SA hub of 2020 AFL Academy announced including sons of Crows and Power premiership players
Sons of Crows and Power premiership players, a possible No.1 draft pick and two college footy stars are among a squad of 30 picked in the SA hub of the 2020 AFL Academy.
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Sons of guns, a potential No.1 draft pick and two of college football’s top performers are among the next generation of talented SA future stars to watch.
The 30-player squad for the SA hub of the 2020 AFL Academy has been released and includes 24 prospects eligible to be drafted next year.
State under-18 coach Tony Bamford and SANFL talent manager Brenton Phillips will once again head the program and selected the group with the help of recruiters from four AFL clubs.
The squad will form the base of the SA under-18 national championships side and begins with a camp in late November.
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Father/son prospects Luke Edwards and Taj Schofield – the sons former Crow Tyson Edwards and ex-Power player Jarrad Schofield respectively – will enter their second season in the program after featuring as bottom-agers this year.
James Borlase is another familiar name in the 30, with the Crows’ Next Generation Academy member and son of former Port champion Darryl also gaining selection.
West Adelaide’s Riley Thilthorpe and Central District’s Corey Durdin, who have both already tasted league football, headline the squad’s top-end talent.
The 199cm Thilthorpe has been touted as a potential No.1 pick in the 2020 draft.
Bamford said the squad was exciting but there were some unlucky youngsters who missed out.
“We wish we could extend it to 35 or 36 really,” Bamford said.
“It’s not the end of the road for any guys who don’t make the squad, there is still another pathway to the under-18 championships if they go back to their SANFL clubs and work hard.
“Callum Park and Harry Schoenberg are great examples of that from this year who broke into the team and did really well.
“And on the other side, the guys who have made the squad aren’t necessarily locked in to play in the championships either.”
Norwood product Henry Nelligan, who won college football’s Gosse Medal for best and fairest this season with St Peter’s, is another name to watch.
As is one of six bottom-age players required to be in the squad Isaiah Dudley – a rising star with Prince Alfred College and Central District.
Joining Dudley as bottom-agers are South Adelaide trio Arlo Draper, Jason Horne and Matthew Roberts, Cooper Murley (Norwood) and Lewis Rayson (Glenelg).
Next year will be the second running of the new system.
Under the previous AFL Academy model, 30 players were selected in both the Level 1 and 2 squads.
Now 150 players from throughout Australia get the chance to be a part of five regional programs – SA, Vic Metro, Vic Country, Western Australia and the Allies (Queensland, NSW/ACT, Tasmania and the Northern Territory).
2020 AFL Academy SA Hub
Central District: Isaiah Dudley, Corey Durdin, Lachlan Grubb
Glenelg: Kaine Baldwin, Luke Edwards, Riley Holder, Cooper Horsnell, Lewis Rayson, Will Schreiber
North Adelaide: Jamison Murphy, Tariek Newchurch
Norwood: Ned Carey, Cooper Murley, Henry Nelligan
South Adelaide: Arlo Draper, Zac Dumesny, Jason Horne, Nicholas Kraemer, Matthew Roberts
Sturt: James Borlase, Mani Liddy, Tom Powell
West: Bailey Chamberlain, Jye Sinderberry, Riley Thilthorpe
Woodville-West Torrens: Lachlan Jones Zac Phillips, Caleb Poulter, Taj Schofield, Henry Smith