First an SANFL premiership, now the draft for North Adelaide teen sensations Connor Rozee and Boyd Woodcock
TOP-10 draft prospect Connor Rozee says if someone had told him at the start of the year he would play in a SANFL league premiership at North Adelaide with long-time mate Boyd Woodcock his answer would have been succinct.
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TOP-10 draft prospect Connor Rozee says if someone had told him at the start of the year he would play in a SANFL league premiership at North Adelaide alongside long-time mate Boyd Woodcock his answer would have been succinct.
“I would have said you were pretty stupid,’’ the highly-rated 18-year-old said.
“It’s been a pretty crazy ride, very special.
“Neither of us had played a league game at the start of the season and now we’re both league premiership players.
“We’re still pinching ourselves as to what’s happened, to be honest.’’
The Roosters’ stunning 19-point grand final win against hot favourite Norwood came in just Rozee’s 12th league game.
Woodcock, also 18, was playing just his ninth match.
“It’s awesome,’’ said Woodcock.
“At the start of the year we would have both been happy just to get a taste of league footy so to win a premiership, it’s the stuff of dreams.’’
The pair go back a long way.
Promising cricketers as well as footballers, they moved to Adelaide from the country in their early teenage years to give themselves the best opportunity of playing at a high level.
Rozee is from Port Augusta and Woodcock from Kadina.
They first linked up with North’s under-13s development squad and played in an under-15 premiership team at Broadview together.
As their football took off, their cricket was put on the backburner — Rozee was a State under-12 batsman and Woodcock also was accomplished with the willow.
“I moved to Adelaide with the dream of playing AFL,’’ said Woodcock, who also was a handy basketballer.
“But not in my wildest dreams did I think I would win a league premiership at 18. It’s awesome and I still don’t think it's really hit me.
“To do it with Connor makes it even more special.’’
Swingman Rozee, who will attend this week’s AFL draft combine in Melbourne, has been on the radar of AFL recruiters since he won the Kevin Sheehan Medal as best player at the national under-16 championships two years ago.
He is regarded as the third-best player in the rich draft talent pool from SA this year, behind Eagles key forward Jack Lukosius and West Adelaide forward/midfield speedster Izak Rankine.
The spring-heeled Rozee, an athletic 185cm, played primarily as a defender for North in the finals but will develop into a classy, tall midfielder.
“I didn’t play a lot through the midfield this year but I think that will be my best spot moving forward,’’ he said.
“One of my strengths is that I can play in a variety of positions.’’
All 18 AFL clubs have already spoken to Rozee with more interviews to come at the combine.
State under-18 coach Tony Bamford describes him as a “jet’’.
“He's got X-factor and has those moments in games — offensively and defensively — where he can change the course of a match,’’ Bamford said.
Small forward/midfielder Woodcock — last year’s McCallum Tomkins Medallist as the best SANFL under-18 player — had been regarded more as a rookie-list pick-up before producing a standout league finals campaign for North.
He booted eight goals in four knockout finals, including three in the last quarter of the Roosters’ five-point preliminary final win against Woodville-West Torrens and three in the grand final.
Woodcock is not among the 13 SANFL players invited to the AFL combine but he will test in front of scouts from the 18 AFL clubs at the state combine on October 13.
His finals performances that helped North snap a 27-year flag drought are likely to be rewarded with selection in the national draft after he showed a great eye for goal and strong competitiveness.
Both players were members of SA’s under-18 AFL championship-winning squad this year.
“Josh Carr (North coach) challenged me at the start of the year to be a league player and I grabbed my opportunity when I got my chance after the under-18 nationals,’’ said Woodcock, 177cm.
“I played a bit of a different role at league level, as a small pressure forward instead of a midfielder, and I guess I was lucky enough to play well when it counted.’’
andrew.capel@news.com.au