Chris25
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- Oct 30, 2007
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WA has a thread, but SA doesn't have a dedicated draft thread yet this year? Probably my fault, and I apologise. We're halfway through the season now, so let's see how things are going...
Let's start with the preliminary squad for the U19 Championships. It's a little different this year as most will know, playing two games in August and then coming back to play the final two games at the end of the season. SA have named an extended squad of 52 to play an internal trial on July 16 - which will then be cut down to 35 for the first two games against the Allies and WA. With the squad being picked by a group of people - including scouts from Adelaide, Port Adelaide, West Coast and the Western Bulldogs.
Who are the players to watch? Well, the obvious one is Jason Horne - in my opinion, the #1 prospect in this draft and I don't think it's close either. He's been playing league football this year for South Adelaide, along with fellow top 5-10 hopeful Matthew Roberts. Also likely to feature heavily for SA and vying for selection in the top 30 are midfielder Arlo Draper, half back/outside mid Lewis Rayson, Port Adelaide F/S Jase Burgoyne, small forward/mid Cooper Murley, tall forward Morgan Ferres and midfielder Hugh Jackson.
With the move to an U19 setup, who from last year is in line for selection at the Championships? Zac Dumesny would be the biggest name who was overlooked last year and has been a consistent performer at reserves grade. The two most likely to crack the starting line up would seem to be midfielder Mani Liddy and small forward/mid Henry Nelligan who have both played good league football for Sturt and Norwood respectively. Speedy outside mid Lachlan Grubb, ruckman Zac Phillips and the intriguing yet injured tall Ned Carey have also been named amongst others.
So what could a potential team look like? Well the chances of this being accurate are slim to none, but regardless...
b: Matthew Dnistriansky - Zac Becker - Blayne O'Loughlin
hb: Alastair Lord - Oscar Adams - Cooper Beecken
c: Lewis Rayson - Jason Horne - Jase Burgoyne
hf: Matthew Roberts - Lukas Cooke - Cooper Murley
f: Isaiah Dudley - Cody Gilchrist - Morgan Ferres
r: Saxon Evans - Arlo Draper - Mani Liddy
i: Jonte Hunter-Price - Henry Nelligan - Hugh Jackson - Nasiah Wanganeen - Shay Linke
e: Finn Heard - Hugh Stagg - James Willis - Cade Kennedy
As always, the KPPs are the toughest to predict - especially the defenders. Oscar Adams has played in the ruck for Glenelg in the U18s, but is a prime candidate to take up a defensive post. Zac Becker has been a solid rebounder, but at least has the size to play taller. I'm sure the coaches have someone in mind, just have to wait and see what way they go. They certainly have a lot of quality small and medium defenders to choose from though. There are more talls to choose from up forward with Lukas Cooke and Cody Gilchrist, the question is whether Morgan Ferres is the focal point or if they play him more as a third tall - his most likely role at AFL level. I expect they go shorter than I've picked, but having said that I don't mind what 19 year old Finn Heard has done at reserves level either.
If I had to pick a 'bolter' ahead of the Champs? I'd probably go with Cooper Beecken from Glenelg. Probably not a true bolter in the sense of the word since he's been mentioned as a top 30 prospect, but the one I think is most likely to enter first round calculations. 191cm, can play half back and wing. Will Day will be a popular comparison if it isn't already.
What else is there? With the mid season draft, 4 players were picked from the SANFL. But if you count him, Oliver Davis has been playing for Adelaide in the SANFL and has been picked in the Allies initial squad as a 19 year old. Also keep an eye on Leek Alleer at Central Districts, 196cm defender improving each week. Soon to turn 20 and looks the perfect developmental tall for an AFL list. Here's the list of weekly award winners for the young player of the week...
League Powerade Breakthrough Player
Round 1 - Jason Horne
Round 2 - Joshua Shute
Round 3 - Zane Williams
Round 4 - Tom Lewis
Round 5 - Josh Gore
Round 6 - Dyson Hilder
Round 7 - Jackson Callow
Round 8 - Henry Nelligan
Round 9 - Luke Beecken
Round 10 - Mani Liddy
Round 11 - Leek Alleer
That's enough for now. I know there are plenty of others who watch the SANFL, both league and juniors. This isn't just a thread for me, so put up your thoughts and game reviews.
