Glenelg’s Darcy Fogarty is this year’s best AFL draft prospect, says list expert Gary Buckenara

CROWEATER Darcy Fogarty has been rated the best player in this year’s AFL draft by list expert Gary Buckenara.

OUT OF MY WAY: Top-ranked Croweater Darcy Fogarty shows his strength for SA against the Allies in the AFL under-18 championships. Picture: Roger Wyman.

CROWEATER Darcy Fogarty has been rated the best player in this year’s AFL draft by list expert Gary Buckenara.

While much of the South Australian draft talk has been centred on next year’s bumper crop of local kids, Buckenara says powerful Glenelg utility Fogarty is the man he would take first at the November 24 player lottery.

This is despite Fogarty having his 2017 season ended prematurely at the start of August following knee surgery.

That setback and the fact the 192cm, 92kg Fogarty, who can play forward, back or in the midfield, struggled to make an impact this year because of ongoing knee soreness was widely believed to have seen his draft stock plummet.

But Buckenara has declared he will be a “star’’.

“Fogarty is a tough, physical and imposing type when up and going,’’ said four-times Hawthorn premiership star and ex-recruiter Buckenara in naming his top-30 prospects for next month’s draft.

“He’s a great mark and a damaging kick and is big enough to play as a leading target in attack.

“I believe he has a huge upside and for a club in need of a future third tall forward or possibly a defender, I’ve got him rated as No. 1 because he’s so flexible in that he can play forward but also play a role down back.

“It’s similar to what (Hawthorn’s) Jack Gunston has done in the second half of this season.

“I don’t think he’ll go No. 1 but I would put him there because I think he’s a class player and will be a star.’’

Fogarty, 18, described his year as “pretty disappointing’’, despite playing four league games for Glenelg before his knee injury became bad enough for him to have surgery to repair a small meniscus tear.

The injury meant he could not test at the AFL draft combine.

“The season didn’t go to plan for me,’’ Fogarty told The Advertiser.

“It has been a pretty disappointing year because I started with a lot of hopes and expectations and people talking about my draft possibilities.

“But I never really got going. I wasn’t as free in my movement as I would have liked to have been but I don’t want to make excuses, so I’ve got to live with that.’’

Fogarty started the season as a leading contender to be the No. 1 pick at this year’s draft and the first Croweater selected first since fellow Tigers product and now Crow Bryce Gibbs joined Carlton in 2006. But he had a poor AFL under-18 championships, averaging just 11 disposals.

Of SA’s two AFL clubs, only Adelaide has a shot at him, albeit an outside one, with its first pick coming at No. 12. Port Adelaide’s first selection is at 46.

“My year could cost me a few (draft) spots but that doesn’t bother me too much, I just want to find an AFL home,’’ said Fogarty, who hails from the southeast town of Lucindale.

Victorian midfielders Cameron Rayner, Luke Davies-Uniake and Paddy Dow are the favourites to be picked in the top three.

Buckenara has chosen four South Australians in his top 30, with Norwood defender Harrison Petty at 23, Crows father-son prospect, Glenelg midfielder Jackson Edwards, at 25, and Sturt ruckman-forward Callum Coleman-Jones at 28.