AFL draft prospect Connor Rozee making SANFL impact at North Adelaide

CONNOR Rozee is bullish about his AFL draft chances, but the SA talent is hot property and may not be able to shy away from the growing hype much longer.

North’s Connor Rozee is tackled by Adelaide’s James Loneragan at Prospect Oval. Picture Calum Robertson.

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IT MAY be due to his laid-back nature as a young footballer from Port Augusta or because of his level-headed upbringing.

But North Adelaide’s Connor Rozee is bullish about his AFL draft chances.

The 18-year-old midfielder may not be able to shy away from the growing hype much longer given he is becoming one of the hottest draft prospects in the country.

Particularly after his eye-catching SANFL league debut, featuring 11 disposals, five marks and two goals, against Woodville-West Torrens last month.

Rozee has kicked two goals in each of his first two games for the Roosters. Picture: Calum Robertson.

“I’m a pretty laid-back kid so it (the pressure) hasn’t fussed me too much, and my family have been really good in keeping me in check,” Rozee, an AIS Academy member, says.

“If it gets to the end of the year and it all works out that’s great.

“For now I’m just enjoying my time at the Roosters.”

Rozee says he cannot have asked for a better week to start his SANFL career.

“(It was the) top two teams and the supporters were up and about,” he says.

“(Roosters coach) Josh (Carr) said just try and be comfortable, that I’m ready to play at the level so it was just about being relaxed and playing my style of footy.”

Rozee grew up in Port Augusta before moving to Adelaide with his family at 13 to pursue both football and cricket.

He was faced with a choice between the sports two years later and selected football, despite showing promise as an all-rounder for East Torrens.

The family is now settled in Oakden but Rozee still considers himself a country lad at heart and credits his unflappable attitude to his father.

“That’s probably why I’m a bit more laid-back and I probably get that from my dad (Rob) — he’s definitely a country bloke.”

Rozee is studying human movement at UniSA and believes his flexible schedule may give him an edge over draft prospects who are at school five days a week.

The Cedar College graduate is gearing up for his second national under-18 championships next month after playing last year as a bottom-ager.

He was a standout in SA’s clash against Victoria Country last year, collecting 19 disposals and kicking three goals.

In 2016, Rozee won the Kevin Sheehan Medal in 2016 for the best player at the national under-16 titles.