BIG LIST: Top players, AFL draft prospects to watch this college footy season
There’ll be plenty of AFL draft prospects in action during the 2021 college football season. See a list of rising stars to watch when the season kicks off this Saturday.
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Some of SA’s most talented junior footballers will take to the field when the Sports Association Adelaide Schools (SAAS) 2021 Football Premiership season kicks off this Saturday.
With potential AFL draftees, state representatives and other exciting prospects set to be in action, Messenger sport reporter Daniela Abbracciavento has spoken to coaches to identify a player to watch from each division one school.
See the list (in no particular order):
PHOENIX FOSTER
IMMANUEL
Foster will lead Immanuel’s ruck this season as the school looks to bounce back from a disappointing year in 2020.
He’s tall, strong, mobile and is known for his marking ability.
Foster is also handy up forward and is showing plenty of potential, considering he’s still only a Year 11.
New Immanuel coach and Adelaide Crows dual premiership captain Mark Bickley said Foster had impressed during the off-season.
“He can take a really nice mark and on the weekend (in a trial game) he competed really well in the ruck, went forward and kicked a couple of goals,” Bickley said.
“We are looking forward to watching him develop.”
JACK GROSSER
IMMANUEL
Grosser’s versatility and athleticism are what sets him apart from the pack.
The Year 12 will be looking to build on a solid year individually last season.
Bickley said Grosser offered the side “a whole heap of flexibility”.
“He’s a really athletic player and he can play anywhere on the ground,” Bickley said.
“He can play down back, he can play in the ruck, he can pinch hit up forward.
“We are looking forward to utilising him as best we can.”
NICK SADLER
PEMBROKE
The Sturt under-18 star is also part of the state under-17 futures program.
Sadler can play as an inside or outside midfielder and can go forward as well.
Pembroke football director Robbie Neill describes Sadler as having “an elite kick”.
“He is as good as they come (with kicking), that’s his weapon,” Neill said.
“His game smarts and vision is outstanding.
“He has got some wonderful attributes which I am sure will take him a fair way.”
ARCHIE RICHARDSON
PEMBROKE
Richardson plays for Norwood’s under-18 side and is a hard-running midfielder.
He’s also a great kick with a strong left foot but what sets Richardson apart is his endurance.
“He’s an elite endurance runner,” Neill said.
“He’s extremely fit, gets from contest to contest pretty well.”
HARRY TUNKIN
PRINCE ALFRED
Tunkin will captain the reigning premiers this season and is set to continue his strong form from 2020.
The midfielder is also part of Glenelg’s under-18 SANFL side and was PAC’s dual best and fairest winner in 2020 with new Crows recruit James Borlase.
“I’d expect him to be a consistently high performer,” PAC coach Matt Slade said.
“He’s a nuggety, rover-type who has come through the state program.
“Harry is a hard working, small in and under kind of player.”
HARRY MCINNES
PRINCE ALFRED
McInness finished as PAC’s leading goal kicker in 2020 and will also add leadership qualities to a side that lost 22 Year 12s from last year’s premiership team.
This year’s vice-captain, McInnes is a high-performing forward
“He’s got a pretty accurate kick for goal and we are hoping he has even more of an influence this year,” Slade said.
“He’ll also take on a bit of a leadership role this year after being named vice-captain.”
MAX MICHALANNEY
ROSTREVOR
Michalanney comes from a football background — his dad is Jim Michalanney, is a Norwood great, who lined up in 211 SANFL games and won premierships in 1975, 1978, 1982 and 1984.
The young defender has taken his game to another level during the off-season and is expected to be one to keep an eye on this year, according to Rostrevor coach James Allan.
“He played every game as a Year 11 last year and he reads the play really well and makes good decisions,” Allan, a three-time Magarey Medallist, said.
“He can defend and attack and I am excited about what he can produce this year.”
TYSON WALLS
ROSTREVOR
Walls is a tough midfielder and will be looking to continue his top form from 2020 into this season.
The on-baller was named Rostrevor’s best during its intercol clash with Sacred Heart last year and finished second in the Red and Black’s First XVIII best and fairest count.
Allan said Walls worked hard and was touted as one of the side’s best heading into the 2021 campaign.
“He’s playing at Norwood and is hard at it,” Allan said.
“Tyson has a high workrate, loves a contest and had a great year last year so I am looking for him to build on that this year.”
LUCA WHITELUM
SACRED HEART
Whitelum, who is part of Central District’s under-18 side, will captain Sacred Heart this year.
The key forward is mobile, athletic and skilful, according to coach Sacred Heart Jon Symonds.
“He can go up and down the ground, can play deep (forward) or high and is a good contested mark,” Symonds said.
“I expect him to get a few shots on goal throughout the course of the year and hopefully kick a few big scores.”
KOBE RYAN
SACRED HEART
Ryan is Hearts’ vice-captain and is also part of West Adelaide’s development squad.
He is a “real natural footballer” according to Symonds.
Ryan is versatile as he can play through the midfield or in defence.
“He is hard working, finds the footy,” Symonds said.
“He is a prolific possession-getter.”
ZAC BECKER
SCOTCH
Becker is in the state under-18 program and also plays for Sturt’s under-18s.
