My Two Cents: The SANFL players who AFL clubs are eyeing in the mid-season draft | Andrew Capel

A host of SANFL players are on mid-season draft watch with just two weeks to go until lives are changed forever, writes Andrew Capel.

A giant Tiger, classy Redleg and trio of red-hot Roosters are among a host of exciting SANFL prospects catching the eyes of AFL recruiters in the countdown to the mid-season draft.

Two weeks before some players’ lives are changed forever and state league premiership contenders have their flag hopes dented, a group of SANFL players have emerged as hot AFL property.

While doubt remains as to how many players will have their AFL dreams realised in the mid-season rookie draft as clubs work through their long-term injury lists, recruiters have ramped up their focus on the SANFL in the lead-up to the May 28 lottery as they seek to fill holes on their lists or find the next mid-year bargain.

Essendon, in particular, is pursuing an injection of pre-season talent, with four of its players already lost for the season with leg injuries - talls Sam Draper, Nick Bryan, Tom Edwards and Lewis Hayes.

“Our list management and recruiting team will do their work,” Bombers coach Brad Scott said.

“They’ll be busy. We need to scour the country and identify the best players that are currently outside of the AFL system.”

Emerging Glenelg tall Harrison Ramm, Norwood sharpshooter Jacob Newton, classy North Adelaide forward/midfielder Ewan Mackinlay and two of his teammates, ruckman Alex Van Wyk and electrifying small forward Frank Szekely, are among the SANFL names that recruiters have been doing their homework on, which has been confirmed by their coaches.

Ewan Mackinlay in action for North Adelaide. Picture: Brenton Edwards

Dual Tigers premiership midfielder James Bell, a former Sydney Swan, also has attracted some interest, along with his Glenelg teammate and former St Kilda-listed defender Oscar Adams.

“We’ve had some interest in our players, with the main ones being Harry (Ramm), ‘Belly’ and Adams,’’ Glenelg coach Darren Reeves said.

“Harry’s figures have been very good in our games. He’s big and athletic, so he is creating interest.’’

Ramm, 18, is raw but measures a towering 202cm and is still growing.

Mobile for his size, he has played five league games for a strong Bays team this season in various roles - as a key defender, back-up ruckman and forward - and illustrated his ability by taking a strong contested mark and kicking a goal to put Glenelg in front late in the Round 5 clash against Sturt.

Another player who was considered unlucky not to be selected in his first draft-eligible season last year who is now making waves is Redleg Newton.

The 19-year-old’s 2024 draft prospects were hurt by a navicular foot injury but he has shone for Norwood at league level this year, kicking seven goals in four games, including consecutive bags of three in the past two weeks.

A 179cm inside midfielder turned pacy half-forward, he performed well for SA’s under-18s last season and Redlegs coach Jade Sheedy expects clubs to strongly consider him in the mid-season draft.

“He’s a nice player, very good and a great kid too,’’ Sheedy said after Newton booted 3.2 and took seven marks against South Adelaide on Sunday.

Jacob Newton on the run for Norwood in this year’s Anzac Day grand final rematch against Glenelg at the Bay. Picture: Nelson Miles/Norwood FC

“He’s doing some really good things for us, is good in the air and kicks big goals when you need them.

“He had a navicular foot injury last year which ruled him out for half the season, so we are probably fortunate to have him because if he didn’t have that injury, by all reports, he probably would have gone in last year’s drafts.’’

A trio of Roosters have attracted plenty of recent AFL interest, according to their coach Jacob Surjan.

Former Ovens and Murray League player Mackinlay has ample admirers, with Surjan saying he’s had “lots of interest from clubs’’.

“My take is that someone will take Ewan because he has lots of AFL attributes and upside in regards to the way he plays (speed, power and good skills),’’ Surjan said.

A 182cm Mildura product, Mackinley has averaged 16 disposals and four inside 50s while kicking five goals in six games this season.,

A medium forward/midfielder, he shone for the SANFL in last month’s state game against the VFL and has been selected to play against the WAFL on Saturday.

A ruckman whose stock has skyrocketed since changing SANFL clubs could be a shock mid-season draftee, given he hasn’t played since copping a bad injury in Round 2.

Former Redleg Van Wyk, 20 and standing at an imposing 203cm, failed to play a league game as he sat behind last year’s joint Magarey Medallist Harry Boyd at The Parade but he starred in pre-season matches and his first two league games for North this season before suffering an ankle injury, which required surgery and could sideline him for another two months.

Mid-season draft hopefuls, North Adelaide’s Alex Van Wyk (left) and Adelaide’s Blake Drury, in action during the Round 2 SANFL game at Prospect Oval. Picture: David Mariuz/SANFL

Giant Glenelg teenager Harrison Ramm. Picture: Gordon Anderson/Glenelg FC

Surjan believes clubs looking for a long-term ruck prospect are considering taking a punt on Van Wyk now.

“There was enough evidence with Alex earlier this year as to what type of player he could be,’’ Surjan said.

“Clubs are always looking for ruckmen and at his size, with his potential, I think someone will have a crack at him.’’

Surjan said the other Rooster “getting heaps of traction’’ is Szekely, who is playing more as a small forward than midfielder this season and has booted 13 goals and averaged 16 disposals and four tackles in six games.

The 25-year-old has been selected in the SANFL state team to play the WAFL.

“There’s lots of traction with Franky, who has been outstanding for us,’’ Surjan said.

South Adelaide coach Jarrad Wright said there had been “a couple of chats’’ around two of his young forwards, Noah Howes and Corey Grocock, while clubs are also keeping a close eye on the development of 18-year-old midfielder/forward Phoenix Hargrave, who was one of SA’s more highly credentialed teenage draft prospects last year.

Ruckman Olivier Northam also is being monitored.

High-flying Central District, sitting second in the SANFL with a 5-1 record, has fielded calls on one player - vastly-improved midfielder Mani Liddy.

North Adelaide's Frank Szekely celebrates a goal against Central District at Prospect Oval in Round 3. Picture: David Mariuz/SANFL

Central District's Mani Liddy in action against the Roosters. Picture: David Mariuz/SANFL

Woodville-West Torrens coach Sam Jacobs said there hadn’t been any obvious interest in any of his players, despite the talented Kade Herbert’s clear improvement this season.

“But recruiters are looking at so many players across the board, so who knows who might come up,’’ he said.

Sturt coach Martin Mattner, whose side sits unbeaten on top of the ladder, said his club also expected to get through the mid-season draft unscathed.

“You are always worried about losing them (players) and you always keep an eye out for (AFL) teams that get those long-term injuries,’’ he said.

“But we can’t control any of that, so we will just keep playing good football and see what happens.”

Two marquee men from SA’s two AFL clubs, Blake Drury (Adelaide) and Jack Watkins (Port Adelaide), are also on draft watch after strong starts to the season and being named in the SANFL state squad.

NUMBERS GAME

10.33

Average margin of Round 9 AFL games - the lowest in the VFL-AFL since Round 10, 1970.

21

Port Adelaide’s inside 50 advantage against the Crows in Showdown 57, despite losing by five points.

QUOTES OF THE WEEK

“I just went back with the flight (of the ball) and it fell into my lap.’’ - Adelaide defender Mark Keane on his match-saving mark in Showdown 57.

“We probably dodged a few bullets ... but when we had our chances, we took them.’’ - Crows coach Matthew Nicks on his side’s five-point Showdown 57 win.