AFL Draft 2022: Meet Isaac Keeler – the Adelaide Crows Next Generation Academy prospect rising up draft boards fast

A Crows academy prospect likened to athletic ruckman Paddy Ryder is slipping out of the club’s grasp.

Adelaide’s chances of landing a highly-touted academy prospect have taken a hit because of his impressive form on the national stage.

Isaac Keeler, a forward/ruckman from North Adelaide who has been likened to Paddy Ryder, is rising up draft boards after the opening two games of the AFL’s under-18 championships.

The athletic, skilful 198cm talent is in the Crows’ Next Generation Academy, but they cannot match a bid on him in November if another club calls his name in the first 40 picks.

Until the past two months, Keeler had been considered a chance to slip to late in the draft due to question marks about his intensity, competitiveness and consistency.

But hard work to improve those areas is showing on the field and recruiters contacted this week believe the 18-year-old is a potential first-rounder who now sits in the 15-30 range.

It means unless Keeler’s prospects dip, or there are early pick swaps, the Crows will probably need to use one of their first two selections – presently 5 and 23 – if they want to secure him ahead of rival teams.

Adelaide is yet to indicate to Keeler if it will nominate him ahead of the draft, giving it the right to match bids.

Watch every blockbuster AFL match this weekend Live & Ad-Break Free In-Play on Kayo. New to Kayo? Start your free trial now >

North Adelaide’s Isaac Keeler at Prospect Oval. Picture: MATT LOXTON

“I haven’t really talked to the Crows about that side of it,” Keeler tells News Corp.

“When I was in there for pre-season, I was always just focused on the task at hand and talking about training or get as much experience and information as I could.

“I haven’t been worried much about other clubs, I’ve just been trying to play my brand of footy.

“I’m not caught up too much in that stuff.

“It’s still a long way away.”

Keeler kicked three goals and had 10 touches in SA’s opening match last month, a 37-point win over the Allies at Thebarton Oval.

A week later, the Port Augusta product booted 1.2 from 16 disposals in the Croweaters’ two-point loss to Vic Country.

Playing mainly as a centre half-forward that pinch-hits in the ruck, Keeler is averaging 17.2 possessions, a 65 per cent kicking efficiency, 1.4 goals, 9.1 hit-outs and 7.4 score involvements in 10 SANFL under-18 games for the Roosters.

His strengths include his aerial ability, work at ground-level for a tall, goalkicking and skills.

Conversations with his coaches have made Keeler well aware of what areas of his game he has needed to address.

Summer sessions with a personal trainer have helped, while a new job with North Adelaide sponsor Terry Howe Printing has provided life perspective.

TOP PROSPECTS: THE TOP 75 JUNIOR FOOTBALLERS IN THE COUNTRY

Keeler in action for South Australia against the Allies. Picture: Sarah Reed/AFL Photos

“The way I play is sort of laconic in a way but I’ve been trying to convert that,” he says.

“It’s definitely more of a mindset, preparing well before games, getting the right people around you, go hard.

“It’s been one of my improvements for this year.”

AFL mates Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera (St Kilda), Jase Burgoyne (Port Adelaide) and Tariek Newchurch (Crows) have also given advice on how to reach the next level.

“Each game, each training, you’ve got to bring it and get something out of it, really improve, do extras and take recovery really seriously,” he says.

Keeler tunes into several AFL games each week and can see the comparisons to St Kilda veteran Ryder.

“He’s someone I watch in the ruck, he’s a really good ruckman and definitely me and him play a bit similar,” says Keeler, who had a growth spurt about four years ago.

“He gets up over opponents and uses his athleticism.”

When it comes to his development as a forward, Keeler keenly observes another Indigenous star, Lance ‘Buddy’ Franklin.

“He lifts the crowd, has got that flashiness about him and when he’s one-on-one, he’s pretty hard to beat,” he says.

Keeler also enjoys bringing eye-catching elements to his game.

Be it taking hangers, sidestepping opponents or kicking goals and passing to teammates with either foot.

