AFL 2022: Port Adelaide opts not to nominate Harper Montgomery as father-son selection

Port Adelaide has made a crucial draft call on whether to dedicate one of its picks to father-son prospect Harper Montgomery.

Port Adelaide father-son prospect Harper Montgomery will not be at Alberton in 2023.

The Power had access to Montgomery due to his dad Brett’s 126 games for the club, but informed him on Friday that it would be overlooking him in next month’s national draft.

Montgomery, 18, emerged on the AFL radar this year after some impressive under-18 performances for North Adelaide and playing two league games with the Magpies.

The half-back flanker received a late invitation to last weekend’s SA state combine on the back of being among the Roosters’ best in their finals campaign.

Port Adelaide is expected to make two picks in next month’s national draft.

It holds selections 33 and 60.

Speaking at the state combine last weekend, Montgomery said his dad, a Power assistant from 2018 until this year, had always provided helpful advice.

Port Adelaide has opted not to nominate Harper Montgomery as a father-son selection.

“I’ve always wanted the bad more than the good just so I know how to take the next step and grow my game,” he said.

Brett also played 78 games for the Western Bulldogs – 22 short of qualifying Harper as a father-son candidate there.

The Power is open to having Montgomery play for its SANFL side next year and continue with its father-son academy if he is not drafted.

Port Adelaide has had five father-son draftees since joining the AFL: Brett Ebert (son of Russell), Jackson Mead (Darren), Taj Schofield (Jarrad) and Trent and Jase Burgoyne (Peter).

The Power is also considering whether to select Woodville-West Torrens player Nathan Barkla as a Category B rookie.

Barkla, a state under-18 half-back/midfielder, is tied to Port Adelaide through its Next Generation Academy as a multicultural player.

Barkla’s mum was born in the Philippines.

The Power delisted NGA product Marty Frederick this month after 14 games in four seasons.

Port Adelaide is not expected to add any further players as delisted free agents after agreeing to sign axed Geelong goalsneak Francis Evans.

Evans will officially join the Power after the DFA period begins on November 3.

BROTHER OF EX-PORT PLAYER ON DRAFT RADAR

Switching positions has helped one of the oldest players at a state combine re-emerge as a draft prospect.

North Adelaide’s Frank Szekely was on the AFL radar two seasons ago when he was a small forward, getting interviewed by two teams, only to be overlooked.

After playing just twice in 2021 due to an ankle syndesmosis injury, the 23-year-old bounced back to form this past campaign as a wingman.

He averaged 19 disposals, 3.5 inside 50s and 1.9 clearances in 19 games, as well as kicked 14 goals, to generate interest from at least four clubs.

Szekely, who was the second-oldest player to attend a state combine across the country this year, described himself as something of a late developer but said age was only a number.

Frank Szekely is back on the draft radar after testing at the state combine. Picture: James Elsby/AFL Photos via Getty Images

“I feel like I’ve been around the mark (in previous years),” Szekely said.

“I would’ve liked it (state combine invite) to have been a little bit earlier but I guess it’s perfect timing.”

Szekely finished in the top five at the combine in the 2km time trial (second overall, 6min 22sec) and standing vertical jump (fourth, 64cm).

Quick with impressive endurance and tackling, the Port Augusta product is seen by clubs as a small forward at the next level.

But Szekely – the brother of former Port Adelaide player Wade Thompson and ex-Rooster Kriston Thompson – hoped he could eventually play on a wing if he was drafted.

Frank Szekely in action for the Roosters. Picture: SANFL Image/David Mariuz

Frank Szekely after coming second in the 2km time trial. Picture: James Elsby/AFL Photos via Getty Images

“My confidence is building week in, week out,” he said.

Szekely was chosen in an Indigenous and multicultural representative team, Fitzroy Cubs, that faced Carlton’s VFL side in May in the lead-up to the mid-season rookie draft.

North Adelaide coach Jacob Surjan said Szekely had AFL attributes.

Surjan was planning to be without Szekely next year and was hopeful he would get drafted.

“The biggest growth for Frankie this year was with regards to his footy IQ and education … and that’s why he’s improved so much,” Surjan told News Corp.

“He’s one of our best game-day runners, if not our best day-to-day runner in pre-season.

“He’s also a ripping kid who is a leader in his community.”

The national draft will be held on November 28-29.

STATE COMBINE RESULTS - ADELAIDE

Standing Vertical Jump

1. Oscar Kregar (West Adelaide) – 71cm

2. Kyle Marshall (South Adelaide) – 68

=3. Kobe Ryan (West Adelaide) – 64

=3. Frank Szekely (North Adelaide) – 64

Running Vertical Jump

1. Kyle Marshall (South Adelaide) – 89cm

=2. Oscar Steene (West Adelaide) – 83

=2. Oscar Kregar (West Adelaide) – 83

Agility

1. Tom Emmett (Sturt) – 8.161 seconds

2. Shaun Bennier (North Adelaide) – 8.179

3. Jake Walker (Glenelg) – 8.210

20m Sprint

1. Rhett Montgomerie (Central District) – 3.013 seconds

2. Kyle Marshall (South Adelaide) – 3.016

3. Oscar Kregar (West Adelaide) – 3.039

2km Time Trial

1. Lachlan Scannell (Glenelg) – 5:49 minutes

2. Frank Szekely (North Adelaide) – 6:22

3. Kyle Marshall (South Adelaide) – 6:27

Originally published as AFL 2022: Port Adelaide opts not to nominate Harper Montgomery as father-son selection