Ahead of this week’s Round 1 clash with Southport on the Gold Coast, get to know your 2017 SUANFC NEAFL list.
#1 Jack Hiscox
After 2 years on the Sydney Swans AFL list, Hiscox joins the Students ahead of the 2017 NEAFL season. Playing his junior football at the Glebe Greyhounds, the Students are excited to welcome back a talented local to their program. With an elite running capacity and a hard work ethic, SUANFC is thrilled to have Jack on board.
#2 Xavier Richards
Richards joins the Students after 4 years on the Sydney Swans AFL list. The 23-year old played 10 games for the Swans in 2016, including the AFL Grand Final. Since joining the Students training in January, Richards has made a major impact due to his high work rate and willingness to assist with the development of younger players.
#3 Tom Ayton
Coming into his 5th year at SUANFC, Ayton is one few veterans remaining in this Students squad. The former Claremont Tiger and NEAFL-representative player will be a regular on the Students half-forward flank and wing, as the 29-year old looks to replicate past seasons’ form.
#4 Austin Lucy
The 29-year old, originally from Queensland, was one of the Students’ tri-captains in 2016, alongside Lewis Stevenson and Tom Young. Lucy is a versatile utility who has the ability to play anywhere on the ground and impact the game. In 2017, Lucy averaged 17 disposals and 3 marks a game.
#5 Zac O”Brien
O’Brien joins SUANFC after stints with Essendon VFL, Brisbane Lions and West Adelaide. The elite midfielder is renowned for his work ethic, ball winning ability and leadership.
#6 Matthew Rawlinson
A member of the 2016 NEAFL Team of the Year, Rawlinson backed up a stellar 2015 season by leading the NEAFL in clearances. The hard inside midfielder came runners-up in the 2016 Driscoll Medal after averaging 28 disposals a game.
#7 Tim Barrett
2017 is an exciting time for Students’ favourite Tim Barrett. After suffering an ACL-injury at the end of the 2015 season, Barrett missed the entire 2016 NEAFL season but has enjoyed a great preseason, returning to full training. The 23-year old debuted for Sydney University when just 17-years old, earning a NEAFL rising star nomination in 2012 and was a member of the Eastern Conference Team of the Year in 2013.
#8 Damien Bonney
A small forward who loves a goal, Bonney registered 17 goals in 17 games last season, including 4 goals against the Suns in their Round 12 clash at Henson Park. The former Sydney Hills and Morningside veteran has played 96 NEAFL games across his 3 clubs.
#9 Jake Derickx
The Students leading goalkicker in 2016, Derickx booted 49 goals in 20 games, along with averaging 6 marks and a goal kicking efficiency of 64%. Since moving to Sydney in 2013, Derickx has never looked back, earning 2 Team of the Year nominations and a Driscoll Medal (1st Grade B&F).
#10 Mitch Thompson
With over 100 games of experience for SUANFC, Thompson is a reliable small forward who can damage teams on and off the scoreboard. A NEAFL Representative Player in 2015, Thompson played 17 games in 2016, including his 100th game for the Club in Round 4.
#11 Nick Foster
Foster will line up for his third season in the blue & golds hoops after graduating from the Sydney Swans Academy. The lockdown defender has played 33 games, averaging 9.5 disposals a game and keeping multiple forwards to quiet showings.
#12 Aaron Day (Vice-captain)
Entering his third year at the Students, Day has been a consistent performer, playing 18 games in both 2015 & 16. Previously from South Australia, where he played with both West-Torrens and Glenelg, Day can play both ends of the ground and will be a key contributor for the Students in 2017.
#13 Jordan Law
Law is a small forward entering his third season in the Students’ NEAFL program, after moving to Sydney from Western Australia where he played for Claremont. Law played 17 games last season, averaging 11 disposals and 2 marks a game.
#14 Monty Krochmal
A member of the 2016 leadership group, Monty Krochmal is a valued member of the Students NEAFL squad, boasting over 150 games for the Club. Playing through the Students midfield, Krochmal has been a standout on the track this preseason.
#15 Tom Young
A former Collingwood and Western Bulldogs utility who made his mark in the midfield over the last 2 seasons, winning the 2015 NEAFL MVP in thrilling fashion as he guided the Students to consecutive finals appearance.
