Can highly-rated AFL Draft prospect Will Gould follow in Shannon Hurn’s footsteps and help Glenelg end a 33-year premiership drought?
The likeness of Glenelg teenager Will Gould and West Coast skipper Shannon Hurn has been well noted. But a comparison of their numbers highlights the SA pair’s similarities even further
A medium defender-midfielder with terrific hands, penetrating kick and is a fine leader.
That’s how AFL Talent ambassador, Kevin Sheehan, described Shannon Hurn after the South Australian captain was named in a back pocket in the 2005 Under-18 All-Australian team.
And you could use the exact words to describe this year’s South Australian Under-18 captain, Will Gould, who was also named in a back pocket in the national carnival’s best-22.
“He’s Shannon Hurn all over again. He’s a boy in a man’s body,” Sheehan told SEN radio following the completion of the 2019 championships.
“He led the side so well (South Australia). He’s a great kick, and he has good straight-ahead speed.”
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It’s a widespread view of the Croweater, who looms as a first-round selection in November’s draft, with SA under-18 coach Ton Bamford echoing Sheehan’s assessment.
“If you are looking at who Will plays like, it’s Shannon Hurn, It’s the best comparison. I remember Shannon as an 18-year-old and he was a boy in a man’s body, which is exactly what Will is,” Bamford told The Advertiser earlier this year.
And the numbers further highlight the similarities.
In his draft year, now premiership skipper Hurn stood at 187cm and tipped the scales at 92kg.
Gould is listed at 191cm and 98kg.
Like Hurn was, the 18-year-old from Glenelg is physically ready for AFL football.
In the 2019 home-and-away season, Hurn averaged 23.6 disposals, 13 uncontested possessions and 6.5 rebound 50s per game.
At the national carnival, Gould — who starred with 26 disposals against Vic Country — averaged 21.5 disposals, 12.8 uncontested possessions, and 7.3 rebound 50s.
As a general defender, Hurn rates elite for intercept possessions (7.7) and intercept marks (2.3)
In South Australia’s unsuccessful bid for back-to-back national titles, Gould averaged 6.3 intercept possessions and two intercept marks per game.
And the ability of both players to break through opposition zones and attack the other way, using their penetrating right-foot, is reflected in Hurn and Gould averaging more than 400 metres gained per match this season.
Gould, who hails from Lucindale in the state’s south-east, carried his impressive form from the national carnival into the second-half of the SANFL season, starring across halfback for Glenelg as the Tigers finished minor premier.
In the final home-and-away fixture against Sturt, Gould tallied a season-high 27 disposals — 22 of them kicks — 10 intercept possessions, 10 rebound 50s, five marks, two inside 50s and 139 Champion Data ranking points.
The stat line mirrors that of Hurn in his impressive performance against the Power in Round 5.
In the 42-point loss, Hurn finished with 33 disposals — 24 of them kicks — 11 rebound 50s, 10 intercept possessions, seven marks, two inside 50s and 121 ranking points.
Hurn also played senior SANFL football prior to being drafted, winning a second premiership with Central District in October, 2005 — less than two months before West Coast swooped at pick No. 13 in the national draft.
And Gould could be taken at a similar selection, depending how the next month plays out.
Will the potential upside in other, less developed, prospects push Gould down the order?
Or will a starring role in the SANFL finals — like that of first-year sensation Connor Rozee in 2018 — reinforce his credentials?
While there’s still plenty of questions to be answered, Glenelg fans are just hoping Gould again follows in the footsteps of Hurn and helps end a 33-year premiership drought at the Bay before he embarks on a career at the elite level.