SA talent chief Brenton Phillips says Izak Rankine should be the No. 1 draft pick - and Champion Data agrees
Brenton Phillips says West Adelaide’s Izak Rankine should be the first player selected at this year’s AFL national draft. And after a review, the AFL’s statistician Champion Data agrees. See its top 30 players and its 15 picks of the SA crop.
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Brenton Phillips wants to shout it from the rooftops.
West Adelaide excitement machine Izak Rankine should be the first player selected at this year’s AFL national draft.
While the explosive forward/midfielder has had some red flags raised over some on-field disciplinary issues, SANFL talent manager Phillips says he wouldn’t hesitate in taking the 18-year-old at No. 1 because of his matchwinning ability.
“In my eyes, he’s the number one pick because he rips football games apart, he wins them off his own boot,’’ Phillips told The Advertiser.
“He’s got that much talent it’s unbelievable and has the rare ability to open up games with his blistering speed and skill.
“I think (Victorian) Sam Walsh is a fantastic footballer and is going to be a 200-game player and (South Australia’s) Jack Lukosius is absolute class and quality.
“There is not much that separates Izak and Jack, perhaps just my opinion.
“But Izak can do some very special things, he has some real tricks, and there’s not too many people you can hang your hat on and say ‘he’s going to win you a game of football’.’’
Phillips, who coached the SA under-18s for 10 years, winning two championships, before being appointed State talent manager, went as far as to say that Rankine is the best SA under-18 player he has seen in his 11 years in the program.
He had previously rated Port Adelaide dual All-Australian and now Hawk Chad Wingard as the most gifted player he had worked with at under-age level.
“I’d have Izak ahead of Chad at the same age, that’s how highly I rate Izak,” Phillips said.
“I clearly remember in the under-16s, Darel Hart, the coach at the time, said ‘clear the 50 out and give Izak the 50’ and he just cleaned Western Australia up by himself.
“He has that rare combination of electrifying pace and skill and he can take a great contested catch.
“His game against Vic Metro at Etihad Stadium this year when he kicked five goals to rip the game apart showed the class of the young man.’’
Phillips said Rankine — the only dual under-18 All-Australian in this year’s draft pool — was so good for his age that he could have played AFL as a bottom-age player last year.
No Croweater has been chosen first at the draft since Glenelg’s Bryce Gibbs, now at Adelaide, went to Carlton in 2006.
The Blues also hold the No. 1 pick this year.
Rankine last week boldly declared he wanted to be taken at No. 1 in honour of the indigenous community.
Only one Aboriginal player has been selected first at the national draft — Des Headland to Brisbane in 1998.
As for Rankine’s disciplinary problems, Phillips said they had been overblown.
“I don’t see an issue with that, I’ve never had an issue with Izak,’’ he said.
“He’s a good kid, a genuine young fella and I like his company.
“Once he’s in the AFL system he’ll learn pretty quickly that he needs to keep a cool head with what he’s doing.
“In saying that, there is an element where you need to play on the edge also and that’s one of Izak’s strengths — his competitive nature.
“He just needs to work out where that edge is.’’
AFL analyst Champion Data agrees with Phillips and ranks Rankine as the No. 1 draft prospect from SA this year, ahead of Woodville-West Torrens key forward Lukosius and North Adelaide league premiership player Connor Rozee.
And - after previously having listed Rankine below ball magnet Walsh in its top draft prospects - it on Friday made a late change, raising the Bloods’ speedster to No. 1..
Lukosius is ranked fourth overall and Rozee seventh.
Champion Data has six Croweaters in its top 27 prospects, with Norwood midfielder Luke Valente at No. 10, Central District onballer Jackson Hately at 13 and Bulldogs half-back Jez McLennan at 27.
Of the six SA boys, only Rozee was not named in this year’s All-Australian under-18 team.
Phillips described Lukosius as “probably the best kick I’ve seen come through the program’’.
“He’s that big player who can get up and down the ground really well,’’ Phillips said.
“He kicks the ball extremely well and I think he can play a number of roles, including forward, back and wing.’’
Phillips described Rozee as the “bolter’’ after his stellar league finals series which followed a modest national under-18 championships campaign.
“His SANFL finals campaign was outstanding,’’ Phillips said.
“It raised his stocks a fair bit. His ability to do the right things at the right times under immense pressure really stood out to me.
“People forget he won the Kevin Sheehan Medal (MVP of the under-16 national championships) two years ago and you don’t win them by chance.
“Fortunately or unfortunately Izak and Jack have stolen the limelight this year but what Connor was able to do during the SANFL finals series was nothing short of sensational.’’
Phillips said this year’s crop of Croweaters is the best he has seen “as a collective’’.
THE PRIDE OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA
Champion Data’s top 15 SA draft prospects
1. IZAK RANKINE
West Adelaide, small forward/midfielder, 18, 180cm, 76kg.
Champion Data says: Pure X-factor. Has electrifying pace and led the AFL under-18 championship player ratings as a bottom and top-ager. Major weapon is his ability to impact the scoreboard, rating elite for score involvements (8.3) and goals (3) and above average for score assists (1.8) at the championships. He isn’t a pressure forward, rating below average for tackles (2). A dual All-Australian under-18.
2. JACK LUKOSIUS
Woodville-West Torrens, key forward, 18, 195cm, 85kg.
Exceptional athlete and elite kick who is a lead-up marking target as a forward, rating elite for marks (7.8) and contested marks (1.8) at the under-18 championships. He works hard up the ground, rating elite for disposals (15). This doesn’t impact his ability to hit the scoreboard as he rates elite for score involvements (7.3) and above average for goals (2.3) and assists (1.3).
All-Australian under-18.
3. CONNOR ROZEE
North Adelaide, midfielder/utility, 18, 185cm, 71kg.
