AFL Draft 2022: Port Adelaide unveil new draftees Kyle Marshall and Tom Scully
Late on Tuesday night, Kyle Marshall was losing hope of getting drafted. But two phone calls quickly changed his life – first Power recruiting boss Geoff Parker, then Ken Hinkley.
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Kyle Marshall was losing hope of finding an AFL home as the national draft headed towards its final selections.
The key defender had little expectation going into the second night on Tuesday and was settled on the couch, watching with his family, when his life changed in an instant.
About a minute before the club’s next selection, Power recruiting manager Geoff Parker called the 18-year-old to say “we’re taking you”.
His name was then read out at pick 59, which proved to be the last selection overall.
“As it was going down the draft, I was losing a bit more hope,” said Marshall, who played for South Adelaide and SA’s under-18s this year.
“I was just laying with the blanket on, possibly about to fall asleep as it was getting to the end of the draft then took the call and it’s like ‘holy hell, this is crazy’.
“We were just loving the whole moment and within about 10 minutes all my mates rocked up out of nowhere and congratulated me.”
Ken Hinkley was among those who called Marshall shortly after he joined the Power.
The coach gave an insight of what was in store for the 201cm, 84kg talent.
“He introduced me to the club, said ‘welcome, you’re going to enjoy it … you’re going to put on about 15kgs,” Marshall said.
Asked on Wednesday what that involved, Marshall managed a shout-out to a Power sponsor.
“More protein, more carbs, more everything because I’m going to need it, even if the odd, cheeky KFC comes in every now and again,” he said.
Marshall believed his results at last month’s state combine was a key factor behind being drafted.
He finished in the top five in five tests, including having the best running vertical jump off both feet, as well as the fifth-fastest time of any state combine in the 2km time trial (6min 27sec).
Marshall fills a need for the Power as a tall defender, while fellow beanpole draftee Tom Scully hopes to make his name for Port Adelaide at the other end of the ground.
The 203cm, 89kg key forward rated marking, goalkicking and ground balls among his strengths.
He described his year, which included kicking 37 goals from the first seven SANFL under-18 games for West Adelaide, playing with twice in the reserves and being selected for just one national championship match.
“When the name got read out, it was pure elation, pure joy and I can’t wait to get stuck in,” Scully, 18, said.
“I’ve been a massive Port man since I was eight years old.
“It’s just a dream come true to be down at Alberton and playing with guys I’ve been idolising growing up.
“I still pinch myself, it doesn’t feel real.”
The Power also drafted Tasmanian intercept defender Tom McCallum on Tuesday night, taking him at pick 36.
Tom Scully, you legend pic.twitter.com/qAwI0XkiLY
— Port Adelaide FC (@PAFC) November 29, 2022
The Power’s new tall order
- Simeon Thomas-Wilson
Port Adelaide’s recruiters arrived for the second night of the AFL draft with a tall order.
And the Power came away with the height it wanted with three selections that have an eye to the future.
After trading out their first round pick in the blockbuster Jason Horne-Francis and Junior Rioli trade and their second to West Coast in last year’s draft to secure Josh Sinn the Power had to wait until pick No. 36 to make a selection on Tuesday night.
The Power selected Tasmanian key defender Tom McCallum, who is 193cm tall.
And from there the height of the Power list only got taller with West Adelaide key forward Tom Scully (203cm) selected at No. 53 and South Adelaide defender Kyle Marshall (201cm) at No. 59.
Power national recruiting manager Geoff Parker said they were happy to add some tall players to develop after luring Horne-Francis and Rioli to Alberton.
“We had a strategy of going for taller players which was the plan coming in, we would try and go tall if the players we liked were available at our picks so we have been able to do that,” he said.
The Power were linked to Greater Western Victoria Rebels’ James van Es with their first pick, but St Kilda selected him at No. 31.
Parker said the Power were pleased to select McCallum, who has been described as playing like Tom McCartin with the run of Tom Stewart.
