One of SA’s most talented draft prospects shockingly shunned

South Australia under-18 captain and all-Australian Will Patton has failed to find an AFL home in one of the draft’s biggest surprises.

South Australia under-18 captain Will Patton was the shock draft omission as nine SANFL players found AFL homes at this year’s drafts.

Patton, who was the only draft eligible Croweater selected in this year’s all-Australian under-18 team, was not among the 19 names called at Wednesday’s rookie draft, which has become more of a second chance saloon for delisted players than providing new opportunities for teenagers.

West Adelaide key defender Patton, 18, started the year as a first-round draft contender but some injuries and form issues saw his draft standing plummet.

But few thought he would be overlooked completely.

The Advertiser ranked Patton – renowned for his leadership skills – as the seventh best draft prospect from SA this year.

The other six – Central District’s Will McCabe (Hawthorn, No. 19), South Adelaide’s Taylor Goad (North Melbourne, 20) and Jack Delean (Fremantle, 60), Glenelg’s Ashton Moir (Carlton, 29) and Bodie Ryan (Hawthorn, 46) and North Adelaide’s Kane McAuliffe (Richmond, 40) – were selected in the national draft.

Fox Footy draft experts ranked Patton as the 49th best prospect in Australia.

West Adelaide’s Will Patton. Picture: Cory Sutton/SANFL

Central key forward Liam Fawcett (Richmond, 43) also was selected in the national draft while Sturt’s Loch Rawlinson (West Coast, 1) and Norwood’s Will Rowlands (Gold Coast, 18) were taken in the rookie draft.

The SANFL’s total of nine draftees, eight who featured in The Advertiser’s top nine prospects, was well below last year’s total of 16, where 11 players were picked in the main draft and five as rookies.

SANFL talent manager Brenton Phillips described the number as “under where we would like to be’’.

“We’ve set lofty heights and we don’t shy away from that,’’ Phillips said.

“But we always knew going into this year that there would be a chance of this happening (given SA’s underwhelming 2023 talent pool).

“The northern academy jumped up this year and there weren’t many rookie picks taken, which hurt our numbers.’’

Central District’s Will McCabe (left) is presented with his Hawthorn jumper by Hawks legend Michael Tuck after being selected at pick 19 at the AFL national draft. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images

As for Patton’s omission, Phillips said the SANFL would talk to some AFL clubs “to get some clarification as to why he wasn’t drafted’’.

He urged Patton to push for SANFL league selection for the Bloods next season and press his claims as a mature-age draft prospect.

“The talk will be around the fact that the SANFL is a very good competition to stay in and develop and get better to hopefully get another (draft) opportunity down the track,’’ Phillips said.

“Will had a solid year but sometimes things just don’t work out for you when it comes to the draft and you have to find a way to work through it and continue to get better at your craft.

“History is full of players who are overlooked at the draft one year and picked up the following one.’’