SANFL top-up player James Mathews gets chance to push for AFL contract against Port Adelaide
With just a matter of weeks left for AFL clubs to secure players in the pre-season supplemental period, James Mathews has a golden chance in Saturday’s under 23 Showdown.
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Speedy forward James Mathews will be given a golden opportunity to make the Crows’ final rookie list spot his own when he lines up in Saturday’s under-23 Showdown at Thebarton Oval.
With just two weeks remaining for clubs to secure players in the AFL’s pre-season supplemental selection period, Mathews will audition in front of the Adelaide coaching staff against arch rival Port Adelaide.
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The 23-year-old – a four-goal standout for the Crows’ SANFL team as a top-up player in last year’s first semi-final win against Norwood – has been training with Adelaide’s AFL squad since November.
And with 2016 first-round draft pick, small forward/midfielder Jordan Gallucci, going down at training with an untimely hamstring injury which has ruled him out of the trial following a pre-season campaign the club has described as “okay’’ rather than strong, Mathews’ chances of earning a contract have improved.
Crows development manager and State League coach Heath Younie, who will coach the young Adelaide squad against the Power, said Mathews is being strongly considered for a contract after ticking every box over summer.
Two of Mathews’ former Crows SANFL teammates, Jy Farrar (Gold Coast) and Tom Hutchesson (GWS), were drafted in November in a strong endorsement of Adelaide’s development program.
Now the left-footed Mathews, who has played only five SANFL games, awaits his chance.
“What a great story,’’ Younie said.
“Some 12 months ago he was playing for McLaren (in the Great Southern Football League) and has only been playing footy for three years, he comes from a soccer background.
“He took the opportunity to come down and train with us as a development player, he had an exciting finals series.
“He had a number of SANFL clubs offer him contracts and he decided to stay in our program.
“As a result the footy gods, they looked down on him and said we’ll give you a pre-season with us.
“He’s done everything we’ve asked – on and off the field – and he just needs to play footy (against Port) and bring what he's capable of doing.
“We saw that briefly in the finals series. If he can do that – and for us it’s not about goals, marks, kicks, it’s just playing your role and showing what he’s capable of – he’ll get the right reward.
“What that is, we’ve got a couple of weeks to make that list management decision, but for James it’s a great opportunity.
“Twelve months ago he would have been pinching himself if you said he was going to be playing in the under-23s (Showdown trial) with the potential to get on an AFL list.’’
The Crows have until March 13 to sign Mathews during the SSP or keep the list spot open to use during the mid-season rookie draft.
Adelaide hopes Gallucci, 21, will resume training next week.
He has been diagnosed with a low-grade hamstring injury but will now not see any pre-season game action – he did not make the Crows 26-man squad for their opening Marsh Community Series game against Melbourne – putting him well behind other players in the AFL selection order.
“It’s really disappointing for Jordy because he’s had a really solid month of training and was looking forward to playing this game and we were looking forward to seeing what he could produce,’’ Younie said.