AFL Draft 2020: The top 10 mature-age prospects from the SANFL
The Crows have a huge decision to make with pick 1 but there is no shortage of SA talent up for grabs in the AFL draft. REPLAY Q&A.
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Dual Magarey Medallist Joel Cross claims there are “at least 20 to 30’’ mature-age SANFL players who could make it in the AFL.
Nominating Woodville-West Torrens’ Ken Farmer Medallist and premiership small forward James Rowe as this year’s “standout’’ mature-age draft prospect from SA, Cross said the only thing standing between them and playing good AFL footy is opportunity.
“A lot of these players just need a little bit of luck, an opportunity on the big stage to show what they’ve got,’’ said veteran South Adelaide co-captain Cross, who won the Magarey Medal in 2012 and 2015.
“The SANFL is a high level competition and there are so many good players in our league who I have no doubt would make a very good fist of the AFL if they were given a chance.
“But that’s the hard part, being given that chance. With clubs mostly focused on teenage talent, it comes down to a bit of luck and a club seeing something in one of these mature-agers to give them the opportunity they deserve.
“You just have to be in the right place at the right time.’’
SEE FULL PROFILES OF SA’S TOP 10 TEENAGE PROSPECTS HERE
While exciting SANFL teenagers Riley Thilthorpe (West Adelaide), Lachlan Jones and Caleb Poulter (Eagles), Tom Powell (Sturt) and Brayden Cook (South Adelaide), who are eligible to be drafted for the first time this year, have captured much of the pre-draft attention, Cross believes 2018 North Adelaide premiership defender Callum Wilkie is a classic example of the success mature-age pick-ups from state league competitions can have.
“St Kilda targeted Wilkie, who had matured in the SANFL system, to fill a specific need down back and he’s dominated in his role,’’ Cross said.
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“There are plenty of other SANFL players who could do the same if they were given the chance and put in the right role in the right environment.’’
The Advertiser asked Cross and two other veteran SANFL skippers, Eagles premiership defender and former Crow Luke Thonpson and Glenelg’s Max Proud, their thoughts on the top-10 mature-age prospects in the SANFL ahead of this year’s December 9 draft.
JACOB WEHR
Woodville-West Torrens
Medium defender
22, 184cm, 71lg
Champion Data ranking points average: 75
Thompson says: “He’s come out of nowhere, having played three years of reserves footy before making his league debut this year. I’m sure he’ll be picked up. He has a great ability to read the game of half-back, can run all day and is an elite kick and decision maker. He reminds me of a young Brodie Smith.’’
We say: It’s been a rapid rise for Wehr, who looks likely to find an AFL home on December 9. The 22-year-old, who was battling in the reserves last year, is a line-breaker who makes great decisions and, more importantly, executes them, hitting the long target as often as he finds the short one. On top of his eye-catching weapons, Wehr’s performance on the big stage in the SANFL finals series ticked another box with recruiters.
JAMES ROWE
Woodville-West Torrens
Small forward
21, 173cm, 73kg
Ranking points: 96
Thompson says: “His nous around goal is something you can’t teach. He’s not particularly quick but he has footy smarts, is clean with the ball and is an elite kick at goal. He reminds me of Eddie Betts around goal because he reads the ball so well off hands and is just so dangerous. If he gets a metre on his opponent he’s gone and will kick a goal. Also has a steely determination to win.’’
We say: Rowe couldn’t do much more to put his name back in front of AFL recruiters. He booted 38 majors in the minor round to win the Ken Farmer Medal as the competition’s leading goalkicker. Rowe then took it up a notch with an impressive midfield cameo in week one of the finals before a match-winning 5-goal haul in the preliminary final win. There’s interest, but also some concern over his pressure numbers, given his likely role at the next level.
TOM HIGHMORE
South Adelaide
Tall defender
22, 193cm, 92kg
Ranking points: 88
Cross says: “He was amazing for us this year, particularly early in the season before he got injured (ankle). The injury was unfortunate for him but he’s a real AFL prospect because he plays that defensive drop-off role really well, which has become really relevant in the AFL. He is someone a lot of clubs will be looking at.’’
We say: Despite the injury, Highmore’s move to South Australia further highlighted his aerial strength. The 22-year-old was the No. 1 ranked player in the SANFL for intercept marks and was invited to the draft combine on the back of his standout season, confirming the strong AFL interest. He has the tool to step straight in, with the former GWS Academy member kicking the footy at 83 per cent efficiency this year.
BEAU McCREERY
South Adelaide
Medium forward
19, 186cm, 80kg
Ranking points: 72
Cross says: “The speed that bloke has is unbelievable. His pressure around the contest reminds me of the way Richmond has played in the past four years, so he would fit in perfectly there, as that pressure forward. He plays with great intensity and also has an eye for goal.’’