Has genuine power, ranking in the top 10 for the 20-metre sprint and agility test at
the AFL Combine. His under-18 championships weren’t outstanding, rating just average for
disposals (13.5) and goals (0.5) and below average for score involvements (3.3). He played 12 SANFL league games, including eight as a forward where he kicked 11 goals, before moving into defence for the finals and averaging an elite seven intercept possessions. Best position remains up in the air.
4. LUKE VALENTE
Norwood, midfielder, 18, 186cm, 80kg.
Captained SA to the AFL under-18s championship and is a high-volume player who is a composed ball-user in tight scenarios. He won 43 per cent of his possessions in a
contested manner at the nationals but this didn’t impact his efficiency, recording an elite kicking efficiency (84 per cent). He rated elite for disposals (22.8), clearances (5.5) and score involvements (5.3) and above average for tackles (5). Named vice-captain of the All-Australian under-18 team and voted SA’s MVP.
5. JACKSON HATELY
Central District, midfielder, 18, 190cm, 81kg.
Mature body who does his best work around the stoppages. He rated elite for clearances (5.5) and tackles (7) and above average for disposals (22.5) and contested possessions (9.3) at the under-18 championships. Has played senior football, averaging 18.4 disposals, which rates average among all midfielders in the SANFL. All-Australian under-18.
6. JEZ McLENNAN
Central District, defender, 18, `183cm, 81kg.
Could be the best intercepting defender to come out of the draft pool, rating elite for
marks (5.3), intercept marks (2.8), intercept possessions (5.5) and spoils (2) at the under-18 championships. Doesn’t accumulate a lot of the ball, rating average for disposals (13), and is a safe ball-user, rating below average for metres gained (133). Was one of only two defenders at the championships to rate elite for intercept marks and intercept possessions. All-Australian under-18.
7. TOM LEWIS
Sturt, midfielder, 18, 179cm, 80kg.
Rated just average for disposals (16) at the under-18 championships but does his best work around the stoppages. He recorded the fifth-highest contested possession rate (56 per cent) of all midfielders who played three or more games at the nationals. His game clearly is based in tight situations, rating elite for tackles (9.5) and above average for contested possessions (9.3), ground ball-gets (7) and clearances (4).
8. BEN JARVIS
Norwood, tall forward, 18, 189cm, 77kg
Displayed his athletic traits at the AFL Combine, ranking in the top-10 for the standing
vertical jump, running vertical jump and the agility test. At only 189cm, Jarvis averaged 12
hit-outs in the SANFL under-18s and 5.3 across the national championships. He ticked a lot of boxes at the nationals, rating above average for his position for disposals (12.3), score involvements (5.8), goals (1.8) and tackles (2.5).
9. JACOB KENNERLEY
Norwood, midfielder, 18, 184cm, 76kg.
An outside midfielder who produces a lot of volume instead of game impact, rating elite for metres gained (396) and marks (5.8) and above average for disposals (17.8) and uncontested possessions (12) at the under-18 championships. His outside game is strengthened by his impressive tank, recording the best 2km time trial at the AFL Combine. However he won’t offer much around a stoppage, rating below average for clearances (0.8) and tackles (2).
10. TOM SPARROW
South Adelaide, midfielder, 18, 182cm, 81kg.
Similar to most of the SA midfielders, Sparrow excels around a stoppage and in tight situations, rating above average for clearances (3.5), pressure points (40) and tackles (6) at the under-18 championships. His impact offensively suffers, rating below average for disposals (11.3) at the nationals while he kicked just eight goals in the 15 matches that Champion Data covered this season.
11. BOYD WOODCOCK
North Adelaide, small forward/midfielder, 18, 177cm, 70kg.
Managed only one game at the under-18 championships, rating below average
for disposals (12) and score involvements (3) but his pressure was eye-catching. He rated
above average for pressure points (47) and tackles (6.) Played nine SANFL league matches, including four finals, and his forward craft stood out, rating elite for goals (1.8) and above average for score involvements (5.4) and assists (0.9).
12. MITCH GRIGG
Norwood, midfielder, 25, 180cm, 85kg
Dual Magarey Medallist has rated elite for disposals (27.3), contested possessions (13.2), clearances (6.4) score involvements (8) and goals (1.4) in the past two seasons in the
SANFL. His downfall is his ball-use, rating below average for kicking efficiency (57 per cent) and poor for disposal efficiency (65 per cent).
13. HUGO MUNN
Sturt, key forward, 18, 197cm, 93kg.
A strong presence up forward, rating elite for score assists (1.8) and above average for
forward 50 marks (2), score involvements (6.5) and goals (2.3) at the under-18 hampionships. He isn’t a high ball-winner, recording two double-digit disposal games in 15 matches Champion Data covered this year.
14. KAI PUDNEY
Woodville-West Torrens, midfielder, 18, 186cm, 78kg.
A Port Adelaide Next Generation Academy player who impressed at the SA State
Combine, ranking in the top-three for the 20-metre sprint and the Yo-Yo test. An outside midfielder, he won the McCallum-Tomkins Medal as the best player in the SANFL
under-18s competition, rating elite for disposals (31) and uncontested possessions (20.7) and above average for inside 50s (4.8), clearances (3.7) and score involvements (7.3).
15. HAYDEN SAMPSON
South Adelaide, midfielder/forward, 18, 177cm, 67kg.
Played all four games for SA at the under-18 championships, playing through the
midfield and up forward. He rated above average for goals (0.5) although average or below
average for disposals (11.8), marks (1.8), score involvements (3.5) and tackles (3). Played two SANFL league matches, rating poor for disposals (12.5) but spent most of the year in the under-18s and rated above average for disposals (22.3), clearances (4.3) and score involvements (6.1).