The Pioneers have been one of the better performing teams in the NAB League all season, but at this stage only have one player - Colbinabbin's Cooper Hamilton - invited to attend the AFL Draft Combine later this year.

Ballarat-based Greater Western Victoria Rebels lead the way with eight representatives, including former Maryborough junior Kai Lohman.

"Hopefully, we get to play the remainder of the season and we, potentially, get a few more players invited,'' O'Bree said.

"The bottom line is you don't have to get invited to the Draft Combine to be drafted.

"We didn't have four players invited to the Draft Combine last year and four players got drafted.

"If you go through our history of 20 draftees in the last five years, I'm sure not all of those players went to the Draft Combine.

"It's not over until you say it's over. There's plenty of opportunities that can come from a good season individually, whether that be the VFL or interstate.

"There's lots of positives to come out yet."

Hamilton's selection is certainly a positive.

School and football commitments with Caulfield Grammar in Melbourne mean the skillful midfielder/halfback has been limited to a handful of appearances with the Pioneers.

It was no shock to see the AFL Academy member picked to go to the Draft Combine.

O'Bree said players that missed out only had to think back to the story of their former team-mate Josh Treacy for inspiration.

Treacy trained by himself for much of 2020, was overlooked in the National Draft, but found his way to Fremantle in the rookie draft.

"Josh had no-one around him in Cohuna to train with, but he did all the hard work,'' O'Bree said.

"Those that are most determined get the greater result and Josh is a perfect example of that.

"We've told the player to stay true to what you want to achieve and the group continues to push forward."

O'Bree said the playing group was coping well despite the uncertainty surrounding the conclusion of the NAB League season.

"Our group is really resilient,'' O'Bree said.

"They're in control of what they can control. If the season stops right now the group has played more footy this year than they did last year.

"We're hopeful that we'll get more footy this year and the group seems pretty good at the moment.

"I feel for the 19-year-olds because they missed all of last year in their draft year and it's been stop-start this year.

"The players have skill sessions, running sessions and weight sessions to do themselves.

"They've been really accountable all year, going right back to the Christmas period.

"They've been consistent throughout, which is a credit to them. I can't see why they would stop now."

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