“But I just try to be my own player,” he says.

Keeler appears unlikely to slide out of the draft’s top 40. Picture: Kelly Barnes/Getty Images

Off the field, Keeler is a laid-back, shy giant who enjoys going to the driving range with Wanganeen-Milera, Burgoyne and Newchurch.

He was a talented junior cricketer and basketballer in his hometown, where he followed in his dad, Kieron’s footsteps by playing football for South Augusta.

Keeler focused on footy after moving to Adelaide for Year 10.

As for quirks, he has a tattoo on his ankle of SpongeBob SquarePants character Plankton.

“I’d seen the design on Instagram one day,” he says with a smile.

Even though Keeler has a relaxed nature, he is determined to reach the AFL.

In 2020, the league changed the NGA rules to prevent clubs from matching bids on their academy players in the top 20 last year and first 40 picks this November.

Adelaide nominated Tariek Newchurch and James Borlase as NGA prospects in 2020 and took them as rookies after they were overlooked in the national draft.

But the Crows bypassed Isaiah Dudley and Blayne O’Loughlin last year.

Keeler says it will be good if Adelaide drafts him, given his familiarity with the club, players and coaches, as well as his friendship with Newchurch.

He loved his time training at the club during pre-season and learnt a lot.

But he also thinks his move from Port Augusta to Adelaide helps prepare him if he is drafted to an interstate team.

“I’d be happy with wherever I went,” he says.

“It’d mean the world to get drafted.

“I’ve dreamed about it since I was a kid and I’d be really grateful for the opportunity.”

Crouch back in – but what does future hold?

- Matt Turner and Simeon Thomas-Wilson

Matthew Nicks says he has told Matt Crouch he wants him at the Crows next season and hopes the midfielder’s SANFL stint does not prompt him to leave the club.

Crouch will return to the Crows AFL side to take on Hawthorn on Sunday after a second consecutive 40-possession performance and “doing everything” the club has asked at SANFL level.

The 27-year-old Victorian is contracted until the end of 2023 and some people outside West Lakes, including former Crow Bryce Gibbs, have suggested he should leave at season’s end.

Nicks said Crouch knew he was keen for him to be at the club next year.

Matt Crouch at Crows training on Friday. Picture: David Mariuz

“I hope he does (stay) because everything we’re doing at the moment is open communication around what it looks like,” Nicks said.

“I’m sure he’ll continue to play the level of footy he’s playing at SANFL level – in fact he’ll probably take it to another level – then we’ll see him before you know it.”

Crouch’s SANFL showing against Glenelg on Saturday featured 41 disposals, two goals, 11 clearances and eight inside 50s in the Crows’ 74-point victory.

Shane McAdam will need to get through Saturday’s training session. Picture: David Mariuz

Shane McAdam was in the Crows side but was withdrawn because of an ankle injury prior to Adelaide naming its final squad to take on the Hawks.

It means that Ned McHenry and Will Hamill are the other ins for the Crows.

McHenry has been battling a knee issue while Hamill was concussed against North Melbourne two weeks ago.

Nicks said that McHenry had been cleared to play - with the club ultra conservative with the young small forward - and Hamill was feeling really well after his fifth concussion.

Josh Rachele (hip), Mitch Hinge (Covid) and Lachie Murphy (omitted) are out of the side.

Fourteenth-placed Adelaide enters Sunday’s match one win and one ladder spot ahead of the Hawks.

Nicks said Hawthorn had been taking more risks with the ball under new coach Sam Mitchell.

“They can take the game on and rip you apart if you’re not switched on defensively,” he said.

Port finals hopes boosted

Port Adelaide’s last tilt at making the finals will be boosted by the return of Zak Butters.

The 21-year-old midfielder is the sole addition for the Power’s home clash against GWS on Saturday night, coming back after two weeks on the sidelines with a knee injury.

He replaces the injured Lachie Jones.