He’s a tall defender who uses the ball well and was named in the Double Blues’ best three out of the four under-18 matches he played this year.
Scotch coach Ben Nelson, who has taken over from ex-Port Adelaide and Western Bulldogs player Nathan Eagleton, expected Becker to continue his strong form into the college footy competition.
“He’s been playing really good footy in the SANFL competition prior to our competition starting,” Nelson said.
HARRY LEMMEY
SCOTCH
Lemmey is a dual sports star, having been one of the college’s top cricketers during the 2020 Messenger Bowl season.
The fast bowling prodigy became one of Sturt District Cricket Club’s youngest ever grade cricket debutants when he played his first A-grade game for the Blues at 15 years old in 2019.
But Nelson said the youngster has really excelled at his footy as well and was set to star up forward for the First XVIII’s.
“Harry has had to balance both cricket and footy at a high performance level for the past couple of years,” Nelson said.
“Not that cricket has finished he can put his full focus into footy and he’s giving it a fair crack.
“He’s pretty fit, quite tall and mobile and his speed is good, there are not too many players who have such speed and agility for such a tall boy.”
ADAM D’ALOIA
ST MICHAEL’S
The tough midfielder has had a lot of college footy experience, having been in St Michael’s side since he was in Year 10.
D’Aloia is in Year 12 this year and is set to use his experience to help the Henley-Beach based side improve on its 4-4 record in 2020.
Former Port Adelaide star Brett Ebert moves into the senior coaching role at St Michael’s after being the assistant for SA footy great Mark Mickan last year.
Mickan, meanwhile, will be Ebert’s assistant. Ebert said D’Aloia was an asset.
“He’s big and strong,” Ebert said.
“Adam is very well developed for his age and he’s been in the First XVIII system since Year 10.
“He’s quite a mature player and a great leader.”
CHARLIE BLAIR
ST MICHAEL’S
Blair is also in Year 12 and will add more leadership to the group.
The Woodville-West Torrens under-18 product plays predominantly inside and will be one of St Michael’s key forwards this year
“He’s got a great mark, uses the ball well and he has a great leap on him,” Ebert said.
“Charlie did really well last year and he’s also in the Eagles development squad.”
MATTHEW ROBERTS
ST PETER’S
Roberts is St Peter’s First XVIII captain this year and is renowned for his leadership qualities on and off the field.
The midfielder is part of South Adelaide’s under-18 squad and is also an AFL Academy member.
Roberts can also push into the forward line when needed.
St Peter’s coach Sam Elliott described Roberts as a “very good, well-rounded player with a lot of experience in the elite programs”.
MORGAN FERRES
ST PETER’S
Ferres has become one of the most damaging forwards within the junior SANFL competition, playing for Sturt but plays more as a midfielder for St Peter’s.
He is strong in the air, accurate in front of goal and has a good mix of speed and endurance.
Elliott says Ferras is a “wonderful athlete who is really starting to learn the game of footy”.
CODY GILCHRIST
TRINITY
Gilchrist is in the state under-18 squad and also a member of Central District’s under-18 team.
Trinity is returning to division one this year and coach Scott Charlton said Gilchrist was “definitely someone to keep an eye on” as he is a strong, tall forward who can take good marks inside 50.
“He’s big and tall and has been playing up forward at Central District,” Charlton said.
“But we will probably play him through the ruck and through the forward line.
“He’s a Year 12 and in his draft year so we will see what happens with him.”
TRENT TATOLI
TRINITY
Tatoli captained Central District’s under-16 side and starred for the Bulldogs’ juniors.
Despite his youth, Tatoli is no stranger to the school’s First XVIII side having made his debut as a Year 9 last season.
Although the Bulldogs under-16 side ended this year bottom, Tatoli was a shinning light for the side.
He finished with the highest disposal average — 34.6 per game across five matches — as well as an average of 8.2 marks, four tackles, 3.6 rebound 50s and 4.8 clearances.
Charlton said Tatoli would play on the wing and through the midfield for Trinity.
ANTONIO JAMES
WESTMINSTER
James was last year likened to Port Adelaide premiership player Byron Pickett.
The rising defender began his career at the same club in Darwin as Crows great Andrew McLeod and relocated to Adelaide in 2020.
Westminster coach Tim Weatherald said James was fit and ready to go after playing footy in Darwin over the summer break.
“He will come into our season fairly match ready,” Weatherald said.
“He is starting to understand more about the structure of the game and I can see him running on-ball a bit more this year rather than just down back.”
LUKAS COOKE
WESTMINSTER
Cooke was a prominent member of Westminster’s 2020 team as a Year 11 and was the side’s leading goal kicker.
The exciting 195cm ruck/forward is super athletic and versatile.
Cooke’s contested marking skills is also a strength and he is expected to take his game to another level as a senior player in 2021.
Weatherald said Cooke was a “young, up and coming, dangerous forward”.
ROUND ONE FIXTURE:
Saturday, May 8 at 2.15pm
■ Immanuel v Rostrevor at Immanuel
■ Sacred Heart v Prince Alfred at Sacred Heart
■ Scotch v Trinity at Scotch
■ St Michael’s v Westminster at St Michael’s
■ St Peter’s v Pembroke at St Peter’s
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