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Son of Sydney great one of four AFL category B rookie signings

Four clubs have added to their list following the draft period.

Published by
Mitch Keating

Sydney, Brisbane, GWS and West Coast have each added Academy products to their category B rookie lists following the draft period.

The Giants have secured medium-sized forward Nathan Wardius - a prospect out of their Northern Academy who played in a pair of VFL matches for GWS this year.

Wardius has kicked 149 goals in 49 matches in the Hume League, and has been drafted out of Rand-Walbundrie-Walla.

“Nathan is an exciting medium forward with athleticism and football smarts, great touch on his left foot and is a hybrid type who is a threat in the air or on the ground," Giants recruitment manager Adrian Caruso said, via the club's announcement.

"He has some forward-50 x-factor and can also push up the ground to impact. We got him in to play two VFL games this year to give him a taste at a higher level, where he looked comfortable.”

Brisbane have signed Lions Academy graduate Bruce Reville to a one-year deal following a promising season by the 22-year-old at the VFL level, where he averaged 15.6 disposals, 3.7 makes and 3.1 tackles per game.

Reville kicked nine goals across his 12-game campaign for the Lions this year, where he was trialled in a number of positions.

“Bruce's story is a unique one, and one centred around persistence and determination, he's spent the better part of seven years in our Academy, developing and honing his craft,” Brisban football boss Danny Daly said on the signing of Reville.

“He's then put forward some really strong seasons in our VFL program, and subsequently earned himself a spot on our AFL list next year.

“He has always had a team-first mentality and is really selfless in his approach to footy, I'm really looking forward to working even closer with him in 2024.”

West Coast has confirmed the addition of Next Generation Academy prospect Coen Livingstone, who adds to Adam Simpson's forward and ruck stocks.

Standing at 200cm, Livingstone claimed the Jack Clarke Medal this year as the best and fairest player at the WAFL Colts level.

Lastly, Sydney has signed Indhi Kirk, the son of club great Brett Kirk.

Indhi was overlooked at last year's draft but remained with the Swans' Academy, where he shined at the Talent League level to amass league-high averages for tackles (8.2 per game) and inside 50s (6.8).

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - APRIL 02: Indhi Kirk of the Swans gathers the loose ball during the round one NAB League Boys match between Northern Knights and Sydney Swans at Highgate Reserve on April 2, 2022 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Martin Keep/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Kirk would also play eight games for Sydney's VFL outfit this year, with his best performance coming against the eventual premiers Gold Coast in Round 21 with a 21-disposal, six-mark and four-tackle game.

Published by
Mitch Keating