Nervous wait for Steinberg

KEY forward Ariel Steinberg looms as the Bendigo Bank Pioneers’ most likely AFL draftee tonight.The 2010 AFL national draft will be held tonight at the Gold Coast Convention Centre.Should he be selected, Steinberg, from Mildura, shapes as being one of the interesting stories of draft night.The 18-year-old – who stands at 191cm and weights 83kg – spent 2009 as an exchange student in Canada where he took up gridiron, meaning he missed a crucial year of his football development.However, after returning to Australia this year, Steinberg played 10 games with Imperials in the Sunraysia Football League.He kicked 51 goals in his 10 games, including eight hauls of five or more.Steinberg earned a spot in the SFL inter-league team against Western Border at Horsham on May 22, booting seven goals in Sunraysia’s 74-point win.He later earned a call-up to the Bendigo Pioneers team against the Murray Bushrangers in round 10 of the TAC Cup season, kicking four goals on debut.Steinberg – who barracks for Essendon – played the last eight games of the season for the Pioneers, kicking 22 goals, including hauls of six against Calder in round 11 and five against Oakleigh in round 16.He was invited to the newly named AFL Draft Combine last month, where he placed eighth overall in the 3km time trial, with his time of 10.33.AFL national talent manager Kevin Sheehan says of Steinberg: “Ariel is a tall forward, who is quick on the lead and has an excellent natural leap.’’Other Pioneers’ players who have attracted some pre-draft interest from AFL clubs include Ben Reid from Echuca and Donald’s Lucas Anderson.Golden Square full-forward Grant Weeks, who kicked 157 goals in the Bendigo Football League this year, has nominated for the draft, but told the Bendigo Advertiser last week he didn’t expect to hear his name called.