How South Australia’s top AFL Draft prospects fared in week two of the SANFL finals
Dylan Stephens and Will Gould were on show in the main games but there were a number of other standout performances from South Australia’s AFL Draft prospects at all levels of the SANFL over the weekend. See our full wrap.
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There were a number of standout performances from South Australia’s AFL Draft prospects at all levels of the SANFL over the weekend.
In the 62-point victory in Sunday’s first semi-final, Adelaide dominated from the outset, winning the ball, maintaining possession and kicking the first six goals of the contest.
The dominance of the Crows meant it was hard work for Norwood wingman and highly-rated draft prospect Dylan Stephens to have an impact.
But the hard-running left-footer, who has drawn comparison to West Coast’s Andrew Gaff, worked his way into the game, finishing with 22 disposals — the fifth-most for the Redlegs.
There was no eye-catching run as we’ve seen at senior level in 2019 but Stephens, who tallied 14 disposals in the second-half, found the ball in other ways, recording a season-high 16 handballs as he won more football in close and on the ground.
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In the second semi-final, it was Glenelg defender Will Gould’s chance to show off his talent and, while there was no repeat of the 27-disposal performance from the last minor round against Sturt, he, too, didn’t look out of place on the big stage.
The strongly-built 18-year-old, who stands at 191cm and 98kg, lined up alongside Magpie Todd Marshall at the opening bounce and the Port Adelaide forward booted the first goal of the match.
But Gould was tough, clean and threw his weight around, finishing with 16 disposals and a team-high six rebound 50s.
One of the Magarey Medal favourites, former West Coast Eagle Luke Partington enhanced his chances of earning a second chance at AFL level with an influential final quarter.
The 22-year-old midfielder, who had Cam Sutcliffe by his side for most of the day after a nine-disposal first quarter, willed his side back into the contest, booting the go-ahead goal midway through the term before the Magpies responded.
Partington finished with a team-high 23 disposals, eight tackles and six clearances.
But there was another standout talent on show, who might have overshadowed all of them, at Adelaide Oval on Sunday.
West Adelaide young gun Riley Thilthorpe starred in the Under-18 preliminary final — the first of the SANFL triple-header — against the Panthers, again highlighting his credentials as a No. 1 pick contender in 2020.
The Bloods bowed out of the finals but Thilthorpe, a 199cm ruckman-forward, shone. He finished with 14 disposals, 36 hit-outs, two goals, five clearances and five inside-50s.
The 17-year-old, who was part of this year’s state Under-18 squad but isn’t draft eligible until next season, made his senior debut in Round 13 against the Roosters and played six games — booting eight goals — before returning to the West Adelaide’s Under-18 side for the first final last week.
And it was some return, too.
The athletic, strong-marking Thilthorpe showcase his all-round game, tallying 22 disposals, 27 hit-outs, nine marks — five of them contested — eight tackles and one major.
Teammate Will Day was equally impressive for the Bloods as his draft stocks continue to rise.
The classy 187cm defender, who was a standout for South Australia across half-back at the national championships, finished with 23 disposals and nine rebound 50s and is likely to be picked up inside the first two rounds of November’s draft.
On Saturday, South Australia’s MVP at the national carnival Harry Schoenberg continued his ball-winning ways for the Eagles at reserves level.
In the first semi-final victory over Central, Schoenberg, who averaged 27 disposals per game at the under-18 championships — the second-most in the competition — tallied 24 disposals, six tackles, six clearances and five inside 50s.
With the senior side failing to make the finals, the 18-year-old won’t get the opportunity to push for a league debut but his consistent form looks set to push him further up the draft order.
Teammate Lachlan McNeil hasn’t been invited to the national or state draft combine but a few clubs have spoken to the inside midfielder.
And they are likely to touch base again after the Henley High product was named in the Eagles’ best, finishing with 21 disposals, three inside 50s and one goal in the seven-point win.
Highly-rated Port Adelaide father-son prospect Jackson Mead followed-up his 27-disposal performance against North Adelaide in the final minor round with 21 touches and five tackles against Central.
Sturt prospect Josh Shute was his side’s best in the one-point, extra-time loss to Norwood in the other semi-final in the reserves.
The outside-midfielder tallied 25 disposals, five marks and five clearances, with his composure again on show.