Let's start with the preliminary squad for the U19 Championships. It's a little different this year as most will know, playing two games in August and then coming back to play the final two games at the end of the season. SA have named an extended squad of 52 to play an internal trial on July 16 - which will then be cut down to 35 for the first two games against the Allies and WA. With the squad being picked by a group of people - including scouts from Adelaide, Port Adelaide, West Coast and the Western Bulldogs.
Who are the players to watch? Well, the obvious one is Jason Horne - in my opinion, the #1 prospect in this draft and I don't think it's close either. He's been playing league football this year for South Adelaide, along with fellow top 5-10 hopeful Matthew Roberts. Also likely to feature heavily for SA and vying for selection in the top 30 are midfielder Arlo Draper, half back/outside mid Lewis Rayson, Port Adelaide F/S Jase Burgoyne, small forward/mid Cooper Murley, tall forward Morgan Ferres and midfielder Hugh Jackson.
With the move to an U19 setup, who from last year is in line for selection at the Championships? Zac Dumesny would be the biggest name who was overlooked last year and has been a consistent performer at reserves grade. The two most likely to crack the starting line up would seem to be midfielder Mani Liddy and small forward/mid Henry Nelligan who have both played good league football for Sturt and Norwood respectively. Speedy outside mid Lachlan Grubb, ruckman Zac Phillips and the intriguing yet injured tall Ned Carey have also been named amongst others.
So what could a potential team look like? Well the chances of this being accurate are slim to none, but regardless...
b: Matthew Dnistriansky - Zac Becker - Blayne O'Loughlin
hb: Alastair Lord - Oscar Adams - Cooper Beecken
c: Lewis Rayson - Jason Horne - Jase Burgoyne
hf: Matthew Roberts - Lukas Cooke - Cooper Murley
f: Isaiah Dudley - Cody Gilchrist - Morgan Ferres
r: Saxon Evans - Arlo Draper - Mani Liddy
i: Jonte Hunter-Price - Henry Nelligan - Hugh Jackson - Nasiah Wanganeen - Shay Linke
e: Finn Heard - Hugh Stagg - James Willis - Cade Kennedy
As always, the KPPs are the toughest to predict - especially the defenders. Oscar Adams has played in the ruck for Glenelg in the U18s, but is a prime candidate to take up a defensive post. Zac Becker has been a solid rebounder, but at least has the size to play taller. I'm sure the coaches have someone in mind, just have to wait and see what way they go. They certainly have a lot of quality small and medium defenders to choose from though. There are more talls to choose from up forward with Lukas Cooke and Cody Gilchrist, the question is whether Morgan Ferres is the focal point or if they play him more as a third tall - his most likely role at AFL level. I expect they go shorter than I've picked, but having said that I don't mind what 19 year old Finn Heard has done at reserves level either.
If I had to pick a 'bolter' ahead of the Champs? I'd probably go with Cooper Beecken from Glenelg. Probably not a true bolter in the sense of the word since he's been mentioned as a top 30 prospect, but the one I think is most likely to enter first round calculations. 191cm, can play half back and wing. Will Day will be a popular comparison if it isn't already.
What else is there? With the mid season draft, 4 players were picked from the SANFL. But if you count him, Oliver Davis has been playing for Adelaide in the SANFL and has been picked in the Allies initial squad as a 19 year old. Also keep an eye on Leek Alleer at Central Districts, 196cm defender improving each week. Soon to turn 20 and looks the perfect developmental tall for an AFL list. Here's the list of weekly award winners for the young player of the week...
League Powerade Breakthrough Player
Round 1 - Jason Horne
Round 2 - Joshua Shute
Round 3 - Zane Williams
Round 4 - Tom Lewis
Round 5 - Josh Gore
Round 6 - Dyson Hilder
Round 7 - Jackson Callow
Round 8 - Henry Nelligan
Round 9 - Luke Beecken
Round 10 - Mani Liddy
Round 11 - Leek Alleer
That's enough for now. I know there are plenty of others who watch the SANFL, both league and juniors. This isn't just a thread for me, so put up your thoughts and game reviews.
