New Demon Kysaiah Pickett has Round 1 debut in his sights while Sydney surprise with early call for Dylan Stephens
There were three South Australians selected on the first night of the AFL Draft. See the SANFL young guns in their new colours and how the night unfolded.
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It was no shock Redlegs midfielder Dylan Stephens was the first player taken from the SANFL on Wednesday night but the surprise was the position with the Swans jumping the Crows at No. 5.
Sydney was believed to be tossing up between Stephens and explosive Victorian Sam Flanders but decided on the classy left-footer on Tuesday.
“You are splitting hairs a lot of the time with these guys, but we were pretty clear on what we were doing yesterday (Tuesday),” Swans recruiting and list manager Kinnear Beatson said on FoxFooty.
“We’ve watched him closely for a couple of years now.
“We’re really pleased to get him, he really complements our midfield.
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“Dylan was the type of hybrid-mid we wanted, he can play both inside and outside.”
The 18-year-old’s run-and-carry on the outside is still his eye-catching asset, but his terrific ability, developed at a young age, to win the ball at the contest, was on show at senior level in the SANFL this year.
After moving from Mildura to board at St Peter’s College in Adelaide as a 13-year-old, Stephens always said the idea of moving away again was exciting.
“If you told me two years ago that I’d be going Pick 5 to the Sydney Swans, I’d be there in a heartbeat. I’m happy as,” a delighted Stephens - who will link up with former school teammate Will Hayward - said after being presented his Swans jumper by new co-captain Josh Kennedy.
Eagles excitement machine Kysaiah Pickett, the only other South Australian prospect in attendance, was the next Croweater taken with Melbourne swooping, as expected, with its second selection at No. 12.
“He’s very exciting,” Melbourne recruiting boss Jason Taylor told the club’s website of the 18-year-old who can take spectacular mark and kick the unthinkable goal.
“We just see that he’s got an excellent athletic profile that you’re really just scratching the surface of.
“The projection with Kysaiah is in two, three, four years’ time, he turns into a pretty good athlete.”
But Pickett, regarded as the most-talented SA player in the draft pool, is aiming for Round 1 next year.
“If pre-season goes well, and I get all the hard work done, I think I can do it,” Pickett, the nephew of Port Adelaide premiership player Byron, said.
“To my family it means a lot, they’ve driven me and they’ve both inspired me on and off the field, they’ve been there for me and supported me the whole way.”
West Adelaide’s Will Day made it three SANFL products in the first 13 picks after Hawthorn came calling with its first selection, one place ahead of the Power, who were very keen on the smart, rebounding defender.
Day, the cousin of Gold Coast’s Sam and grandson of 1971 Hawthorn premiership player and West Adelaide star Robert, will take time to develop but his foot skills and composure suit Alastair Clarkson’s Hawks perfectly.
With Port Adelaide and the Crows occupying three of the opening four spots in the second-round, the race is on for Glenelg premiership defender Will Gould on Thursday night.