We say: As good as McCreery is offensively, booting 19 goals and rating elite for score assists, it’s his ability to also be so effective as a pressure forward that has kept him on the radar. The 186cm McCreery was the No. 1 ranked player in the SANFL for F50 tackles this year. He creates a contest in the air and, if he’s not the first one at the ball on the ground, he’s often the first player crashing into the opposition.
MITCH DUVAL
West Adelaide
Defender
23, 188cm, 82kg
Ranking points: 79
Former West coach Gavin Colville says: “Mitch is a fantastic story. He didn’t play a lot of junior football and then at 17 or 18 he decided to put a bit more into it before having a knee. reconstruction. He was a fantastic addition to our club and while he was a bit raw at the start of the season, once he found his feet his assets really came to the fore, his marking, intercept marking and rebounding.’’
We say: It’s Duval’s rapid rate of improvement which has caught the eye of recruiters this season. He was playing amateur footy last year, but by the end of 2020, Duval was showing off his impressive athletic traits at the draft combine after finishing the SANFL season as the fourth-ranked player for intercept marks. A number of similar defenders have taken a similar path to the AFL – think Tom Stewart and Luke Ryan.
LUKE PARKS
Glenelg
Key defender
19, 189cm, 83kg
Ranking points: 73
Proud says: “He’s a favourite of mine. He’s a terrific intercept mark and super competitive. He just hates losing contests and drives himself really hard, which are good traits to have. He has a couple of areas of his game he’s working on but the more he plays the better he’ll get.’’
We say: The strengths of the 19-year-old, who played six games for the Swans’ NEAFL team last season, are obvious. He’s strong defensively, competitive and is outstanding in the air. But does he have enough offensive weapons to complete with a number of similar types?
JORDAN FOOTE
Woodville-West Torrens
Midfielder
24, 183cm, 80kg
Ranking points: 103
Thompson says: “His running capabilities set him above the rest. He can run all day and, as we saw in the grand final, can spread quickly from stoppages and leave his opponents in his wake. He’s also a goalkicker who runs well defensively as well as offensively.’’
We say: Clubs are familiar with Foote, given the 24-year-old six games in two years at the Swans. But his four-goal, 24-disposal performance in the SANFL grand final, which saw him win the Jack Oatey Medal, raised the question again. Does he still have more to offer at the top level?
DANIEL FAHEY-SPARKS
Sturt
Key forward/ruckman
22, 196cm, 92kg
Ranking points: 101
Thompson says: “I player on him against Sturt and he moves really well around the ground and has excellent hands. As a defender they are the forwards who are the hardest to play on. His size and athleticism put him a cut above some others.’’
We say: The late-blooming tall, who is very athletic and boasts terrific hands, is a strong-marking forward, who is equally as effective in the ruck. His form dropped away after a strong start but Fahey-Sparks sent a big reminder of his talent in his final game against Glenelg. The 22-year-old tallied 18 disposals, 12 hitouts-to-advantage, six intercepts, five score involvements, four contested marks and 148 ranking points.
CALLUM PARK
Glenelg
Half-back/wingman
19, 190cm, 74kg
Ranking points: 64
Proud says: “He’s a young, developing player who has some really good attributes. He’s quick, can take a nice overhead mark and is an elite left-foot kick – attributes AFL clubs are looking for.’’
We say: After being overlooked in last year’s draft, Park cemented a spot in Glenelg’s league side and enhanced his credentials as a skilful, running utility in 2020. And he proved he can match it with the bigger bodies, despite his slight frame.
LACHLAN McNEIL
Woodville-West Torrens
Wingman
19, 182cm, 78kg
Ranking points: 78
Thompson says: “He was overlooked at last year’s draft but must be a massive chance to get picked up this season. He has a great ability to run the lines on a wing. He doesn’t have a super developed body yet but I think getting a full year of league footy under his belt and his terrific grand final performance will make him more desirable to clubs.’’
We say: The ball-magnet was also ignored in the 2019 draft despite a consistent year, which saw him have an influence as an inside midfielder at every level of football he played. And the tough ball-magnet, who has clean hands, did it again at senior level this season. But has he done enough for clubs to overlook the original concerns?
ALSO WORTH A LOOK
Rhyan Mansell (Woodville-West Torrens), Paul Hunter (South Adelaide), Joey Haines (South Adelaide), Luke Partington (Glenelg), Harrison Wigg (North Adelaide), Isaac, Johnson (Wedst Adelaide), Frank Szekely (North Adelaide), Kym LeBois (North Adelaide)
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