SANFL Draft Prospects

Obviously there are plenty of talented youngsters that will be drafted from SA, but AFL.com's Harry Thring has written about a couple of mature age players he thinks could be picked up from the SANFL:

http://www.afl.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/208/newsid/143912/default.aspx

Harry Thring @ AFL.com.au wrote:

Mitch Clisby (North Adelaide): Clisby possesses great pace and sublime skills and has certainly taken his game to another level in 2012. At 182cm, he has the height to make it at the next level but would need to bulk up a little to match it with bigger bodies. He uses the ball well as a link player at North and at just 22, he has his best football in front of him. He's been in North's best in seven of his 16 games in 2012.

Nathan Batsanis (Norwood): Batsanis has already spent time on the Power's rookie list and, after training with Carlton last summer, was told to head to Norwood. He's been a standout in a Redlegs side that has only dropped one game, featuring in the best in five of his 15 games. The 180cm, 79kg midfielder has booted 11 goals this year and is heading towards a SANFL premiership after winning the VFL flag with Port Melbourne last year.

Nick Liddle (South Adelaide): Liddle won the Panthers' best and fairest in 2010, having won VFL club Coburg's in 2009, and has taken out the last two Players' Player awards at South Adelaide. He was runner-up in the Magarey Medal last season and will be around the mark this year having been consistently prolific. The 178cm 24-year-old is on the small side, but he knows how to find the ball and disposes of it well. His side has struggled, but Liddle continues to trouble opposition sides.

Chris Schmidt (West Adelaide): Schmidt has spent time with the Brisbane Lions and Adelaide in the past, but is still only 23. After he was delisted by the Crows at the end of last season, the 189cm midfielder (82kg) has shown he's not a spent force, featuring in the best players 10 times so far this year. His maturity as a player was recognised when he was made vice-captain of the Bloods this season.

Andrew Bradley (Glenelg): From the same country region as Melbourne captain Jack Trengove and Fremantle's Alex Forster, 21-year-old Bradley is the perfect example of a hard-nosed, country footballer. What he lacks in size (178cm, 80kg) he easily makes up for in his attack on the ball and has been a clearance king at Glenelg this year. He's been in the best players on nine occasions this season, great consistency from someone who has only played 36 senior SANFL games.

Here is a look at a few players from each club I had when I wrote a feature article for FOOT-e TIMES SA a few weeks back:


CENTRAL DISTRICT:

Despite missing a lot of football so far this year due to injury, expect young star Troy Menzel to have his name read out early at the draft this year. Menzel has a silky left foot kick and freakish abilities that has already seen him play a few games at League level for the Bulldogs.

Talented defender / midfielder Sam Colquhoun had a fantastic State Under 18 carnival, earning All Australian selection and is considered a very good chance to be drafted also. Sam has been playing well in the reserves and regularly racks up possessions, generally using the ball well.

In his first season of League football, 20 year old Paul Marschall has been a standout in the Doggies defence and with his beautiful disposal by foot, will be closely looked at by AFL clubs. Marschall also leads the League in Rebound 50’s and takes the kick outs for the Dogs.




GLENELG:

Having already played League football over the last two seasons, 18 year old Ben Kennedy should find his way onto an AFL list for sure. Spending time in the midfield, Kennedy has good speed, is very dangerous around goals and made All Australian selection at the National Championships

After a solid performance with the State Under 18’s, lightly framed ruckman / key position player Tim O’Brien can take a nice grab and finishes off in front of goal. The big red-headed lad has played some reserves football for the Tigers this year and certainly has a lot of potential.

Talented forward Brodie Murdoch also had a good National carnival, earning all Australian selection, and is capable of kicking a big haul when on song. A dangerous player around goals with good skills, Murdoch will be closely looked at by AFL clubs for certain.




NORTH ADELAIDE:

Already exposed to League football with the Roosters, Sam Mayes is a medium size forward that has represented SA for the last 2 years in the National Under 18 carnival. Dangerous around goals, Mayes was an All Australian last year and should develop nicely into an AFL footballer.

Strongly built midfielder Nick Amato also played a couple of games for SA this year at Under 18 level and has already been exposed to League football with North Adelaide. Amato would also be a pretty chance to find himself on an AFL list at the end of the year.

Roosters recruit Daniel Currie arrived at the club after an unsuccessful stint with the Sydney Swans. After taking a few weeks to find his feet, the athletic ruckman has had some impressive games and can pinch hit in the forward line as well. A possibility to find himself back on an AFL list again.




NORWOOD:

The Redlegs have one of the most wanted young man in the land on their list at the moment with youngster James Aish. The defender / midfielder is not looking out of place at League level and will no doubt find his way onto an AFL list in season 2014, when eligible to be drafted.

Another Norwood potential draftee that can’t be picked up until 2014 is Trent Dumont. He played in the Redlegs reserves last season and the strongly built inside midfielder impressed at this season’s National Under 18 carnival, particularly in the game against WA.

With a career best season in 2012, former Sydney Rookie Dean Terlich could find himself back in the AFL system after rejuvenating himself as a running defender. Terlich has been brilliant for Norwood and has real pace, isn’t afraid to back himself and uses the ball well on both sides of the body.




