All the pre-season and draft news across South Australia
The AFL has turned its attention to two northern grounds as the SA government fights for a Magic Round game in the Barossa Valley. Plus, all that is making news at pre-season training.
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Two more grounds north of the city are being considered to host an AFL game as the South Australian Government urges the league to turn every stone around the Barossa Valley before settling on a location.
Adelaide Hills town Mount Barker was still the frontrunner to stage a regional match during the AFL’s extra round in mid-April, but with Premier Peter Malinauskas pushing hard for the Barossa, football officials inspected Freeling and Kapunda ovals on Wednesday to see if they were suitable.
Angaston, in the heart of the tourist region, about 85km north of Adelaide, has been deemed unsuitable to host, while nearby Tanunda is unlikely.
Nuriootpa remains in consideration after originally being thought to be too small.
A decision on where the game will be played is expected over the weekend.
Located a short drive from dozens of wineries and about an hour from the CBD, Freeling and Kapunda are neighbouring towns that both play in the Barossa, Light and Gawler competition.
Freeling president Craig Trestrail told News Corp his club would throw its hat in the ring if the AFL approved the ground.
Trestrail said Freeling, which hosted close to 7000 people for a league grand final in 2019, did not have grandstands but had space to fit temporary ones and marquees.
“The deck looks good, we’ve got a facility that’s only four years old that has a change rooms, gym, basketball courts and meeting rooms, and we’ve got room around the ground to put on an event of that magnitude,” Trestrail said.
“Getting an AFL game here would be amazing for the area.”
The AFL last month awarded SA the chance to host all 18 teams in the fifth week of the 2023 season as part of the league’s inaugural festival of football.
Adelaide Oval will have six matches and Norwood is locked in for two.
Locals had been hoping the Barossa would hold a West Coast clash so they could welcome home favourite son, Angaston product and Eagles games record holder Shannon Hurn.
Kapunda, a town between the Barossa and Clare Valley, is understood to have about 7ha of parking space, an oval in pristine condition and room for marquees.
An upgrade of its change rooms, kitchen, canteen, bar and deck is set to be completed in February.
The main issue for the oval is its slight slope at the southwest end.
Kapunda hosted the Barossa league grand final in 2015, which drew about 6000 to 7000 people.
Officials also reinspected Mount Barker earlier this week.
The ground’s size and surface quality were considered its strengths, but they recognised a lot of work would be needed to get it to AFL standard.
Mount Barker, which is about 35km from the CBD and is on the doorstep of the Adelaide Hills wine region, has hosted crowds of only about 1000.
Southern coastal town Victor Harbor has been ruled out as a potential host.
Last month Malinauskas told SEN having a game in the Barossa was a great way to showcase the state.
“The AFL are naturally risk averse where they’re worried about the quality of surfaces and changing facilities for professional footy teams,” Malinauskas said.
“But getting the game out to the region so we can showcase something like the world class Barossa Valley to the country is a really important opportunity in my view.
“If it doesn’t end up being in the Barossa, it will hopefully be something of that ilk, but I’m certainly keen on the Barossa idea.”
The fixture for the extra round is expected to be released next week.
45-MINUTE SELECTION BLACKOUT FOR OVERCOME NEW CROW
New Crow Billy Dowling described the 45 minutes after being drafted, including having coach Matthew Nicks arrive at his house, as a flash.
“I don’t remember what I said,” Dowling told reporters on Wednesday.
“He probably wouldn’t have even caught what I said, I was speechless.
“I couldn’t even remember the moments, the emotions just took over.”
Adelaide traded up the AFL national draft order on Tuesday night to select Dowling, a 187cm, 80kg midfielder, with pick 43.
The 18-year-old averaged 30.9 disposals, 6.8 marks, 4.9 tackles, 4.9 clearances and six inside 50s from 12 SANFL under-18 games for North Adelaide in 2022.
He also captained St Peter’s College and impressed playing for SA at the national championships.
Described by draft observers as a hard-running ball magnet, Dowling, who collected 44 touches and kicked four goals in round 16 against Glenelg, based his game off his workrate.
“I try to get to as many contests as possible,” he said.
But the modest on-baller also heaped praise on his junior teammates.
