What a difference a game makes for Norwood draft hopeful Trent Dumont
IN one hour, Trent Dumont's draft standing skyrocketed. At half-time in the SANFL grand final, he was the game's highest possession winner.
IN one hour, Trent Dumont's draft standing skyrocketed.
At half-time of the SANFL grand final between Norwood and North Adelaide, Dumont had accumulated more disposals (17) than any other player on the ground.
He finished with 20, eight marks, five clearances, a premiership medal around his neck and his name boldly circled on draft boards.
Suddenly the hardrunning midfielder had emerged from the pack to surge into contention to become the third SANFL player selected at the national draft behind top-four candidates James Aish and Matt Scharenberg.
"Trent had a cracking grand final,'' SANFL high performance manager Brenton Phillips said.
"His first half was quite outstanding for an 18-year-old kid at that level.''
Dumont faded in the second half after copping a badly corked thigh from teammate Brett Zorzi just before half-time.
But he still finished third in Jack Oatey Medal voting for best-afield behind Zorzi and Crows-listed midfielder Mitch Grigg.
"He showed in that first half just what a talent he is,'' said Phillips, who coached Dumont at this year's under-18 national championships where SA won the title for the first time since 1995.
"He's a really solid citizen who is a good runner, is strong, is a good overhead mark, makes really good decisions with the ball and kicks it really nicely.
"The club which drafts Trent will be getting a very serviceable player who will play between 100 and 200 AFL games.''
Dumont, 18, is uncertain just what impact his grand final performance had had on recruiters.
"It was good to play well in the grand final - the first half anyway - but what AFL clubs take out of that I'm not really sure,'' he said.
"It was a bit humbling to poll Jack Oatey Medal votes but whether that helps my draft standing I guess we'll have to wait and see.''
Dumont already was a certainty to be drafted, having shone in 11 league games for the Redlegs before the grand final.
But his performance on the big stage highlighted just what a talent he is and could see him shoot into late first-round draft contention.
Born in Victoria, Dumont moved to Adelaide with his family when he was eight after his dad, Warren, was transferred through his employment.
He started playing football at Golden Grove before joining Norwood's development squads.
Dumont models his game on Sydney running machine Daniel Hannebery and is equally adept at winning the hard ball at stoppages and creating havoc on the outside with his run and penetrating right-foot kick.
"I am extremely competitive,'' he said.
"I like to be in and under the contest but I also like to spread and run hard when I get the chance.''
Dumont is a lifelong Essendon fan who idolises premiership captain and Brownlow Medallist James Hird.
Hird has coached the Bombers for the past three years but has been suspended from the role in 2014 because of the supplements scandal.
"I'd love to get drafted by Essendon because it's a great club and to be coached by Hird one day would be a nice bonus,'' Dumont said.
TRENT DUMONT
DRAFT TIP: 18-30.
Age: 18.
Height: 186cm.
Weight: 83kg.
Club: Norwood. Position: Midfielder.
Honours: Norwood premiership player 2013; Norwood Rising Star 2013; AIS-AFL Academy 2013; SA U18 national championship player 2013.
Scouting report: Hard-running midfielder who can win the ball inside and outside the contest. Showed he can already match it with men by starring in the SANFL grand final for the Redlegs. Dangerous around goal.