“He had a great year, he is an outstanding athlete,” he said.
“He can play on the talls and also some of the smalls so we are really happy to have him.”
Scully had a sensational start to the season in the SANFL under 18s, kicking 37 goals from the first seven games of the season before his form dipped.
With Charlie Dixon 32-years-old, Scully looms as one for the Power to develop to prepare for the day when their star key forward is no longer out there.
“He had a really ripping start to the season, it is hard to keep that form all the way through but he showed signs that he has some forward smarts,” Parker said of Scully.
“He knows how to find some space and he can kick a goal as well.
“Tom will be a developing player as all the three boys will be.
“They are tall and skinny, we aren’t expecting them to come in and shoot the lights out next year but we think they have some traits that will really help us once they get some bigger bodies.
It didn’t take long for Tom Scully to jump into a guernsey âš¡ï¸
— Port Adelaide FC (@PAFC) November 29, 2022
Hear from the man himself 👇 pic.twitter.com/SpjO9818mj
“That was part of the strategy, I think at the moment our list if they stay fit and healthy it is a solid list and pretty balanced.”
Marshall ran the equal fifth fastest 2km time trial at all state based combines so he can move well for a 201cm tall defender.
The Power’s key defensive stocks have been identified as an area where they needed to improve.
“Our strategy was to bring in some tall players and some tall defenders and like Tom (McCallum) he has some speed and he is a good athlete for his size,” Parker said.
“He is 201cm so he has to fill out but we think he can move with the athletic key forwards that are coming through.”
After the three selections on Tuesday night the Power will only make one move in the rookie draft on Wednesday with Dylan Williams to be reselected after he was delisted last month.
CROWS FATHER-SON’S DRAFT ‘CIRCUS’ AFTER TV DELAY
- Matt Turner
A slight TV delay meant Max Michalanney’s “phone started blowing up” shortly before he officially became an Adelaide Crow.
Michalanney was unsure if his name would be called on the first or second night, so initially watched the AFL’s national draft on Monday with family only.
As the father-son prospect waited to see who would bid on him, congratulatory messages poured in, so he knew what was coming.
The Crows matched Sydney’s call at pick 17.
“The TV was delayed so my phone started blowing up about 20 seconds before so I was expecting it and as soon as it happened, everyone erupted and it was a bit of a circus,” said Michalanney, who was tied to Adelaide due to his dad Jim’s 211 games for Norwood before 1990.
“Mum burst into tears straight away.
“Growing up, my whole family supported the Crows so I guess it’s been a dream come true.
“It’s been a full-on 24 hours, a lot of my mates messaged me … and pretty much all of them (Crows players) did too.”
Michalanney said Adelaide had not confirmed with him if it would match that bid but he was pretty confident.
“I was expecting something very late last night or early today,” he said on Tuesday.
“I’m extremely grateful the Crows matched it.
“I didn’t sleep much the night before but thankfully slept pretty well last night and I’m pretty excited.”
Crows coach Matthew Nicks and star Jordan Dawson visited Michalanney at his house on Monday night to present him with an Adelaide guernsey.
“That was really special to share that with my family and my friends,” he said.
Michalanney grew up knowing the Crows would have draft access to him and the club out early last year.
He became Adelaide’s first father-son draftee from the SANFL and third overall, following in the footsteps of Jackson Edwards (dad Tyson) and Ben Jarman (Darren).
“Dad’s extremely proud of me, he’s invested a lot of time and effort into me during my junior career so I’m really thankful to him,” Michalanney said.
The 191cm, 78kg talent described himself as a defence-first player.
“I like to shutdown my player then attack,” he said.
“I like to use my run and use my kicking as well to break the lines.”
Having already met most of his new teammates when he trained with the club last pre-season, Michalanney was looking forward to officially settling in and hitting the track on Wednesday.
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Originally published as AFL Draft 2022: Port Adelaide unveil new draftees Kyle Marshall and Tom Scully
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