UPDATE: Jayden Short gets rookie drafted by Richmond
Northern Knights’ Jayden Short doesn’t expect anything when it comes to his footy.
Instead the midfielder likes to let his footy do the talking.
“I try to play consistent football,” he said last week.
“I’ve been doing all right this season without too many off games. I’ve been pretty consistent.”
Last week, Short was one of five Knights invited to the state combine testing camp, which gives recruiters the chance to test the skills of players who may go into November’s AFL draft.
“I was pretty happy as it wasn’t something I was expecting and it will be good to see what happens,” he said.
Short, who plays for Mill Park, said it would be an advantage to have so many teammates invited to the state and national combines.
Sam Switkowski, Ryan Tester, Garrett McDonagh and Bailey Jordan will join Short at the state combine, while Reece McKenzie, Jason Castagna and Kyle Langford will attend the national combine.
“It’s something everyone wants to achieve so to have so many players selected has seen a lot of positivity around the club,” Short said.
“It means we can train together and prepare. I still have a long way to go and will keep focusing on my fitness and do extra training in the lead-up to the combine.”
Like most junior footballers, Short dreams of an AFL career.
“All the coaches have been giving me good feedback,” he said. “But if I don’t get to the AFL I’ll look at playing VFL next year.
“I haven’t heard from any AFL or VFL clubs about next year yet. We [the Knights] have a relationship with the Northern Blues and we have done some training with them.”
While Short has performed well this season, the Knights have struggled at times and have won only five games.
Being a top-age player, Short took on a leadership role.
“Good things have happened during the year and there have been a lot of positives,” he said.
“As the season has gone on, I have played better football and the boys have helped with that.
“They’re a good group of guys on and off the field.
“I learnt a lot last season when I was bottom age and we are doing the same thing this year.”
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Tara Murray
