originally from Warragul Blues and Colts featured in the juniors at Drouin while going on to play 4 senior matches over the past two seasons in between Gippsland Power duties including bursting onto the scene in 2021 with a four goal outing.
More information: https://www.sydneyswans.com.au/news/1250843/2022-nab-afl-draft-pick-20-jacob-konstanty
Alinta Energy Gippsland League has been fortunate to be a key pathway alongside Gippsland Power for players looking to reach the ultimate level. Humphrey and Konstanty join a long list of players which over the past few years has featured names like Caleb Serong ,Sam Berry ,Changkuoth Jiath, Ben McKay, Harry McKay, Ben Ainsworth and Josh Dunkley. There are still several names on the board from the Alinta Energy Gippsland League who could be selected either tonight or in the subsequent rookie draft including Maffra’s Coby Burgiel (predicted mid Second round), Max Knobel, Jonty Schuback and Bairnsdale’s Cooper Vickery.
For a full list of previous Gippsland League AFL Draftees click here https://gippslandleague.com.au/afl-draftees/