“You’re a product of the people around you and in the North side we were so successful and the midfield group was so strong, that allows you to play good footy,” he said.
“It was definitely an exciting year, making a grand final out at North and at Saints I really enjoyed that … then playing for your state is something I’m really proud of.”
Dowling had spoken to the Crows in the past few months but was unsure if they were going to select him.
“I was watching it with the family … and when it happened we all just jumped on each other and were overawed,” he said.
“It’s been a whirlwind the last 24 hours but I’m really excited to be on board here.”
Away from football, Dowling enjoys going to the beach, playing basketball and fishing.
He hoped to join new teammate and avid angler Ned McHenry in a boat sometime.
“I follow him on Instagram and he catches some pretty big fish,” he said.
The Crows also drafted Dowling’s state teammate Max Michalanney (pick 17) and Greater Western Victoria Rebels midfielder Hugh Bond (No. 50) this week.
Michalanney trained with Adelaide on Wednesday, while Dowling was expected to start on Friday.
Crows finalise squad as 2022 recruit misses out
Adelaide has finalised its squad for 2023 without offering a rookie lifeline to mid-season recruit Brett Turner.
The Crows drafted Turner from Glenelg in June and axed him last month, after just 136 days, before saying it would consider relisting the 25-year-old midfielder.
But Adelaide overlooked him this week as it added three players during the national draft then brought back concussion-affected Paul Seedsman and defender Andrew McPherson as rookies.
Turner trained with Adelaide on Monday but was absent on Wednesday morning, hours before the rookie draft, in a sign of what was to come.
He finishes with 10 games in total for the Crows – all in the SANFL.
Turner had a foot injury when Adelaide recruited him and he did not play his first match for the club until July.
He averaged 25.6 disposals, 9.3 clearances, 10.7 tackles, 5.7 inside 50s and 111.7 rankings points from three SANFL finals for the Crows, who fell one win short of making the premiership decider.
Speaking on Monday, Adelaide national recruiting manager Hamish Ogilvie said the club had really good discussions with Turner and his manager.
“We will get through night one and night two and see where that sits,” Ogilvie said.
Adelaide guaranteed Seedsman and McPherson they would be kept as rookies when they were axed three weeks ago.
Seedsman, 30, has been sidelined since sustaining a head knock during training in December last year.
McPherson, whose season ended after suffering a posterior cruciate ligament injury in the SANFL in July, had an arthroscopy on his left knee last week.
The 23-year-old was expected to resume running in up to six weeks.
He played one AFL match in 2022 – against Fremantle in round 1.
Port Adelaide officially welcomed Next Generation Academy defender Nathan Barkla onto its list on Wednesday.
After going unselected in the national draft, the SA under-18 representative from Woodville-West Torrens was able to join the Power as a category B rookie.
The Power’s only other business was the relisting of axed forward Dylan Williams.
Williams, who has played one AFL game since joining Port Adelaide via pick 23 in 2019, will be a rookie in 2023, the final year of his contract.
TRADES, SA MIDFIELD BOOST HEADLINE CROWS’ BUSY DRAFT NIGHT
Adelaide has boosted its midfield stocks by adding a pair of young leaders after trades on night two at the AFL’s national draft.
Having vowed to explore their options, given they were without another pick until 69, the Crows executed deals with Gold Coast and Brisbane before selecting ball magnet Billy Dowling at 43, then tough midfielder Hugh Bond at 50.
Dowling dominated in the under-18 competition this year for North Adelaide, playing as an inside on-baller who could push forward.
He also impressed for South Australia during the national championships and captained St Peter’s College.
The Crows knew Richmond was also keen on the 187cm, 80kg prospect so traded ahead of the Tigers to ensure it got him.
Adelaide recruiting boss Hamish Ogilvie told News Corp said there was a lot of rival interest in Bond, so it swapped picks again.
Dowling and Bond made it three draftees in 2022 for the Crows, who secured father-son prospect Max Michalanney at No. 17 on Monday night.
“We think Max is really going to develop as a young leader in the group then we’ve just picked the captain of the Ballarat Rebels and Billy’s been captain of his school and a leader in the South Australian team, so they’re the highest of quality characters,” Ogilvie said.
