Bradtke was a prominent player for the Australian Boomers, making his debut in 1987 at the age of 17 in a home test series against the visiting Soviet Union. At the time the Boomers team was drawn from the NBL with Bradtke still attending the AIS. For the series, Bradtke was the 3rd big man in the squad behind veteran 6'10" (208 cm) centre Ray Borner and Brisbane Bullet's 6'10" (209 cm) centre John Dorge who was also making his Boomers debut in the series.