Roosters ‘agitator’ Boyd Woodcock comes from the clouds to make his AFL draft statement

He is the North Adelaide “agitator’’ who made a big spectacular impression during his club’s spectacular SANFL finals campaign.

STANDING TALL: North Adelaide AFL draft prospect Boyd Woodcock with dad Bruce and mum Natasha at Prospect Oval. Picture: Naomi Jellicoe.

He’s a self-confessed “agitator’’ who says he cannot repeat some of the things that were said to him during North Adelaide’s spectacular finals campaign that saw it snap a 27-year premiership drought.

“They are a bit too rude for the public,’’ said Roosters small forward Boyd Woodcock.

“All I can say is that there were a few “who are you?’’ type of comments thrown at me.

“But it was all part of the game. You give it out, you expect to get it back.

“Apart from the verbal stuff I copped a few bumps and niggles but I did the job that ‘Carry’ (North coach Josh Carr) asked of me.

“He wanted me to antagonise my opponents, to play roles on certain players, and I think it worked out pretty well.’’

Apart from playing in a premiership in just his ninth game of league football, Woodcock’s draft stock rose considerably in a month.

And the opponents who questioned who he was could soon by watching him strut his stuff on the national stage.

At the start of North’s finals campaign Woodcock was considered a draft longshot.

He had played only one match for South Australia in its AFL under-18 championships win and only four clubs had inquired about him.

Now he has 11 suitors and is almost certain to find an AFL home, either as a late national draft or rookie selection.

Draft expert Champion Data has listed the 18-year-old as the 11th-best SANFL prospect in this year’s draft.

“The finals definitely helped my cause,’’ said Woodcock, who showed AFL recruiters that he can perform on the big stage.

“I was challenged by ‘Carry’ to go out there and play a role for the team and when my opportunity came I think I did all right.

“I was told to make a few blokes accountable and I managed to do that and got lucky a few times by kicking some snags (goals).’’

Woodcock was tasked with making life tough for opposition defensive playmakers Jace Bode (Norwood), Matt Rose (South Adelaide) and Matthew Goldsworthy (Eagles) in three of North’s four finals and, despite his tender years and lack of experience, he performed above expectations as the Roosters stunned their more highly-fancied rivals.

Apart from putting the clamps on and getting in the face of his opponents in the same way Fremantle veteran and fellow small forward Hayden Ballantyne has for a decade, the 177cm Woodcock kicked eight goals in four knockout finals.

Boyd Woodcock celebrates a goal in the Norwood v North Adelaide SANFL Grand Final. Picture: Sarah Reed

This included three in the last quarter of the Roosters’ controversial five-point preliminary final win against Woodville-West Torrens and three in the grand final against the Redlegs.

Only premiership-winning teammates Lewis Hender (10) and former Power key forward Mitch Harvey (nine) kicked more majors in September.

“It was pretty crazy,’’ said Woodcock, who moved to Adelaide from Kadina on the Yorke Peninsula when he was 14 to pursue an AFL career.

“Not in my wildest dreams did I think I would win a league premiership at 18, so it’s pretty awesome.

“To have done it with North is extra special because I’ve been a member of the club since I was two days old.

“My distant cousin Rex Woolford played at the club (from 1945-46), so our family is lifelong North fans and now I’m a premiership player here, which makes me pretty proud.’’

Woodcock won the 2017 McCallum Tomkins Medal as the best SANFL under-18s player as a midfielder before being shifted forward at senior level by Carr.

He is the first to admit he loves a goal and doesn't hold back with his celebrations.

“I do like to express myself,’’ said Woodcock, who wants to be a 200-game AFL player.

“I like to play on the edge and feel it brings the best out of me.’’