Young Howick Hornets and NZ age-group rising star Luke Williams will be entered into this year’s AFL New Zealand National Draft and will join a raft of young talent who will be looking to book a spot in one of the four AFL New Zealand Premiership sides in 2019.
Williams, 17, from Pakuranga, was involved in a number of rounds in the 2018 AFL New Zealand Premiership playing as a development player which culminated in a dominant performance during the final round to earn himself the rising star award.
The former hooker started out playing AFL in the Secondary School Cup for Pakuranga College before joining the Howick Hornets in the Auckland AFL.
Williams doesn’t shy away from a contest and is hard at the football, according to blog aflnz.co.nz. “With plenty of talent, he will continue to develop into a handy midfielder in years to come.”
With a goal of making the NZ senior side, Williams has already represented New Zealand at Academy and U18 levels.
Having already retained an experienced midfield, he would fit in nicely at the Northern Suns where he could learn and develop under new captain Ben Hick.
Willilams’ favourite AFL team is the Eagles. “I was given a supporters Guernsey from my brother who passed away in Australia a few years ago,” he told the Times.
“My favourite player is Dustin Martin who received the Golden Boot and he is a Kiwi.”
And his goals? “To captain the U18s team for another victory in Melbourne and make the Senior NZ team.”
The National Draft will take place on Wednesday November 28. The draft will be live via social media.
For pick by-pick-updates follow @AFLNZ on twitter to see it all unfold minute by minute.
More at www.aflnz.co.nz.