SCROLL DOWN FOR THE ROUND 17 POWER AND CROWS TEAMS

Butters sustained a medial ligament strain to his left knee against Sydney in round 14, keeping him out of the home win over Gold Coast and away defeat to Fremantle.

Port Adelaide appears unlikely to feature in the major round for a third consecutive year after its eight-point loss to the Dockers on Sunday.

The Power sits in 12th spot on the ladder with a 7-8 record, two wins and 14 per cent behind eighth-placed Sydney.

A loss to the Giants will all but end Port Adelaide’s top-eight chances.

Willem Drew is excited to have his star teammate back in the fold. Picture: Michael Klein

Power teammate Willem Drew said the club remained focused on winning its remaining matches.

Drew said Butters was close to playing last week but the Power wanted to give him extra time to recover.

“He trained really well … and is a great asset to the team,” Drew said.

Veteran Robbie Gray and Brownlow Medallist Ollie Wines were on light duties at training at Alberton on Wednesday, being managed.

Forward Mitch Georgiades was named despite hurting his leg early in the session.

Ruckman Scott Lycett, who has not played since injuring his shoulder 13 weeks ago at the start of April, will regain match fitness in the SANFL.

His AFL absence leaves forwards Jeremy Finlayson to share ruck duties for a fifth consecutive match.

“For us as midfielders, we think Charlie and Jez have been brilliant,” Drew said.

“We’ve got full confidence in them to compete and bring it (the ball) into the areas that we want.”

Saturday night will be Drew’s 50th match for the club, a milestone it has taken him six seasons to reach.

The defensive on-baller did not debut until his fourth season, in 2019, then missed all of the next campaign with a foot injury.

“Early on, I was probably questioning whether I’d play a game at all, let alone 50, so it’s something I’m definitely proud of,” he said.

Drew rated Western Bulldogs captain Marcus Bontempelli and Carlton skipper Patrick Cripps as his toughest opponents.

Zak Butters makes his return for Port, but will Matt Crouch get a gig with the Crows?

R17 TEAMS

PORT ADELAIDE v GWS GIANTS

Saturday July 9, 7:30pm at Adelaide Oval

POWER

B: Burton, Jonas, McKenzie

HB: Byrne-Jones, Aliir, Houston

C: Amon, Drew, Farrell

HF: Butters, Marshall, Rozee

F: Gray, Dixon, Powell-Pepper

FOLL: Finlayson, Wines, Boak

I/C: Bergman, Georgiades, Burgoyne, Mead

EMG: McEntee, Duursma, Clurey, Mayes

IN: Butters

OUT: Jones (injured), Motlop (omitted)

GIANTS

B: Kennedy, Taylor, Cumming

HB: Haynes, Davis, Keeffe

C: Bruhn, Green, Kelly

HF: Peatling, Himmelberg, Whitfield

F: Lloyd, Hogan, Greene

FOLL: Flynn, Ash, Coniglio

I/C: Ward, Brown, Taranto, Wehr

EMG: Sproule, Hopper, Riccardi, O’Halloran

IN: Keeffe, Peatling

OUT: Idun (HS Protocol), O’Halloran (omitted), Sproule (sub)

HAWTHORN v ADELAIDE CROWS

Sunday July 10, 3:20pm at Marvel Stadium

HAWKS

B: Blanck, Scrimshaw, Grainger-Barras

HB: Impey, Sicily, Hardwick

C: Jiath, Newcombe, Morrison

HF: Breust, Nash, Lewis

F: Koschitzke, McEvoy, Moore

FOLL: Reeves, Mitchell, O’Meara

I/C (from): Howe, Shiels, Macdonald, Ward, Maginness, Serong, Morris, Hartigan

IN: Grainger-Barras, McEvoy, Howe, Ward, Serong, Maginness, Morris, Hartigan

OUT: Day (suspended), Bramble, Worpel, Butler (all injured), Gunston (personal reason)

CROWS

B: Doedee, Butts, Dawson

HB: Smith, Murray, Parnell

C: Hately, Laird, Jones

HF: McAdam, Fogarty, Soligo

F: McHenry, Walker, Rowe

FOLL: O’Brien, Keays, Berry

I/C (from): Crouch, Himmelberg, Thilthorpe, Murphy, Davis, Milera, Schoenberg, Hamill

IN: McAdam, McHenry, Crouch, Himmelberg, Davis, Hamill

OUT: Hinge (HS Protocol), Rachele (injured), Sholl (sub)

‘Attributes’ that sealed Parnell’s Crows contract

- Matt Turner

Patrick Parnell used to hone his kicking by trying to land footballs in a bin he would wheel around his house.

