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News Mark Clayton confirmed as Academies Coach

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Ford Fairlane

Ford Fairlane

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Port Adelaide is pleased to confirm the appointment of Mark Clayton as Academies Coach - SANFL & Port Adelaide Football Club as part of a significant strategic investment into talent development in South Australia.

Clayton, who has spent the past eight years as South Adelaide's Talent Manager and Under-18 coach, brings extensive experience in developing elite young footballers and will play a crucial role in fostering the state's best talent while ensuring a greater focus on eligible players for the club's Next Generation Academy (NGA) for First Nations and multicultural players.
 
Great to see a Clayton family member back at Alberton, after a hiatus at South Adelaide 😎👍❤️

Bustling, bruising Bobby "Block! Block!" Clayton was one of Fos' favourite players. Had many on and off field roles at the club over the years. Jack had great affection for him too.

Met him once at the Old Port admin building on Port Road - such a sincere bloke. Couldn't do enough to help you out.

One of life's true gentlemen. And a typical ornery, take no prisoners, you'll have to go through me if you wanna pass, Port stalwart as a player.

Mark is co-coach of the SA academy squad, assisting Tony Bamford, and will assist with our AFL side's identification and development of talented juniors.


Crows' equivalent position, as SANFL Academy coach and Camries talent acquisition dude, went to Sturt U'18s coach Chris Tapp.
 
VineValerian said:
Great to see a Clayton family member back at Alberton, after a hiatus at South Adelaide 😎👍❤️

Bustling, bruising Bobby "Block! Block!" Clayton was one of Fos' favourite players. Had many on and off field roles at the club over the years. Jack had great affection for him too.

Met him once at the Old Port admin building on Port Road - such a sincere bloke. Couldn't do enough to help you out.

One of life's true gentlemen. And a typical ornery, take no prisoners, you'll have to go through me if you wanna pass, Port stalwart as a player.

Mark is co-coach of the SA academy squad, assisting Tony Bamford, and will assist with our AFL side's identification and development of talented juniors.


Crows' equivalent position, as SANFL Academy coach and Camries talent acquisition dude, went to Sturt U'18s coach Chris Tapp.
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I’m just getting this clear in my own mind - so Tony Bamford is still an employee of the SANFL & Clayton & Tapp sort of report to him ?
 
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Mark was tough as nails like his old man and he will explain the Port Adelaide way to our young players.
 

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Ford Fairlane said:


Port Adelaide is pleased to confirm the appointment of Mark Clayton as Academies Coach - SANFL & Port Adelaide Football Club as part of a significant strategic investment into talent development in South Australia.

Clayton, who has spent the past eight years as South Adelaide's Talent Manager and Under-18 coach, brings extensive experience in developing elite young footballers and will play a crucial role in fostering the state's best talent while ensuring a greater focus on eligible players for the club's Next Generation Academy (NGA) for First Nations and multicultural players.
Click to expand...

8 years at South Adelaide!! Guy deserves a break.
 
Ford Fairlane said:


Port Adelaide is pleased to confirm the appointment of Mark Clayton as Academies Coach - SANFL & Port Adelaide Football Club as part of a significant strategic investment into talent development in South Australia.

Clayton, who has spent the past eight years as South Adelaide's Talent Manager and Under-18 coach, brings extensive experience in developing elite young footballers and will play a crucial role in fostering the state's best talent while ensuring a greater focus on eligible players for the club's Next Generation Academy (NGA) for First Nations and multicultural players.
Click to expand...

Screenshot_20251210_202954_Chrome(1).jpg
 
18/19 year olds drafted from South Adelaide since 2017. No South player taken in 2025 national or rookie drafts.

Don't know how much Mark had to do with each individual player, but South are producing their fair share of AFL footballers in their mortgage belt catchment.

DraftedPlayerClubs
Prelist 2018Nathan KreugerGeelong (2)
Collingwood (13)
#45 National 2020Tom HighmoreSt Kilda (16)
#68 National 2018Jake TarcaGeelong (0)
#27 National 2018Tom SparrowMelbourne (117)
#44 National 2020Beau McCreeryCollingwood (96)
#42 National 2020Phoenix SpicerNorth Melbourne (12)
#25 National 2020Brayden CookAdelaide (30)
#18 Mid-Season 2021Jye MenzieEssendon (47)
#45 National 2021Arlo DraperCollingwood (0)
#1 National 2021Jason Horne-FrancisNorth Melbourne (17)
Port Adelaide (63)
#34 National 2021Matt RobertsSydney (48)
#31 Rookie 2022Jaiden MagorSydney (0)
#14 Rookie 2022Will VerrallMelbourne (0)
#59 National 2022Kyle MarshallPort Adelaide (0)
#60 National 2023Jack DeleanFremantle (0)
#20 National 2023Taylor GoadNorth Melbourne (0)
#15 Mid-Season 2024Noah HowesCollingwood (0)
Category B Rookie 2024Benny BarrettPort Adelaide (0)
#4 National 2024Sid DraperAdelaide (10)
 
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All their development has probably come through Cove Cobras and Reynella Wineflies etc, so that's pretty good.
 
VineValerian said:
Most never played a single AFL game.

But you're right, pretty decent strike rate for a lowly ranked State League club.

Good on them for top notch development strategies.
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Nope.

Between Krueger and Roberts (taken in 2021) 9 have played AFL and 2 haven't. The 2 are Jaca and Arlo Draper.

Post Covid its 1-7. A few are still on AFL lists.

Will Verrall is a long term ruck project at Melbourne and Barrett has only been on Port's list for 1 season. They were both taken as rookies as were 2 others (Magor and Howes) of the 7 players who haven't played since the 2022 draft.
 

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News Mark Clayton confirmed as Academies Coach

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