SA under-18 duo Kysaiah Pickett and Karl Finlay shine alongside 2020 and 2021 draft prospects in Prince Alfred’s win over St Peter’s

It would have been understandable if scouts at Prince Alfred’s 10-goal win over St Peter’s focused their attention on SA under-18 duo Kysaiah Pickett and Karl Finlay. But 2020 and 2021 draft prospects Isaiah Dudley and James Borlase also caught the eye.

PAC's Kysaiah Pickett breaks away from a tackle by St Peter's player Sam Dukalskis. Picture: AAP/Dean Martin

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It would have been understandable if scouts at Prince Alfred’s 10-goal Messenger Shield college football victory over fierce rivals St Peter’s on Saturday focused their attention on SA under-18 squad members Kysaiah Pickett and Karl Finlay.

Pickett, the nephew of Norm Smith medallist Byron Pickett, is a walking highlight reel, Finlay takes intercept marks for fun and both are eligible for this year’s draft.

But two other Princes players caught the eye just as often as that duo in the 16.10 (106) to 7.6 (46) triumph at St Peter’s College and loom as names to watch ahead of the 2020 and 2021 drafts – James Borlase and Isaiah Dudley.

SA u-18 players Kysaiah Pickett & Karl Finlay caught the eye for PAC today but so did James Borlase.

Borlase, son of ex-Port captain Darryl Borlase & ex-Oz netballer Jenny, is an athletic kpp. Up fwd today. Crows have priority access through Next Gen Academy b/c he's Egypt-born. pic.twitter.com/UIkQ74c9KP

— Matt Turner (@mattturner1986) May 11, 2019

Borlase, a tall, athletic key-position player, is the son of a Port Adelaide captain (Darryl Borlase) – and Australian netballer (Jenny Borlase) – yet the Crows will have priority access to him through its Next Generation Academy because he is Egypt-born.

Dudley, from Central District, is an unselfish slight, small forward pocket who has a penetrating kick, a mean sideways shimmy through traffic and brilliant awareness.

“Dudley is a unique talent,” Princes coach Marty McKinnon said.

“The ceiling on him is very high and his awareness of what’s around him and goal awareness is exciting … and he’s got such smarts.

“Borlase was great today … and what I like about him is last year he played three or four firsts games and the pace of it was a challenge.

“He’s come out this year with the word ‘compete’ or words to that effect around his wrists, and he’s really competing hard and is a massive presence.

Central District’s Isaiah Dudley impressed for PAC against Saints. Picture: AAP/Dean Martin

“The upside on him is very high and the development from last year to this year has been significant.”

Saints went into the match aiming to beat their archrivals for the first time since the 2013 intercol and Princes were coming off a two-point loss to Sacred Heart.

St Peter’s was in the contest early, trailing 5.1 to 2.0 at quarter-time, but the visitors had too many winners across the ground.

PAC captain Finlay set the tone in the first quarter with two brilliant intercept marks at centre half-back then a 50m goal on the run and Pickett imposed himself on the match in midfield, rather than in attack.

There was pre-game speculation about their availability because the SANFL initially wanted them to play in an under-18 trial match but it ultimately allowed them to represent Princes.

“To the credit of the SANFL, they agreed to release those lads to play in this fixture and we’re really appreciative,” McKinnon said.

“Finlay’s a fantastic centre half-back and excellent intercept mark, and a real leader who plays the pressure games well and always knows where the ball’s going to fall.

“Kozzy Pickett is electric, mainly a forward for the Eagles but for us he plays more midfield, and I was really happy with his connection with our ruckman.”

First-year St Peter’s coach Sam Elliott believed his players were intimidated by Princes, their underage stars and the game.

St Peter’s players celebrate a late goal during their heavy loss to fierce rival Prince Alfred. Picture: AAP/Dean Martin

“We’re very young and a lot of those young kids got overawed by the occasion,” Elliott said.

“I think they believe this hype too much … and there’s an air of invincibility about them (PAC) that the kids perceive.

“I think some of them played the match before it began in their own heads.

“We just didn’t settle and by the time we settled, it was all over.

“The boys have a lot of pride in their performance and their school and to their credit … they battled really well (in the second half) because it could’ve got really ugly.”

Elliott, who previously coached Scotch College in Melbourne, said the rivalry between Princes and St Peter’s was fantastic.

“It’s a very similar rivalry to Scotch and Melbourne Grammar in Melbourne,” he said.

“From our point of view, we have to acknowledge it and respect it but worry about ourselves going forward, rather than worry about them too much.”

Best for Saints were Lachie DeCesare and Henry Nelligan.