AFL draft 2015: Ryan Burton’s amazing comeback from shattered knee to draft chance

IN August last year Ryan Burton was being talked about as being the next big thing from South Australia and a possible No. 1 pick at this year’s national draft.

Craig Burton with his son and AFL draft prospect Ryan Burton at Prospect Oval. Picture: MATT LOXTON

IN August last year Ryan Burton was being talked about as being the next big thing from South Australia and a possible No. 1 pick at this year’s national draft.

Then he flew high for a pack mark in a school match for Sacred Heart and landed so heavily on his left leg, which took all the weight of his fall, that it shattered.

Key forward Burton’s injury was so bad that his surgeon, former Crow Matthew Liptak, questioned whether he would run again, let alone play football.

Burton — the son of dual North Adelaide premiership player Craig Burton — missed the entire 2015 season but was able to complete most of the physical testing at last month’s AFL draft combine where his rebuilt leg was closely examined by doctors and physiotherapists from all 18 clubs.

Burton, who has worked tirelessly to put on 10kg of muscle since his injury, is certain to get drafted on November 24 but just how high he will be go is one the draft’s great mysteries.

Adelaide could be interested in him with picks nine or 13 and it is unlikely clubs will let him slip out of the top 20 believing that if his leg does stand up to the rigours of the AFL they might get a top-five talent cheaply.

“If you get Burton in any position from that nine-to-25 range you are getting great value because if his leg holds up the kid could be anything,’’ said one club scout.

Burton described his leg as being “absolutely fine’’ and he believes he is in better physical condition than he was before the injury.

“I’m really confident with how the leg is and my training over the past few months has been better than it was prior to the injury,’’ he said.

RYAN BURTON

North Adelaide, 18, 191cm, 90kg, tall forward.

STICKS SAYS:

“Ryan’s football talent is unquestioned. The big question mark is over his injury and whether he physically can get back to the level he was before he was hurt. I’m confident he is progressing nicely but it would have been interesting if he hadn’t gone down because he could have been the first player picked out of SA.’’ - SANFL high performance manager Brenton Phillips.

Draft range:9-25.

Originally published as AFL draft 2015: Ryan Burton’s amazing comeback from shattered knee to draft chance