Draft hopeful Dwayne Wilson inspired by Hawks skipper Luke Hodge

STURT'S Dwayne Wilson admits he plays nothing like Hawthorn's Luke Hodge, but the Hawks champion is still his inspiration.

DWAYNE Wilson admits he plays nothing like Hawthorn champion Luke Hodge.

"He's obviously an inside player and I'm an outside player, we're nothing alike, but I still find him an inspiration,'' the Sturt young gun says when explaining why Hodge is his favourite player.

A more accurate comparison for Wilson is his cousin Danyle Pearce - another Double Blues product - whom Wilson may soon follow into the AFL.

Like Pearce, Murray Bridge teenager Wilson is lightening quick and produced plenty of eye-catching runs through the middle of the ground during SA's national under-18 championship win this year.

The 18-year-old also showed he can kick the ball off both sides and often laced-out SA forwards Darcy Hourigan and Mitch Harvey.

The upside of Wilson's game is so good that virtually all phantom drafts around the country have so far had him being selected in this year's national draft.

Gold Coast has expressed strong interest in the youngster, while Port, Carlton St Kilda, West Coast and Geelong have also been in contact.

"It's been exciting to speak to all these clubs,'' Wilson says.

"I'm just hoping one of them calls my name. I don't care where, I'll go anywhere in the country."

If there was a knock on Wilson during 2013, it was his lack of consistency.

His best was outstanding but he admits he occasionally faded out of games.

"For me, I know that consistency is an area of my game I need to work on,'' he says.

"Making sure I stay involved in games. I think it's an area I will get better it."

Both Sturt football manager Paul Sandercock and SANFL under-18 coach Brenton Phillips have also identified work rate as an area Wilson can improve in, although Phillips says the teenager's upside out weighs the downside.

"I hope he goes (in the draft) because he is the most talented player in (this year's SA under-18) group on pure skill set,'' Phillips says.

"In terms of skill I reckon he was the highest ranked in our side."

DWAYNE WILSON

Age: 18

Height: 179cm

Weight: 74kg

Club: Sturt

Position: Midfield/wing

Scouting report: SA under-18 Brenton Phillips rated Wilson as the most skilful player in this year's side. Needs to become more consistent, but Wilson's speed and ball carrying ability are also attributes seemingly too good to be overlook on national draft day.

Draft tip: 50-70.