Crows, Power on red alert as South Australian Tom Sparrow looms as AFL draft bolter
THREE years after Clayton Oliver came from the clouds to be drafted at pick four by Melbourne, a South Australian looms as one of this year’s biggest draft bolters.
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THREE years after Clayton Oliver came from the clouds to be drafted at pick four by Melbourne, a South Australian looms as one of this year’s biggest draft bolters.
As SA’s AFL clubs Adelaide and Port Adelaide arm themselves with a war chest of top draft selections, South Adelaide midfielder Tom Sparrow is rapidly rising up draft boards.
The 18-year-old Prince Alfred College captain, who didn’t represent SA at under-16 or under-17 level, has enjoyed a standout month that suddenly has AFL clubs “all over him at the minute’’, according to State talent manager Brenton Phillips.
“This kid Sparrow can play,’’ Phillips said.
“He’s a late developer who has jumped a few of them (his highly-rated SA under-18 teammates).
“He’s real quality, has some genuine speed, his spread is elite and he’s as tough as nails in terms of his aggression in wanting to get hold of the footy.
“And because he has developed later than some other kids he’s been playing with he's got a massive upside.
“He’s jumped right into first-round calculations.’’
Sparrow was SA’s 16th-ranked player during its AFL under-18 division one championships win this year, averaging 74 rankings points in his four games.
But he has blossomed since, starring for Prince Alfred in its SA school knockout football final loss to Henley and its intercollegiate 77-point thumping of archrival St Peter’s which saw it claim consecutive Messenger Shields.
Princes coach Marty McKinnon described the 182cm Sparrow’s form as “outstanding’’.
“He’s been outstanding all year and a real leader,” he said.
“His performances have been massive and the way he’s conducted himself all year has been brilliant.’’
Oliver, who won Melbourne’s best and fairest last year and made his first All-Australian team this year at age 21, did not even make Vic Country’s team for the 2015 under-18 nationals before finishing the season strongly and racing up draft boards.
Phillips said Sparrow, who has dedicated himself to State under-18 and college football this season, now looms as a blue-chip draft prospect.
He won’t leapfrog fellow Croweaters Jack Lukosius and Izak Rankine into top five contention and he’ll struggle to jump ahead of fellow SA championship-winning teammates Connor Rozee and Jackson Hately, who are poised to go in the top 12, but he could be the next SA player selected.
“He’s the big improver out of the bunch,’’ Phillips said.
The Crows and Power are poised to get their teeth into November’s draft and if they want to avoid the go-home factor and pick South Australians it’s a good year to do it, according to Phillips.
Adelaide is currently armed with four selections in the top 37 — seven, 14 (from Melbourne), 19 and 37 (from Carlton) — and will likely add to its haul by trading wantaway forward Mitch McGovern.
Port currently has picks nine, 21 (from St Kilda), 27, 45 and 46 (from North Melbourne).
It is likely to get the Kangaroos first pick (currently No. 10) for wingman Jared Polec if he, as expected, joins North.
“It’s a good year to pick a South Australian player because this is one of the better groups that I have seen come through in my time,’’ Phillips said.
FLYING HIGH
SA’s top eight draft prospects
Jack Lukosius
Key forward, 18, 195cm, 85kg, Woodville-West Torrens
Draft range: 1-3
Izak Rankine
Forward/midfielder, 18, 180cm, 76kg, West Adelaide
Draft range: 2-5
Connor Rozee
Midfielder, 18, 185cm, 71kg, North Adelaide
Draft range: 8-12
Jackson Hately
Midfielder, 17, 190cm, 81kg, Central District
Draft range: 8-15
Tom Sparrow
Midfielder, 18, 182cm, 81kg, South Adelaide
Draft range: 15-30
Luke Valente
Midfielder, 18, 186cm 80kg, Norwood
Draft range: 20-35
Jez McLennan
Half-back, 17, 183cm, 81kg, Central District
Draft range: 20-35
Aaron Nietschke
Midfielder/defender, 18, 184cm, 77kg, Central District
Draft range: 25-40