#16 Alistair Gillespie
A WA Product who recently moved to Sydney, Gillespie played for both South Fremantle and Claremont. With the ability to play either forward or back, Gillespie is one of many exciting recruits for the Students this season.
#17 Jackson Potter
Returning from a stint in South Australia with Central Districts, Potter, a tough inside midfielder had an immediate impact on the Students. The 23-year old played 11 games, averaging 17 disposals and almost 5 hard-ball gets a game.
#18 Jack Dimery
Dimery joins the Students after 9 years playing with the East Coast Eagles. The 24-year old had a busy 2016 season, featuring on Fox’s The Recruit before claiming the Phelan Medal (AFL Sydney B&F) from just 14 games. Dimery will be one to watch as the versatile midfielder returns to NEAFL football in 2017.
#19 Jarrod Irving
Joining the Students last season after moving from Melbourne at the end of 2015, Irving locked down a role in the Students competitive backline. Debuting in Round 2, Irving held NEAFL leading goalkicker Darren Ewing scoreless in the Student’s 80-point victory.
#20 Spencer Krochmal
A utility who can play both forward, back and in the ruck, Spencer Krochmal debuted for the Students in Round 5 last season against Aspley. The recipient of the Club’s Rising Star Award in 2016, Krochmal played 10 games, averaging 12.2 hitouts a game.
#21 Lewis Stevenson (Captain)
One of the Students tri-captains in 2016, Stevenson is an elite midfielder. Averaging 25 disposals in 10 games last year, the former West Coast and Port Adelaide midfielder will once again lead from the front in 2017.
#22 Sam Tagliabue
An injury-riddled season derailed Tagliabue’s first year at SUANFC. The former Essendon VFL ruckman returned to Sydney last year, playing 12 games and averaging 18 hit outs.
#23 Kane Murphy
An injury- delayed start to 2016 didn’t stop Murphy from enjoying a rich vein of form in the backend of the Students season. Returning to Sydney after a stint with Norwood in the SANFL, Murphy played 13 games, averaging 21 disposals and an impressive 8 tackles a game.
#24 Tim Barton (Vice-captain)
A veteran of the Students and NEAFL competition, Barton has played 137 games for the Students since joining the Club in 2009, kicking 33 goals. The 27-year old has captained the Students numerous times and will once again be a major factor in the Students success this season.
#25 Zac Fyffe
Another Sydney Swans Academy Graduate who is entering his third season with the Students, Fyffe is an elite runner, leading from the front during time trials. Playing on the wing or half back, Fyffe made his NEAFL debut in 2016, playing 11 games.
#26 Will Sierakowski
The former North Melbourne and Hawthorn defender is a key factor in the Students backline. A member of the 2016 NEAFL Team of the Year, Sierakowski enjoyed his best season with the Students, averaging 18.5 disposals at an efficiency rate of 76.3%.
#27 David Wright
After spending time in WA with Claremont, David Wright joins SUANFC in 2017. Wright is a dynamic player with good running ability.
#28 Mike Manteit
After recently resigning with the Students in the offseason, Manteit has committed to the Students ahead of the 2017. The former Collingwood rookie had a promising debut season in the NEAFL, playing 18 games, while averaging 16 disposals and 1.5 goals a game.
#29 Will Taylor
Last year saw Taylor make his debut for the Students in Round 7 against the Brisbane Lions. The 20-year old will be looking to break into the Students starting 23 in 2017 after a strong showing in pre-season.
#30 Callum McFadden
New to SUANFC, McFadden joins the Students after a season in the Sydney Swans NEAFL Development Squad, where he played 15 games, averaging 15 disposals. The 19-year old will be one to watch in 2017, after turning heads in recent months during the Students.
#31 Lachlan Kilpatrick
Kilpatrick’s 2016 season was cut short by a season-ending foot injury in the Students Round 1 clash with the UWS Giants. After a full season to recover, Kilpatrick returned to full training in the preseason and will be raring to go come Round 1.
#32 Liam Griffiths
A former member of the AFL-AIS Academy, Griffiths needs no introduction at the NEAFL level, earning a rising star nomination with Ainslie in 2015, before moving south to play VFL with Williamstown last season. The exciting wingman is at the top of all the Students time trials, and is set for a big 2017.
