Adelaide Crows, Port Adelaide youngsters Will Hamill, Boyd Woodcock hopeful of making AFL debuts

Crows half-back flanker Will Hamill and Port Adelaide small forward Boyd Woodcock impressed in Saturday’s under-23 Showdown. They are hopeful they can make AFL debuts in 2020.

Boyd Woodcock (right) fighting for the ball with Port captain Tom Jonas during the club’s internal trial last month. Picture: Matt Turner/AFL Photos via Getty Images

• Injuries, Fog stars, Port wins: take-outs from under-23 Showdown
• Exclusive: Butters opens up about sister’s ice addiction battle
• Getting the most out of your Advertiser digital subscription

They are both yet to make their AFL debuts despite showing promise in their first seasons for the Crows and Port Adelaide.

But Will Hamill and Boyd Woodcock are hoping that changes this year and have staked their claims after impressing in the under-23 Showdown at Thebarton Oval on Saturday.

Medium defender Hamill, 19, was composed across half-back for Adelaide, using the ball well and displaying zip in congestion.

Watch every match of every round of the 2020 Toyota AFL Premiership Season LIVE & On-Demand with KAYO. New to Kayo? Get your 14-day free trial & start streaming instantly >

Power small forward Woodcock, 20 on Thursday, worked hard up the ground to find the footy and was involved in a lot of the play, particularly in the middle two quarters, when he made a cameo on a wing.

Spots at the next level might open up for them both.

Crows half-back flanker Will Hamill in the under-23 Showdown. Picture: AAP/David Mariuz

Hamill could push for an opportunity if Wayne Milera or Brodie Smith moved into the midfield, while Woodcock was close to getting an AFL game last season when he was an emergency in Round 19 and he finished the year with 22 goals from 21 SANFL matches.

Hamill told The Advertiser his main goal was simply to play the best he could.

“If I can put my name up, so be it, the rest will take care of itself if I do play some good footy,” Hamill said.

“We’ve got to see how the season plays out a bit.

“Me, Sholly (Lachlan Sholl) and Andrew McPherson our role is just to keep pressing and putting pressure on (the AFL defenders).

“I did all right (on Saturday), played OK, there’s still some stuff to work on.”

Hamill, who the Crows selected from Dandenong Stingrays with pick 30 at the 2018 national draft, played 20 SANFL games last year and averaged 10.5 disposals.

“This year I’m coming in with a bit more confidence, especially knowing the game structures and being that second year older it means I can take the game on a bit more,” he said.

“I expect a pretty similar role but adding on top of that as well … getting on the end of some balls, some handball receives and being able to break those lines.”

Boyd Woodcock and Harry Schoenberg fall to the ground on Saturday. Picture: AAP/David Mariuz

Woodcock said he was much better placed than last season to press for an AFL berth.

Since being delisted and retaken as a rookie at the end of 2019 so the Power could match bids for father-son prospect Jackson Mead, Woodcock said he had cut 50 seconds off his time trial post-Christmas.

“Last year was a good development year for me – I learnt a lot,” said Woodcock, who landed at Port with the third-last selection (pick 76) at the 2018 draft.

“The focus for me over pre-season was getting myself into good nick … and just being able to do whatever I can to get into that side.

“From a personal perspective I feel like I’ve taken another step, for sure.

“Over pre-season I’ve got a lot fitter, a lot stronger and feel like I’m playing a lot better footy.

“I think I’m getting ready to take the step up.”

Sam Gray mentored Woodcock last season and Gray’s departure to Sydney might give Woodcock, Tobin Cox or Jake Patmore a chance to break into the top team.

“Obviously last year you saw Connor Rozee and Zak Butters (play in attack) … and there’s blokes fighting for it as well, trying to find a spot in the team,” he said.

“Everyone’s still fighting for spots, not just because Sam and Dougal (Howard) have gone.”