Which eight SANFL hopefuls endured the most surprising snubs in the national and rookie drafts?
There was good news for 11 SANFL players in the drafts, but many others missed out on getting selected. We list the local players who endured the most surprising snubs.
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Eleven SANFL players will be settling into life in the AFL over the coming days after getting drafted.
Dylan Stephens, Will Gould (Sydney), Kysaiah Pickett (Melbourne), Will Day, Josh Morris (Hawthorn), Jackson Mead, Trent Burgoyne (Port Adelaide), Harry Schoenberg (Adelaide), Cameron Taheny, Brad Close (Geelong), Tom Hutchesson (GWS) and Jy Farrar (Gold Coast) all found new homes this past week.
But not all SA prospects were so fortunate.
Several players who were expected to be selected were overlooked, and others strongly linked to clubs did not get opportunities.
Here are The Advertiser’s eight unluckiest local players to miss out on being drafted:
KARL FINLAY (NORTH ADELAIDE)
One of SA’s biggest draft snubs since Jonty Scharenberg was overlooked after an All-Australian under-18 season in 2016.
Finlay was considered a near-certain draftee.
This year he played one league game, captained Prince Alfred College, impressed during the national underage titles and was rated among the best leaders of any SA prospect.
Officials at North and PAC were stunned that the 192cm, 88kg defender missed out.
Port Adelaide, Essendon, Geelong and Hawthorn showed the most interest but all four chose other targets.
The Hawks, West Coast, Collingwood, Melbourne, Essendon, Adelaide and GWS all have vacant spots on their lists and will be able to add players during the pre-season supplemental selection period or via the mid-season rookie draft.
Roosters talent manager Neil Sanders said the club was “pretty staggered”.
“We assumed he’d be picked up somewhere,” Sanders said.
“But the bottom line is it’s not the end of the road.
“Look at Callum Wilkie – he’s now going really well at St Kilda (after being drafted as a mature-ager).
“If he has a good SANFL season, he can get another chance.”
LUKE PARTINGTON (GLENELG)
Partington could hardly have done any more in 2019.
Not only did the former West Coast Eagle help Glenelg break a 33-year premiership drought, but he won the Magarey Medal and tested impressively at the state draft combine.
Essendon and Hawthorn both showed interest, meeting the 22-year-old midfielder in Adelaide last week.
The Bombers and Hawks have vacant list spots but have not since reached out to Partington about training with them during pre-season.
He shapes as a contender for the mid-season rookie draft.
DYSON HILDER (NORTH ADELAIDE)
Hilder played three league games for the Roosters and attended the national draft combine but his name was not called.
He provided strong rebound from defence for SA’s under-18s, was talked up as being ready-made for the elite level and touted as a late national draft selection.
When he slipped through to the rookie draft, Roosters officials assumed he would get an opportunity there on Friday.
It did not happen.
“Clubs look for different types of players and you never know who they will take,” Sanders said.
CALLUM PARK (GLENELG)
The former Australian junior baseballer was one of 12 Croweaters invited to test at October’s draft combine in Melbourne and was in the mix to go late in the national draft or as a rookie.
All 18 clubs had spoken to him, while four – St Kilda, West Coast, Collingwood, Gold Coast – visited his home.
But the left-foot wingman/half-forward failed to get an opportunity.
Park played seven reserves games for the Tigers in 2019 and the reigning premiers would be hoping he could crack into the league side next season.
ELLIOT DUNKIN (WEST ADELAIDE)
Another mature-age prospect who received some interest this year, including in the lead-up to the mid-season rookie draft.
Dunkin’s Bloods teammates Will Snelling (Essendon) and John Noble (Collingwood) were selected in May, but he was ineligible to be picked because he had not nominated.
The pinpoint-kicking small defender continued to push his case, finishing third in West’s best and fairest after averaging 19 disposals from 18 games.
Clubs again spoke to him ahead of the national and rookie draft but he was passed over.
JOSH SHUTE (STURT)
Sturt considered the 18-year-old wingman its best chance of being selected.
He attended the national draft combine, played 14 reserves games and featured in four matches for SA’s under-18s.
But the opportunity never came for Shute or any of his 2019 Sturt teammates.
The only Double Blue to get selected was Jy Farrar, who played for Adelaide’s reserves and
Scotch Old Collegians this year before signing on at Sturt in the off-season.
Double Blues under-18 coach Michael Higgs said some AFL people rated Shute among the top 60 prospects “so you can look at that and it would say that he should’ve got picked and put him in the unlucky category”.
“It’s disappointing but that’s how it goes,” Higgs said.
COLE GERLOFF (NORWOOD)
Gerloff did not have a lot of late interest from AFL clubs, which was probably a sign he
might not get taken.
But the 20-year-old midfielder was highly regarded at Norwood, where he won the league’s Breakthrough Player Award this season after kicking 21 goals from 19 matches.
He is another who may be looked at as a mid-season rookie option if he can start the 2020 campaign well.
JORDAN MOORE (GLENELG)
The late-blooming Glenelg defender generated serious interest, having eight to 10 interviews with clubs.
West Coast was in the frame, while Sydney, Collingwood, Richmond and Geelong also spoke to him.
He was considered more of a rookie chance than a prospect for the national draft and did not get an AFL opportunity.