#33 Nathan Cooper
A member of the Sydney Swans NEAFL Development Squad in 2016, Cooper played 6 games for the Swans, including the NEAFL Grand Final. The athletic key defender will be looking to add to his 2016 NEAFL experience this season in a new look Students backline.
#34 Ned Reinhard
Reinhard joins the Students after a year in the Sydney Swans NEAFL Development Squad, where he played 16 games as a key forward. Kicking 25 goals for the season, Reinhard earned himself a NEAFL Rising Star Nomination for his 5-goal haul in Round 3.
#35 Ryan Hebron
A member of the Sydney Swans NEAFL Development Squad in 2016, Hebron is utility whose versatility will be a big asset for the Students this season. The 19-year old played 16 games for the Swans last season including the 2016 NEAFL Grand Final.
#36 Andrew Sierakowski
The younger of the two Sierakowski brothers, Andrew debuted for the Students NEAFL side in 2016, finishing with 7 games for the season. A previous winner of SUANFC’s Jason McLennan Medal (U/19s B&F), Sierakowski is primed for a big season.
#37 Mitch Mahady
A key defender, who is still just 20 year-old, Mahady has been a common name on the Students team list the past 2 years. Originally from Albury on the Victoria-NSW border, Mahady was a member of the Giants Academy and Murray Bushrangers before joining SUANFC in 2015.
#38 Darcy Baron Hay
After graduating from the Sydney Swans Academy in 2015, Baron-Hay enjoyed a season with the Sydney Swans NEAFL Development Squad, which saw the 19-year old play 10 games for the Sydney Swans NEAFL side in 2016. In his 10 games, Baron-Hay averaged 10 disposals and 3.5 marks a game.
#39 Harry Annear
Originally from Western Australia, Annear is a small forward who has played the past two seasons with UNSW/ES Bulldogs in AFL Sydney’s Premier Division. The 26-year old will be looking to make his NEAFL debut in 2017 under the watchful eye of new Senior Coach Tom Morrison.
#40 Matt Wilson
A member of the Sydney Swans NEAFL Development Squad in 2016, Wilson is a crafty small forward who earned a NEAFL Rising Star Nomination in his 16 games with the Swans. Kicking 29 goals for the season, the 19 year-old will add a new dimension to the Students forward line this season.
#41 Matthew Vicic
Vicic is a key forward who possesses the skills to also play in the ruck and around the ground. Making his NEAFL debut with the Students in 2016, Vicic ended up playing 3 games including the Students NEAFL preliminary final against the Giants.
#42 James Brain
Spending the past 3 seasons with Manly-Warringah in AFL Sydney’s Premier Division, Brain is a tough inside midfielder who is known for his defensive work rate. Before joining Manly-Warringah in 2014, Brain enjoyed a stint at Port Adelaide in the SANFL.
#43 Alex Aurrichio
Hailing from New York, Aurrichio is one of SUANFC’s latest recruits, leaving the Northern Blues where he spent the past two seasons, to pull on the blue & gold hoops in 2017. Aurrichio’s height and flexibility is a welcomed addition for the Students.
#44 Jake Bartholomaues
A Sydney Swans Academy graduate, Bartholomaues joins SUANFC after playing senior football with UNSW/ES in the Sydney AFL Premier Division. Still just 19 years old, Bartholomaues will be one to watch this season.
#45 Jonathan Williams
A former Aspley and Morningside midfielder, Williams is a trusted ball-winner whose game has to gone to the next level over the past 2 seasons. A NEAFL representative in 2015, Williams will once again, be one of the most dangerous players in the NEAFL this year.
#46 James Loneragan
A new member of the Students NEAFL program, Loneragan is a former member of the Sydney Swans Academy. The 19 year-old is strong defender with a booming left foot, which could provide the Students with a new weapon in 2017.
#47 Luke Vella
A former member of the Giants Academy, Vella is a tough inside midfielder who has played the last two seasons with SUANFC in AFL Sydney’s Premier Division. Vella was a late inclusion to the 2016 SUANFC NEAFL squad, but will be looking to make his debut in 2017.