BENDIGO Pioneers coach Rick Coburn has backed some of the club’s newest batch of AFL draftees to make an early impact.

Entering his second season as Pioneers coach, Coburn insisted the club was still on a high following six of its 2017 players being selected in the AFL National Draft last November.

That number swelled to seven when Derek Eggmolesse-Smith made history as the first player drafted under Richmond’s Next Generation Academy program as a Category B rookie.

Mindful of heaping undue pressure on any of the seven AFL newcomers, Coburn was reluctant to name individuals, but was quietly confident a few among the septet would get an early chance at senior level.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if a number of those lads get an opportunity to play a senior game this season,” he said.

“It’s really a journey for them – they’ll have a couple of years to stamp themselves on the competition.

“Obviously those boys who went fairly high – top 20 – have as good chance to play.”

His comments came as 240 Pioneers’ under-16, TAC Cup and TAC Cup Girls hopefuls went through a raft of fitness tests at La Trobe University on Sunday.

Pacy midfielder Paddy Dow was the first Pioneer chosen at pick number three, with Lochie O’Brien joining him at the Blues at pick 10.

Key forward Jarrod Brander was next to be drafted by West Coast with pick followed by Brent Daniels (Greater Western Sydney), Kane Farrell (Port Adelaide) and Angus Schumacher (Carlton).

Meanwhile, former Pioneers midfielder Lewin Davis has won a spot on Port Adelaide Magpies SANFL list for 2018 under new coach and former Collingwood player Matthew Lokan.

For more on Sunday’s Pioneers’ fitness testing, keep an eye on the Bendigo Advertiser website throughout the day.