AFL Draft 2020: All the standout performances from the SA All-Stars match and Futures game
SA’s top AFL draft prospects this year - and for the future - were on show at Thebarton Oval on Friday night and they didn’t disappoint. Here’s Matt Turner's scouting notes on 37 players plus full replays of both matches.
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Keep an ear out for the names Zac Dumesny and Caleb Poulter on draft night in December.
And jot down these two for this time next year: Nasiah Wanganeen and Cooper Beecken.
With AFL recruiters keeping a close eye on the SA All-Stars game, either via the advertiser.com.au live-stream or in person at Thebarton Oval, those four were among the standouts in a one-sided contest on Friday night.
South Adelaide wingman Dumesny and Woodville-West Torrens utility Poulter were prolific for Team Grundy, which raced to an early lead and ran out 54-point winners, 12.18 (90) to 4.12 (36).
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RELATED: VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS, STATS OF SA’S TOP 30 FOR 2020
Glenelg pair Wanganeen and Beecken also showed plenty of promise for the victors, 12 months out from their draft.
A host of top prospects, including Riley Thilthorpe, Lachlan Jones, Taj Schofield and James Borlase, were unavailable for the showcase game, but it provided an opportunity for more unheralded players to shine.
Sturt over-age forward Tom Emmett was one of those, kicking a game-high four goals, while Henry Nelligan, as usual, found plenty of the ball.
Other players of interest were Crows academy prospects Tariek Newchuch and Luke Edwards, who had their moments for the struggling Team Hurn, along with Port Adelaide 2021 father-son candidate Jase Burgoyne.
In the early “futures” match, featuring 2021 and 2022 draft prospects, Team Smith triumphed 9.6 (60) to 7.10 (52) over Team Ebert.
Here are Matt Turner’s notes on more than 30 key players from the two games:
SA All-Stars game (2020 and 2021 draft prospects)
TEAM HURN (YELLOW)
3. Corey Durdin (Central District): One of SA’s more highly-touted prospects in 2020, having played two years of league footy, he showed his explosiveness in patches on a tough night for his side.
4. Bailey Chamberlain (West Adelaide): Zippy on-baller/wingman who had a handful of bright moments - a number of them in defence.
5. Ty Murphy (Glenelg): Kicked a nice goal on the run in the last quarter.
11. Tariek Newchurch (North Adelaide): The Crows Next Generation Academy prospect was explosive in possession but turned the ball over too easily. Played in an uncustomary position behind the ball for a lot of the game. Had good periods but was in and out of the game.
13. Brodie Lake (Central District): Athletic Northern Territorian on-baller/forward who is tied to Gold Coast. He kicked two majors, including a neat checkside. Energetic and was one of his team’s better players.
15. Beau McCreery (South Adelaide): An over-age player (he is 19) who has been a tackling machine for the Panthers and laid a great one early in the second quarter to win a holding the ball free kick.
16. Luke Edwards (Glenelg): Battled hard for his struggling side and was particularly impressive in the third term, winning a handful of clearances.
TEAM GRUNDY (RED)
3. Cooper Murley (Norwood): The midfielder was very good in the second half and shapes as one of SA’s best draft prospects in 2021. He has a slight build but is neat on both feet and composed with the ball.
4. Jase Burgoyne (Woodville-West Torrens): A Port Adelaide father-son prospect in 2021, his run and carry is a strength and at 184cm he is bigger than his older brother, Power rookie Trent Burgoyne. Read the ball well and caught the eye, particularly early.
7. Blayne O’Loughlin (North Adelaide): The Crows 2021 Next Generation Academy prospect took some kick-ins and used it pretty well.
8. Henry Nelligan (Norwood): The St Peter’s College midfielder found lots of the ball, as usual in a strong display. Had a little bit of interest from recruiters but there are concerns about his size. He is very smart and a good ball user.
13. Nasiah Wanganeen (Glenelg): Exciting and silky 2021 draft prospect who almost took the mark of the night in the second quarter and was lively throughout. Instinctively soccered a close-range goal in the last term. One to watch next year.
17. Cooper Beecken (Glenelg): Andrew Mackie or Will Day-like rangy defender who really impressed. Has a nice left foot and will be another to follow over the next 12 months.