“We knew there was a lot of interest in Billy and we were a bit worried if we’d get back in to get him, but the (list strategy) guys did a great job.
“There was a lot of other interest in Hugh as well … so we were really keen to get back in and get him and it hasn’t cost us a massive amount.”
Adelaide traded pick 79, its 2023 second-round selection and Collingwood’s future third to Gold Coast for 43 and the Suns’ second and third calls next year to get Dowling.
The Crows swapped their 2023 third-rounder for No. 50 to secure Bond.
They kept their 2023 first-rounder, as well as North Melbourne’s future second.
Ogilvie described Bond, who stood 185cm and 81kg, as being capable of playing inside or outside because he was a strong runner, selfless and great at wrapping up opponents.
“He’s had a 16-tackle game so he’s a really aggressive, natural tackler,” he said.
“He loves it.
“Billy’s a mid who can go forward and has some big goalkicking games for North Adelaide, and his running power allows him to play wing as well.
“We wanted to add some size to our midfield.”
After not nominating its Next Generation Academy forward/ruck Isaac Keeler, St Kilda picked him at No. 44.
“I’m so pleased for our NGA academy to get another player up and he’ll be with his mate (Nasiah) Wanganeen-Milera at St Kilda so it’s a good result for him,” Ogilvie said.
Adelaide has committed to rookie-listing two players it has axed on Wednesday: concussion-affected wingman Paul Seedsman and defender Andrew McPherson.
KEEP SCROLLING FOR UPDATES ON THE CROWS PRE-SEASON
Crows training notes: Schoenberg flying, Hamill in helmet
The second week of pre-season training has kicked off at West Lakes.
Nearly the entire Crows list is on the track as they prepare for the 2023 season.
Here’s what stood out from Monday’s session.
HAMILL IN THE HELMET
Young defender Will Hamill has been donning a helmet in sessions out at West Lakes.
The 22-year-old suffered his sixth concussion in just his 38th match last year against West Coast, which ended his season early.
It came after a concussion just two months prior against North Melbourne.
After that concussion in Hobart Hamill concerningly said that he would be bored if he had to retire prematurely because of concussions.
He also said that players having to retire from the impacts of concussions was “rare” and he had considered wearing a helmet but did not think it would help reduce the chances.
But the dashing defender looks to have changed his tune on the latter with him donning the headgear in contact drills at West Lakes.
Hamill’s comments last year could just be down to youthful exuberance.
But after his history, he should be taking every precaution if he is to continue playing the game.
A BIG DRAFT CLUE?
Despite only arriving at West Lakes in the mid-season draft, Brett Turner was delisted by the Crows last month.
However the former Glenelg and West Adelaide midfielder was told by the Crows that they will consider redrafting him as a rookie.
And he was at training at West Lakes on Monday and heavily involved in the session.
Could this be a potential sign into the Crows intentions for the rookie draft on Wednesday? Adelaide national recruiting manager Hamish Ogilvie said it would depend on what happened in the first two nights of the draft.
“He is out at training at the moment, he has been in at training for the last couple of weeks,” Ogilvie said.
“We’ve had really good discussions with Brett and his manager.
“We will get through night one and night two and see where that sits.
“I don’t want to commit to anything before I see what happens on the first two nights.”
FLYING SCHOENBERG
Young midfielder Harry Schoenberg looks to be in ripping shape.
After most sessions the Crows are breaking into groups to do some extra running.
Players such as Taylor Walker, Darcy Fogarty, Riley Thilthorpe and Luke Pedlar were running in the middle of the West Lakes oval.
But it was on the outside where the pace was seriously hot.
Lachie Sholl and Chayce Jones continued to be strong, but were joined at the front of the pack by Schoenberg and Josh Rachele.
Schoenberg didn’t have the 2022 campaign that many thought he would but looks to be a good bet of bouncing back in 2023.
Sam Berry did some running with midfield coach Nathan van Berlo after he participated in the full contact drill, while Shane McAdam, Mitch Hinge and Tariek Newchurch all did their own running to the side.
Jordan Dawson and Tom Doedee were out on the track but didn’t do a whole lot, while young wing forward Brayden Cook walked laps with Crows head of football Adam Kelly after having sinus surgery last week.
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