Port Adelaide has to hit trade table to draft Eagles young gun Lachlan Jones
Lachlan Jones is a Port Adelaide Next Generation Academy prospect – but is so good the Power will likely have to trade up to keep him at Alberton in the AFL Draft.
SANFL
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Port Adelaide will need to trade up to the first round to secure ace Next Generation Academy prospect Lachlan Jones at thisyear’s draft, according to his SANFL coach.
New Woodville-West Torrens mentor Jade Sheedy described the powerhouse teenage defender as “a ripper’’ after he produced his best league performance in the club’s convincing 11-goal win against Norwood on Sunday.
He said 18-year-old Jones had star material written all over him and would be loved by the Power faithful because of histough, no-holds-barred approach to the game.
“He’s a great kid, a terrific player and he’ll go high in the draft, in the first round,’’ Sheedy said.
But Port Adelaide does not have a first-round pick this year, having traded away its top selection to Brisbane for pick 16,which ended up at No 18, at last year’s draft, where it swooped on exciting West Australian forward Mitch Georgiades.
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It is armed with three second-round selections and two thirds, which it can package to move up in the draft to match a bidfrom a rival for Jones.
Port Adelaide also has a father-son prospect, midfielder Taj Schofield – son of 2004 premiership player and current assistant coach Jarrad Schofield – it hopes to secure this year.
But Jones looks likely to attract the higher bid.
“We won’t see him for too long here (at the Eagles) because he has some great attributes,’’ Sheedy said.
“Port’s going to have to give up what will amount to a first-round draft pick to get him but he’ll be worth it.’’
Powerfully-built at 188cm and 86kg, Jones – playing his third league game – lined up in defence against the Redlegs and shonewith 16 disposals and six marks.
From Bute on the Yorke Peninsula, he is tied to the Power as an NGA player because of his indigenous heritage.
“He really attacks the ball, loves one-on-one contests and has a great ability to get to a contest quickly because he’s sofast and explosive,’’ Sheedy said.
“He can play on talls and smalls in defence and in the midfield if we wanted him to. “’He’s also a booming kick, and whilehe’s still learning the game to some extent, the kid’s so explosive it’s just great to see.’’
State under-18 coach Tony Bamford has overseen Jones’s development and described him as being “as tough as they come’’.
“He’s a very good modern-day rebound defender who likes to take the game on and can get it done one on one,’’ he said.
“He has elite speed coming off half-back and a penetrating 60m kick.’’
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