PORT MAGPIES:

Having played some League football for the Magpies over the last couple of seasons, the dangerous small forward Sam Gray capped off a remarkable season to date with State selection at senior level earlier in the year. Playing on the ball as well, Grey will surely be in the eyes of AFL recruiter again.

After getting mentored by Power player Alipate Carlile and former Magpies Captain Corey Ah Chee, young defender Aseri Raikiwasa has been a revelation for Port this season. Debuting earlier in the year, the Fijian youngster has a lot of promise and may find himself in the AFL system in 2013.

Talented small forward and midfielder Tim Broomhead may be lightly built but isn’t afraid to throw his body on the line and has been impressive for both SA in the Under 18 Carnival and the Magpies at senior level. The speedster has good skills and will almost certainly be drafted next year.




SOUTH ADELAIDE:

Having made his League debut for the Panthers last season, the Ugandan born Emmanuel Irra would certainly be strongly looked at as a potential AFL draftee. Currently playing in South’s Reserves at the moment, the speedster is a real excitement machine and has a bright future ahead of him.

Probably the most dangerous small forward in the league, Peter Rolfe has now been playing senior football with the Panthers for four seasons now. He has pace to burn, finished off well in front of goal and has a good work rate. If he stays injury free, is good enough to be on an AFL list.

Another young South Aussie not eligible to be drafted until 2014, key forward Darcy Hourigan is a solidly built player with a strong set of hands and a nice left foot kick. He made his League debut for South last year as a 16 year old and will almost certainly be drafted when old enough.




STURT:

Former basketballer Brodie Grundy is one of the most talented young ruckman in the land and should be a top 10 draft pick. Currently playing in the Double Blues league side, Grundy has played back to back National Under 18 carnivals and earnt All Australian selection this season.

Making his league debut against the Dogs a few weeks ago, the diminutive Harley Montgomery has looked very impressive in the early stages of his career. He shows good poise, uses the ball well and knows where the goals are. A very talented footballer and will be seriously looked at for drafting.

Having already spent time in the AFL with Calrton, Double Blues defender Jo Anderson still feels he is good enough to play at the highest level. In his second season at Unley, Anderson often finds himself on the best opposition forward, generally holding his own. A possibility to be re-drafted.




WEST ADELAIDE:

Bloods midfielder Oliver Johnston was in the State Under 18’s squad this season and is Captain of West’s Under 18’s side. Oliver has dominated the Maccas Cup competition racking up possessions at will and generally uses the ball well. Will seriously be looked at by AFL clubs in this year’s draft.

Having been spoken about as a potential draftee for the last couple of seasons, Bloods midfielder / forward Jonno Beech seems to improve with each season of senior football he plays. Included in the senior state squad this season, Beech may just get a chance on an AFL list as a mature age player.

Starting the season in the Bloods Under 18’s, power forward Mason Middleton represented West at senior level over in Perth for their Foxtel Cup clash earlier in the year. The high marking Middleton is now playing in the reserves and would be certainly be on the radar of a few AFL clubs.




WOODVILLE WEST TORRENS:

Despite being ruled out of action for the rest of the year due to hip surgery, SA under 18 captain and league Premiership player Jimmy Toumpas will almost certainly be a top five draft pick. Toumpas has amazing pace, uses the ball well and has a big future ahead of him at AFL level.

After a fantastic National Under 18 carnival, forward Matthew McDonough is back playing reserves football for the Eagles and could get his league debut by the end of the season. Regularly kicking bags of goals, the All Australian youngster will certainly find an AFL home next season.

After returning home to SA with just one AFL game at the Swans, speedster Byron Sumner has been a shining light in what has been a disastrous season for the reigning premiers. Sumner has moved to half back of late and provides great run and carry with his pace. Could get a second chance at AFL.

Interesting that the AFL site rates Clisby. He's really come on well this year and has improved considerably.

Yours is a good list, Phil. I'd think Irra is off the radar now until he shows a bit more, but most of the others are chances, ranging from good to remote.

The mention of Dean Terlich is an interesting one. Certainly his pace and tackling are sensational, and his improvement in 2012 has been stunning, especially when you think he started the season in the reserves.

The major reservation I would have is Terlich's decision making is still a little lacking, and in a competition where you need to make effective split second decisions, it may count against him.

He's a classic example of a player who is more effective without the ball than with it.

The player who has impressed me this season, even more than Batsanis, is Jarryd Cachia. I cannot believe he was delisted by Carlton and expect him to get another chance.

Unfortunately, once again, I expect Norwood to suffer heavy losses in the AFL draft.

I know at Sturt we've already conceded the loss of Grundy and Montgomery. There are a couple of others we're a bit anxious about. Especially Fraser Evans and Levi Krause. Dwayne Wilson is too young to be drafted this year, so hopefully we'll see a bit of him in 2013. Not sure about Joey Anderson. He had a pretty good go at Carlton (4years he was there) He has a younger brother up in Darwin (I've forgotten his Christian name) who is a likely prospect.

You can only hope the first two finish up still in Adelaide.

Can't see Anderson being re-drafted, though.