South Adelaide forward Hayden McLean on verge of being drafted by Sydney

SANFL clubs have been critical after the introduction of the new draft rules by the AFL and South Adelaide is set to be a victim; plus we preview the weekend’s trial games.

Hayden McLean could be leaving South Adelaide for Sydney before playing a game for the Panthers. Picture: Tricia Watkinson

• SANFL clubs unite in plea on drafted players
• SANFL clubs demand no mid-season draftee play for Crows or Power

South Adelaide is in serious danger of being the first SANFL victim of the AFL’s controversial draft rules and could lose promising forward Hayden McLean to Sydney.

McLean, recruited from Sandringham this season after being overlooked in the national draft, will have a medical screening with the Swans on Friday and is vying with former Collingwood player Sam McLarty for Jack Maibaum’s spot after the defender was placed on the long-term injury list due to a ruptured ACL.

AFL clubs have until March 15 to draft a player under the new pre-season supplemental selection period. Players can also be taken in a mid-season draft.

Vice-captain of Vic Metro in the national under 18 carnival in 2017, McLean will be placed on the rookie list if picked up by the Swans.

“Hayden is a really good kid and we just have to wait and see the outcome of his medical with the Swans,” Panthers chief executive Neill Sharpe said.

“We were surprised when we found out, although in the back of our minds there was a chance of losing a player when the AFL introduced the mid-season draft rule.

“We did not contemplate losing a player on the eve of the season.”

It is believed McLean resided with Sharpe for his first few weeks in Adelaide. The Panthers have secured him work and he has been living with Panthers defender Jake Summerton.

The Panthers, told of the Swans’ interest in McLean last Friday, were also caught off guard when former co-captain and gun ruckman Keegan Brooksby was taken by West Coast as a rookie in December.

Brooksby was outstanding last season, but there had been no contact from AFL clubs.

ROOSTERS WITHOUT INJURED SLEE FOR TRIAL

North Adelaide will be without Mackenzie Slee for the trial against Glenelg at Thebarton Oval on Friday night after the youngster was concussed against Port Adelaide last week.

Slee was knocked out tackling Port big man Billy Frampton in the opening minutes of the trial at Alberton Oval and had to be stretchered from the field.

The Roosters expect the defender to be back in the squad to face South Adelaide in their final hitout in Noarlunga on March 16.

North's Mackenzie Slee spoils North Adelaide's Luke Wilson at Norwood Oval. Picture: Matt Loxton

Norwood’s squad to face Adelaide in a trial at Norwood Oval on Friday night will contain nine players from last year’s grand final side.

Cameron Shenton will miss the hit-out after getting a slight knock to his knee in an internal trial, while gun recruit Dom Barry is unavailable because of groin soreness.

“There is no point risking those players with a slight problem,” Redlegs coach Jarrod Cotton said.

Ruckman Sam Baulderstone, Matt Panos, Brad McKenzie, Lewis Johnston, Michael Talia and captain Jace Bode are among the big-name Redlegs missing from the club’s first trial.

But the Redlegs will expose AFL Academy members Cameron Taheny and Dylan Stevens to senior action.

SANFL WEEK 2 TRIALS

FRIDAY

Glenelg v North Adelaide (Thebarton Oval, 7.30pm)

West Adelaide v Sturt (City Mazda Stadium, Richmond, 7.20pm)

Norwood v Adelaide (Coopers Stadium, Norwood, 7.20pm)

South Adelaide v Port Adelaide (Flinders University Stadium, Noarlunga Oval, 6pm)

Central District v Eagles (X Convenience Oval, Elizabeth, 7.50pm)

WEEK 3

Friday, March 15

Norwood v Eagles (Coopers Stadium, Norwood, 7pm)

Saturday, March 16

West Adelaide v Glenelg (City Mazda Stadium, Richmond, 1.10pm)

Central District v Sturt (X Convenience Oval, Elizabeth, 1.10pm)

South Adelaide v North Adelaide (Flinders University Oval, Noarlunga, 1.10pm)

WEEK 4

Friday, March 22

Port Adelaide v Adelaide (Alberton Oval, 5pm)

West Adelaide v Central District (City Mazda Stadium, Richmond, 7.50pm)

Saturday, March 23

South Adelaide v Eagles (Flinders University Stadium, Noarlunga, 1.10pm)