Norwood youngster Cameron Taheny has AFL scouts noting his progress ahead of national under-18 championships

The AFL beckons for a Norwood youngster, who has used three senior SANFL games to showcase his enormous potential and will get a further chance to impress for SA at the under-18 championships.

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NORWOOD young gun Cameron Taheny teased AFL recruiters with his league debut when he nailed three goals against Port Adelaide at The Parade in round 4.

The classy young forward then provided another sample of his tremendous potential with three goals against Woodville-West Torrens.

But it was his performance against West Adelaide at The Parade in round 8 which had national draft written all over it. Immediately after bagging five goals with his nine disposals, Taheny played down the effort by noting he was lucky to get on the end of a few.

Taheny wasn’t quite telling the truth. Maybe he was at the end of the chain for one or two, but he marked strongly and created his own luck with his talents.

Rostrevor College year 12 student Cameron Taheny has impressed AFL recruiters with his form for Norwood’s league side. Picture: Brenton Edwards

“It’s been a good experience and I’m lucky for the opportunity provided by the club and (Redlegs coach) Jarrod Cotton,” Taheny said.

“My goal was to play consistent football and senior footy at Norwood this year, whether that be reserves or league, as well as the national under 18 championships.

“I’d been around the mark for league selection, I’d been an emergency, and the week I was picked I got a late call up for Cole Gerloff. It was a bit of a surprise, I was walking out of Coopers Stadium after training and Jarrod called to say I was in.

“I’ve enjoyed it and had awesome support around me. Club captain Jade (Bode) has taken me and Dylan Stephens under his wing a bit and looked after us. We also have dinner at (Redlegs ruckman) Sam Baulderstone’s each Wednesday.”

Taheny was raised in Cleve and played his junior football with Eastern Eyre Ranges before moving to Adelaide in 2016 to board at Rostrevor College.

And it was appropriate he should make his league debut against Port. The 17-year old, whose dad Andrew is the SANFL Eyre Peninsula regional co-ordinator, played with Port’s under 13 side before Eyre Peninsula became part of the Redlegs’ zone.

Cameron will get the opportunity to showcase his qualities on the national stage after being named on the wing for the state under 18 side to tackle Western Australia in Perth on Saturday.

“The draft is always in the back of your mind,” he said. “But I just want to play consistent football and play my role.

“Hopefully SA can go back-to-back. You know there are eyes watching, but it is not at the forefront of your thinking in games.”

WA v SA

At Optus Stadium on Saturday at 12.30pm (ACST)

SA team

F: Kysaiah Pickett, Daniel Sladojevic, Josh Morris

HF: Jed McEntee, Damon Freitag, Harry Schoenberg

C: Callum Park, Dylan Stephens, Cameron Taheny

HB: Will Gould, Dyson Hilder, Luke Edwards

B: Oliver Grivell, Karl Finlay, Harrison Magor

R: Lachlan Burrows, Jackson Mead, Lachlan McNeil

INT: Jordan O’Brien, Corey Durdin, Darnell Tucker, Joshua Shute, Will Day, Jamie Coff, Zac Dumesny, Brady Searle