20. Zac Dumesny (South Adelaide): One of the night’s stars. Played on a wing, slotted a nice goal to start the second term and was clean with his ball handling. Garnered plenty of early attention from AFL recruiters after playing six league SANFL games.
21. Riley Holder (Glenelg): Clunked them early. The centre half-forward with strong hands has had a little bit of interest from AFL clubs and kicked two first-quarter goals. Added a third in the third term.
22. Nic Couroupis (West Adelaide): Considered a bit of a smoky ahead of the draft and took a nice intercept just before half-time and assisted Tom Emmett’s third major. Had stress fractures in his back the past two years but played most games this season, including some reserves, where he did not look out of place.
33. Caleb Poulter (Woodville-West Torrens): One of the standouts of the night, not just because of his mullet and bright pink boots. Covers the ground well, is patient with the ball and a nice size at 190cm. Fleet of foot too.
34. Tom Emmett (Sturt): The 19-year-old overager was one of the night’s best. Booted three first-half goals and showed nice defensive work to intercept and get another opportunity early in the third quarter. Kicked his fourth later that term. Has good pace and took a good grab late.
40. Ned Carey (Norwood): Friday night was the key forward’s first proper run for a long time after being plagued by injury this year and missing the Redlegs’ under-18 grand final win. Crashed a few packs but misjudged the flight of the ball a few times.
47. Wyatt Ryan (Central District): An overager and massive ruckman who switched between the middle and attack and provided a great contest for his side.
SA Futures game (2021 and 2022 draft prospects)
TEAM EBERT (BLUE)
3. Dylan Brown (South Adelaide): Lively in the last quarter when he kicked a goal.
11. Isaac Birt (South Adelaide): Really impressive. The left-foot wingman showed some nice dash and evasiveness, helping his side get back into the contest during the third term. Ball use was not always great but liked the look of him.
19. James Willis (North Adelaide): Bobbed up with a strong tackle to earn a free kick in attack early in the third term. Gave his side plenty of drive around the footy when it made a comeback in that quarter.
25. Jaiden Magor (South Adelaide): Was one of the players who impressed in the third quarter, helping trim the margin.
33. Luca Whitelum (Central District): One of his side’s best. The Sacred Heart College centre half-forward kicked two goals and showed promise. He is lanky, long-striding and looked good overhead.
35. Fraser Bone (West Adelaide): Toiled in the ruck for long periods.
45. Isaac Keeler (North Adelaide): Smooth-moving Indigenous ruckman/forward who hails from Port Augusta and is one to watch for in the 2022 draft. Casual at times, classy at others.
49. Harry McInnes (Glenelg): Strongly-built key forward who kicked three goals. Provided a target in attack, just as he did for Prince Alfred College, which he helped win the SA All-Schools Cup final.
TEAM SMITH (YELLOW)
4. Zyton Santillo (North Adelaide): Kept popping up and finished with a late goal.
10. Kobe Ryan (West Adelaide): A Sacred Heart College player who had some nice moments playing through the midfield.
12. Harry Tunkin (Glenelg): A ball magnet and goer who kicked the game’s first goal and chalked up plenty of touches. His short stature will be a debate recruiters have ahead of the 2021 draft. Impressed in the All-Schools Cup final for Prince Alfred College.
30. Jacob Lochowiak (Sturt): Found plenty of the ball during the first half and played through the midfield.
36. Shaun Bennier (North Adelaide): The left-footer took a nice mark and finished with a goal to start the third quarter.
40. Lukas Cooke (Woodville-West Torrens): Had some good passages, particularly late, when he helped set up Santillo’s goal.
48. Harry Lemmey (West Adelaide): Dual sports-star who has played for Cricket Australia’s under-15 side. He is a nice size at 198cm and took some strong marks.
50. Adam Heath (North Adelaide): Athletic swingman easily identified by his striking peroxide blond mullet who brilliantly assisted an early goal after juggling the ball around the behind post. Kicked a great goal from about 50m in the second term, using the breeze intelligently. Later shifted to defence.
60. Declan Hortle (Sturt): Kicked two goals in the first quarter, offering a tall target and strong marking presence in attack. Also spent a lot of time in ruck.
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Originally published as AFL Draft 2020: All the standout performances from the SA All-Stars match and Futures game