OUR CURRENT MAJOR PARTNER IS PETER DULLARD MOTOR GROUP

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Article written by Daniel Renfrey and published by The Great Southern Star on 24th September, 2019.

With the 2019 AFL Draft just two months away, the Gippsland Power’s Sam Flanders is preparing as hard as ever.

The 18-year-old from Fish Creek has been an athletic, explosive midfielder for the Power this year and is set to make one of the 18 AFL squads come draft day.

“It’s definitely an exciting time, heading into the draft combine and then the draft,” he said. “It’s nerve wracking as well but you’ve also got to embrace and enjoy it.”

The young gun has developed greatly this season under the guidance of talent manager Peter Francis and coach Rhett McLennan at the Power. While he has also been busy with year 12 at school, he has found time to train with his coaches and improve his game.

“Rhett’s been coming to school and doing skill sessions with us, so it’s been amazing for him to give up his time and help me out,” Sam said. “My time at the Power has been fantastic, the coaches really get around us and the game style is fast too which helps you adapt to a high level of play.”

This isn’t enough for Sam though, and with the draft fast approaching, the driven teenager has been putting in extra work at the gym and on the track.

“I’m always at the gym and doing strength and conditioning,” he said. “There’ll be swimming sessions soon as well so there’s a lot added.”

Sam has been a consistent force in the Power’s midfield, “Rhett’s been coming to school and doing skill sessions with us, so it’s been amazing for him to give up his time and help me out,” Sam said. “My time at the Power has been fantastic, the coaches really get around us and the game style is fast too which helps you adapt to a high level of play.”

This isn’t enough for Sam though, and with the draft fast approaching, the driven teenager has been putting in extra work at the gym and on the track.

“I’m always at the gym and doing strength and conditioning,” he said. “There’ll be swimming sessions soon as well so there’s a lot added.”

Sam has been a consistent force in the Power’s midfield, accumulating plenty of the ball in the contest and creating for his teammates.

With the amount of hard work he has put himself through, and his effectiveness on the ground clear for all to see, there will undoubtedly be big interest from AFL clubs.

“I don’t really mind where I go or where I get picked, I just want to get picked,” Sam said. “Not everyone gets this opportunity, so I’ve just got to make the most of it and take the chance I’ve been given.”

While Sam’s short term goal is to get drafted, he also isn’t looking too far ahead, making sure his focus is on the draft combine, which takes place in two weeks’ time.

“At the moment I just want to do the best I can,” he said.

“My goal is just to play an AFL game at the moment, I can’t think too far beyond that.”

OUR CURRENT LEAGUE PARTNER IS WARRAGUL GREYHOUND CLUB

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OUR LEAGUE PARTNER IS PHOENIX SCREENPRINTING

Website: http://www.phoenixsp.com.au

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Original article written by Daniel Renfrey reporting for the Great Southern Star. To view original article in full online subscribe to TGSS here.

Featured image credit: Robert Prezioso/AFL Media/Getty Images

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