South Adelaide signs former basketballer Michael Knoll from Box Hill

SOUTH Adelaide was desperate to find a replacement for gun ruckman Keegan Brooksby and the Panthers have found a raw talent in Victoria they hope can for the job.

SOUTH Adelaide is hoping Box Hill recruit Michael Knoll can help ease the distress of losing co-captain Keegan Brooksby to West Coast.

Knoll has played in the VFL for just two years after switching from basketball and he will provide the Panthers with an imposing presence in the ruck, being 205cm and 100kg.

The Panthers announced Knoll, who trained with the club last week, as a signing following a “mad scramble” to replace Brooksby.

“We were surprised Keegan got the call up,” Panthers coach Jarrad Wright said. “It was not surprising after the year he had and he had a right to get another opportunity.

“But there had been no communication with AFL clubs on him and without planning to lose him, it was a mad scramble to try and find a suitable replacement.

“Michael trained with us last week so we had a real good look at him, plus we watched some game tapes. He had been on the radar with a few clubs and is going to develop a lot more getting game time.”

Knoll, 25, played college basketball in the US for four years before opting to test himself in football.

He joined Box Hill in 2017 and was an emergency for this year’s VFL grand final. The Hawks already had Marc Pittonet, who played two AFL games this season, in the side.

“He has played limited football, but he is a good athlete and his football craft is pretty sound,” Wright said. “I’m confident in what he can potentially produce when working with Nick Liddle, Joel Cross, Abe Davis, Emmanuel Irra and Malcolm Karpany in the midfield.”