Blake Drury and Jack Watkins make AFL mid-season draft statement | Andrew Capel

They are former North Melbourne VFL teammates, now this SANFL duo are making strong cases for selection in the AFL mid-season draft, writes Andrew Capel.

Adelaide SANFL coach Matthew Wright made the call as early as Round 1.

“Unfortunately – but fortunately for him – I have a feeling that he might not be here for a long time, the way he’s going,’’ Wright said after the Crows hammered West Adelaide by 95 points at Richmond Oval.

“He’s a ripper, the ultimate professional who has come across (from Melbourne) and hasn’t missed a beat since he stepped foot in our building.’’

Wright was talking about the club’s standout SANFL marquee signing Blake Drury, who arrived at West Lakes with a burning ambition to reignite his AFL career after his delisting by North Melbourne following 10 games in two seasons.

The 21-year-old redhead, who was the No. 1 pick at the 2022 AFL rookie draft, has quickly made a second draft statement in the SANFL.

Named best afield in Adelaide’s thrilling, four-point victory in its Good Friday blockbuster against back-to-back premier Glenelg at the Bay following a 25-disposal, nine-clearance, eight-tackle performance, Drury has been among the high-flying Crows best players in each of their three games.

Playing as a midfielder/forward, he is averaging 21 disposals, six clearances, six tackles and 112 Champion Data ranking points to push his mid-season draft case.

Adelaide’s Blake Drury beats North Adelaide’s Alex Van Wyk to the ball in their Round 2 SANFL clash at Prospect Oval. Picture: David Mariuz/SANFL

Blake Drury kicks at goal for North Melbourne during his AFL debut against St Kilda in 2023. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images

Wright, who revealed Drury was “highly recommended’’ to Adelaide by former Crows forward and current Kangaroos VFL senior coach and AFL development coach Tom Lynch, said that while Drury had been integral to his top-of-the-table side’s unbeaten start to the season he hoped he could “end up back in the AFL system’’.

“Certainly that’s part of my role (as SANFL coach), to put him on show to us or another club, if it goes that way,’’ he said.

“He’s just the ultimate professional, he’s so diligent with how he prepares, he’s super versatile and can play so many roles, go inside and play on-ball and then high forward, he’s just a really important player for us.

“He brings the intensity, he’s a great finisher, he’s an on-ground leader and his game continues to grow.

“We are really fortunate to have him at our footy club and hopefully he can end up back in the AFL system.’’

The 177cm Drury – a former Vic Metro under-18 leadership player – is a full-time member of Adelaide’s AFL program, which he said was “a big reason’’ behind his decision to join the Crows under new SANFL list regulations.

“I want to play at the highest level I can and get back on an AFL list, it would mean the world to me, and I think what the Crows offered me, the opportunity to do their full-time AFL program and train with the (AFL) boys, gives me the best chance to do that,’’ he told the SANFL website.

Blake Drury in AFL action for North Melbourne against Adelaide in Hobart. Picture: Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images

A natural ball-winner, Drury has modelled his game on star Hawthorn small forward/midfielder and 2024 All Australian Dylan Moore.

“I’d say I’m clean (with the ball), like to use my speed and high-speed running to transition both ways and I’d like to think I’m a pretty smart player as well, with good footy IQ,’’ he said.

While Drury has quickly made his mark in the SANFL this season, so has another player who is new to the competition and has the same AFL aspirations.

Just down the road at Alberton, Drury’s former North Melbourne VFL teammate Jack Watkins has made heads turn with Port Adelaide’s SANFL team.

Unlucky to miss out on the Power’s last 2025 AFL list spot after he lost a pre-season supplemental selection period summer train-on showdown to wingman Josh Lai, Watkins signed with Port as a SANFL marquee player.

He was so tough and competitive at AFL training that Power star Jason Horne-Francis described him as being “unreal’’ and “almost tougher than ‘Buttsy’ (Zak Butters), which is hard to do’’.

The 24-year-old Watkins played 63 games for the Kangaroos’ VFL side and won back-to-back John Law Medals as best and fairest in 2023-24 before joining Port.

Jack Watkins wins one of his 36 disposals for Port Adelaide against South Adelaide in the SANFL in Round 3. Picture: Courtney Pedlar/PAFC

In three SANFL games for the Magpies, the tough midfielder has averaged an impressive 29 disposals, six marks, three clearances, three tackles and 118 ranking points.

He was best afield in Port’s first win of the season against South Adelaide at Alberton Oval last Friday night, compiling a season-high 36 possessions and seven clearances, along with kicking a goal of the year contender when he gathered a loose ball on the wing, took three bounces and goaled on the run from 45 metres.

“Jack is a very hardworking midfielder who you know is going to get to as many contests as he can,” Port SANFL coach Hamish Hartlett said.

“He’s a really strong, fit and tough inside mid, who uses the ball well and is very consistent in his performance.’’

Like Drury, Watkins moved to Adelaide in search of an AFL lifeline.

“I’m striving to play AFL and if I can put my best foot forward in the SANFL that gives me a chance to do that,’’ he said.

The AFL mid-season rookie draft is on May 28.

NUMBERS GAME

244

Jim Stynes’ record VFL-AFL consecutive games streak for Melbourne, which will be equalled by Collingwood’s Jack Crisp in Friday’s Anzac Day blockbuster against Essendon.

34

Points conceded by Adelaide against GWS – the fewest it has given up since restricting Fremantle to the same score in Round 7, 2019.

QUOTES OF THE WEEK

“It won’t be perfect every week but tonight was a really positive night. We were defensively a lot stronger. That’s an area we needed to improve on and it was a great step in the right direction.’’ – Crows coach Matthew Nicks after the hard-fought win against GWS.

“Our pressure won the game for us. Our tackle pressure was elite.’’ – Power coach Ken Hinkley after his side’s upset victory against Sydney.