Draft guru Kevin Sheehan runs his eye over a dozen of South Australia’s best AFL prospects
South Australia is blessed with a bumper crop of rucks and key position players that long-time AFL talent ambassador Kevin Sheehan predicts could feature early in the draft.
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The SANFL had a dozen players selected in last year’s national draft, including three in the first round.
Thirteen Croweaters tested at the national combine at Marvel Stadium last month, before another 14 were put through their paces at the state equivalent at Mawson Lakes a week later.
News Corp spoke to renowned draft expert and AFL talent ambassador Kevin Sheehan about some of SA’s best prospects for 2022.
* Listed in alphabetical order
■ Harry Barnett (West Adelaide, ruckman)
“We picked him as the All-Australian ruckman from the (national under-18) championships so we believe he’s the best prospect of the potential ruckmen in the pool. Clubs take them on needs and he could be early because the club’s got a competitor but also wants a ruckman. We think he’s inside 25 or 30.”
■ Adam D’Aloia (Woodville-West Torrens, midfielder)
“His performances have been terrific at underage national level, he’s just a consistent ball-winner. He was probably the most consistent player during the nationals for SA. He hasn’t got the explosiveness and you know those guys can be marked a wee bit harder by some of the clubs, but he deserves an opportunity, given the fact he performs as well as any player when tested against the best around Australia.”
■ Billy Dowling (North Adelaide, midfielder)
“He just reads the play so well, his endurance ranked well, he keeps running to the right spots and he uses the ball well. He’s a nice size, will go a bit later on but is right in the mix (to be drafted) on the way he played consistently well at national level and had a great year in clubland.”
■ Phoenix Foster (Norwood, key forward/ruckman)
“When Barnett didn’t play, he came in and played his best game of the championship. He’s a bit of an undersized ruckman, more key position, but shows enough natural talent to benefit from getting in a full-time program. We saw glimpses of that this year, rather than dominance, but enough potential to be a genuine contender.”
■ Isaac Keeler (North Adelaide, key forward/ruckman)
“With young, taller, developing kids … you’re going to have to put more time into them, but he’s certainly got some exciting attributes and we saw that in bursts through the nationals and at club level as well. He’s got the size, mobility and skillset to be a potential top player at AFL level. He needs to get in the professional environment to extract that out of him consistently, but you’d expect that he’d get his opportunity. His best stuff is as good as any of the top half a dozen taller prospects in Australia.”
■ Harry Lemmey (West Adelaide, key forward)
“He’s still developing, still a work in progress, but he’s a wonderful, athletic size. His mobility and potential to play both ends of the ground are very much in his favour. He showed glimpses this year, so he’s teased us rather than shown all of what his potential might be. At that size and with his athletic ability, I think someone will give him an opportunity sooner rather than later.”
■ Jaiden Magor (South Adelaide, medium forward/midfielder)
“He really appeals to me. He’s got some real mercurial ability up around goal in particular, he tested very soundly and finished the year very well, as well as started the nationals very well, but then got injured. He’ll more likely than not to find a home as that midfielder that can go forward and be really creative.”
■ Max Michalanney (Norwood, defender)
“What a consistent, solid contributor he’s been right throughout the last 12 months the way he’s played at national level and way he’s played his role for the team. Clubs love them. Give him a job and he’ll do it. He’s an unassuming type, a nice size with long arms so plays taller than 190cm. He can play as that third tall forward and usually gets the job done. It’s great that Adelaide has committed to him. He’s got some certainty and he deserves that with the way he’s played. It’s great reward for the Crows with the patience of that (father-son) rule (tied to former SANFL players) to finally get one.”
■ Mattaes Phillipou (Woodville-West Torrens, midfielder)
“He’s going to be in that group of powerful midfielders in the first round. It’s a great group … that can really add something that is so vital to the game right now, which is the taller, stronger, powerful midfielder that can break the game apart. We’ve seen that start to unfold with Mattaes this year. He was pretty exciting in the national championships, he’s a lovely size, has got that separation you need in the midfield, kicks long goals and had some exciting moments this year. He’s right up there to be the first SA player taken.”
■ Jakob Ryan (Glenelg, utility)
“He could well be SA’s second-best prospect. I love the way he played the year, the way he played nationals, the way he finished the year at Glenelg, the way he tested, his size, his versatility, just his general attitude. He’s an up-and-about sort of kid, rangy and has all the look of a bloke who’ll do well at an AFL club and couldn’t have done any better with the way he’s presented this year. He’ll find a home, for sure.”
■ Kobe Ryan (West Adelaide, midfielder)
“His progression’s been terrific this year. He’s come up and played good senior footy and seems to fit in at national level as well. He’s not flashy, but is a solid, consistent player and does most things right. He’s neat and tidy. Some of these boys (not invited to the national combine) slip under the radar a bit and keep performing. He deserves to be considered.”
■ Tom Scully (West Adelaide, key forward)
“Whether it’s this year or into the future, he’s got some attributes, no doubt. He showed some flashes of dominance against lesser physically prepared opponents but we didn’t see that transfer against national opponents. He’s got some potential to be an important target man for any team and would be a late chance.”
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