Norwood running machine Dylan Stephens is a likely top-10 selection but how high will the talent of Cam Taheny and Kysaiah Pickett push them?
A Norwood star is set to be the first South Australian picked in November’s AFL Draft. But who comes next? We look at the five SANFL guns likely to have their name called first.
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After SANFL talent guru Brenton Phillips discussed SA’s top prospects on The Lowdown Draft Podcast, The Phantom looks at the five SANFL young guns likely to have their name called first in November’s AFL Draft.
Dylan Stephens
Norwood/St Peters/Walkerville
Midfielder, 183cm, 74kg
DOB: 8/1/01
Draft range: 4-12
The hard-running left-footer has done his best work on the outside this year but, as he highlighted in the back-half of the season at senior level for Norwood, he’s also clean and creative on the inside. There’s plenty of West Coast wingman Andrew Gaff in Stephens’ run but his class and finishing around goal is in the Josh Kelly mould. And he has both covered for pace, as evident in his 2.97 20 metre sprint time at the national combine.
“Any club which picks up Dylan Stephens is going to get a quality person, a quality individual who could perhaps go on to one day captain the club,” SANFL State Talent Manager Brenton Phillips told The Lowdown AFL Draft podcast.
“That’s how much we rate him, he’s definitely in that top-10 category. He ticks a number of boxes.”
The 18-year-old played 13 league games for the Redlegs in 2019, winning 20 disposals or more in five of his final nine appearances and boasts a terrific mix of speed and endurance.
A Norwood insider said Stephens is the best junior talent to come out of the Parade in more than a decade.
And his strengths would make him a perfect addition to Adelaide’s midfield - will the Crows let him pass at No. 4?
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Will Gould
Glenelg/PAC/Lucindale
Defender, 192cm, 106kg
DOB: 14/1/01
Draft range: 8-18
Say what you will about draftee player-comparisons but the similarities between Gould and West Coast premiership skipper Shannon Hurn continue to stack up. A strong, ready-made defender with a penetrating right-foot, who was state captain and played in a senior premiership in the SANFL prior to being drafted. At 18, it’s a description which could be used on either.
Gould starred at the Under-18 national championships mid-season before playing his part in Glenelg’s run to the flag. The Lucindale product delivered with precision from the back-half and knocked around some of his more senior opponents.
“I wouldn’t think there would be too many which match his CV at this point in time,” Phillips said.
Phillips isn’t buying into that lack of upside debate, either.
“There was probably some knocks on Shannon Hurn in terms of that but, boy, oh boy, isn’t his CV at the end of his career going to look really nice” he said.
“What Gould shows now, he’ll continue to do that over the rest of his career,” Phillips said of Gould’s ability to be a strong-marking rock in defence, who can set play up going the other way.
“Every time he’s stepped up to the plate, he’s been able to deliver.”
And there’s little doubt in a full-time environment, Gould will become leaner and his running capabilities will improve.
Will Day
West Adelaide/Sacred Heart/PHOS Camden
Defender, 189cm, 76kg
DOB: 6/5/01
Draft range: 15-25
The smart defender, who boasts terrific foot skills on both sides of his body, has enjoyed a rapid rise up draft boards this season after crossing from Glenelg at the end of 2018.
Day, the cousin of Gold Coast’s Sam, is versatile, adapting to the speed of four levels of football – and the roles associated with them – he played in 2019.
“He’s been pulled in a lot of different directions and he’s balanced that as well as we could expect from anyone,” West Adelaide Talent and Development manager Paul Streatfield said.
“He’s driven to be as good as possibly can be.”
Despite his light frame, Day is tough and defends well but it’s his composure which has stood out the most.
“He reads the ball very well down back and his ability to get through traffic and assess things with composure is a massive strength,” Streatfield noted.
And the athletic 18-year-old, who will take time to develop at the next level, doesn’t make many mistakes, recording a disposal efficiency of 92 per cent at SANFL under-18 level, 85 per cent in the reserves and 82 per cent at the national under-18 carnival.
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Jackson Mead
Woodville-West Torrens/Henley High/SMOSH West Lakes
Midfielder, 184cm, 83kg
DOB: 30/9/01
Draft range: 18-28
Port Adelaide’s father-son prospect is a smart and skilful midfielder, who wins the ball on the inside and the outside, but it’s an ability above his head which sets him apart.
“He marks it really well overhead for his size, he catches opposition off-guard sometimes,” Phillips said of the 184cm Mead.
The All-Australian under-18, who is strong and clean at the contest and sure with the football in-hand, played two senior games for the Eagles in the SANFL in 2019, after tallying 21 disposals and four goals to be judged best afield in the under-18 grand final last year.
Expect the Power to match a bid, which is likely to come in the second-round, for the son of inaugural club champion Darren without hesitation.
Harry Schoenberg
Woodville-West Torrens/PAC/Min-Man
Midfielder, 182cm, 83kg
DOB: 21/2/01
Draft range: 25-35
The Woodville-West Torrens ball-magnet finished the under-18 national championships as an All-Australian and SA’s MVP, after averaging 27 disposals per game – second-only to WA captain Deven Robertson.
And this was after missing selection in the initial SA Academy squad, highlighting the midfielder’s work ethic and desire to improve.
Phillips has always been a fan, despite the pre-season hiccup, which he says made Schoenberg ‘hungry’ to succeed.
“I’ve always rated Harry, I think he’s got elite breakaway speed from the contest and he uses the ball very well,” Phillips explained.
“His ability to work up-and-down the ground is as good as I’ve seen.”
The 18-year-old is one of the best accumulator’s in this year’s draft pool and, while he’s great at finding the ball in space, it’s Schoenberg’s brilliant hands and vison in tight spaces which will shine at the next level.
NEXT IN LINE
CAM TAHENY
Norwood/Rostrevor/Eastern Ranges
Forward, 185cm, 80kg
“When you see him get on his bike and run and get up the ground and then double back towards goal, he’s as exciting as any of them.” – Brenton Phillips
KYSAIAH PICKETT
Woodville-West Torrens/PAC/Port District
Forward, 170cm, 67kg
“Based on pure talent and excitement, he’s the best. He’s one of those players that only needs to get a slight look at it and he can rip a game apart.” – Brenton Phillips