West Adelaide midfielder Will Snelling named SANFL Player of the Week

West Adelaide midfielder Will Snelling is thriving on the ball for the Bloods and has not given up hope of another opportunity in the AFL.

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THE colours of his jumper may have changed, but little else has altered for talented West Adelaide midfielder Will Snelling this season.

Snelling, a premiership player with the Bloods in 2015, has been amassing possessions with his trademark hunger for work and ability to hunt down the ball.

It was his style last year when named Port Adelaide’s best and fairest in the state league after an outstanding season, before being delisted following three years on the Power list for one AFL appearance.

Will Snelling attempts to stop Eagle Ethan Haycock in his tracks last month. Picture Dean Martin

Snelling was at it again against South Adelaide at Noarlunga Oval on Saturday when he had 38 disposals, kicked a goal, laid 16 tackles and had 12 clearances in a performance recognised as The Advertiser/SANFL Player of the Week despite the Bloods being beaten.

“Personally I’m happy how I’m going, but it is hard to be happy after losing,” Snelling said. “We have had the same story every week, we play well for three quarters to put ourselves in a winning position.

“But finishing off games is an issue. A lot of our reviews have been around the same theme. It’s frustrating and I can’t imagine how frustrated it would be for (coach) Gavin (Colville).”

Snelling has had little trouble slotting back into the Bloods, although he admits it took him a few weeks to understand his role and gel with his fellow midfielders.

He said it was disappointing to be delisted, although he was not surprised.

Will Snelling returned to Richmond for this season after a stint at Port Adelaide. Picture: AAP/ Keryn Stevens

“I had a sense it was going to happen,” he said. “I was playing well and the team above me was not going great.

“I was disappointed not to get an opportunity to see what I can do. I made it a goal to have a consistent year (in 2018) regardless of where I was playing.

“I honed in on that moment in time and did not get focused on the stuff I could not control.”

Snelling still has the desire to play at the AFL level, thus his decision to nominate for the mid-season draft.

Not that he has much time to think about anything other than his current lot which includes his health and medical science studies at Adelaide University as well as part time work in a cafe. And he helps coach under age programs at the Bloods in the holidays.

“It would be great to get an opportunity in the AFL, but I don’t want to get my hopes up too high,” he said.