Now the small defender’s neat disposal and sound decision-making have helped him earn a two-year contract extension with Adelaide.

Parnell, 20, was rewarded with a new deal on Wednesday, four games into his AFL career, which began when the Crows selected him with pick 4 in the 2021 mid-season draft.

“I feel like my kicking and decision-making is probably my weapon,” said Parnell, who had been without a contract for next season.

“I’ve been kicking a footy with my old man for as long as I can remember.

“I used to have a bin at home, I used to wheel it around the house and have shots from everywhere.”

Patrick Parnell has re-signed with the Crows for two years. Getty Images

Parnell was not expected to land on an AFL list during his draft year in 2020.

After impressing last campaign at his local club, Albury Tigers, and with Murray Bushrangers, the Crows swooped on him in the middle of the season.

“I had a little bit of an inkling they were keen,” he said.

“But I didn’t know they were going to take me, so it was a nice surprise.”

Parnell played 18 matches in the SANFL – 10 last year and eight this season – before making his AFL debut against West Coast at home in round 11.

He was nervous ahead of the game, had to pinch himself when he was standing Eagles premiership forward Jamie Cripps and ended the contest on the bench, substituted with a corked thigh.

“As a kid, all I dreamed of was playing AFL footy,” said Parnell, who had his family and about a dozen mates over for the game.

Patrick Parnell is hugged by his mates earlier this year. Picture: Mark Brake/Getty

“You grow up watching these blokes on TV and to be running alongside them was pretty cool.”

Parnell has added about 7kg since coming to the club and plans to keep eating lots and focus on his weights program to get even stronger.

Away from football, he part-owns a greyhound, lives with teammate Lachlan Gollant and is studying a Bachelor of Sports Media.

Crows list manager Justin Reid said Parnell had quickly become a reliable defender.

“The attributes our recruiting and list management team identified in him as a junior have been on show in the SANFL and in recent weeks at the highest level as well,” Reid said.

“We look forward to watching him continue to develop in coming years.”

At Crows training on Wednesday, forward Shane McAdam (ankle) trained away from the main group and remained in doubt to face Hawthorn at Marvel Stadium this Sunday.

Halfback Will Hamill (concussion) and goalsneak Ned McHenry (knee soreness) were expected to be available after completing the session.

Spearhead Darcy Fogarty wore a glove on his right hand to protect his dislocated finger, veteran Luke Brown trained indoors, while midfielder Ben Keays was managed but was considered fine to play.

Young gun Crow sidelined with hip injury

Adelaide young gun Josh Rachele is expected to miss up to a fortnight with a hip injury.

Rachele, the Crows’ top pick last year at No.6, had been playing through a right hip issue in recent weeks and aggravated it early in Saturday’s home loss to Melbourne.

Adelaide faces Hawthorn away this Sunday, then Collingwood at home the following weekend.

“At this stage, we expect Josh to miss the next one to two games but he will be assessed ongoing,” Crows high-performance boss Darren Burgess said.

Rachele, 19, has played 13 matches this season, kicking 17 goals, including five in a brilliant, round 1.

He has been quieter lately, registering a combined 11 disposals and one major during the past two games.

Fellow forward Darcy Fogarty should be available despite a compound dislocation to his finger against the Demons.

Fogarty sustained the nasty-looking injury during the first term and completed the match in discomfort.

Josh Rachele is set to miss the next fortnight. Picture: Michael Klein

“He’s recovered really well and presented really well so we don’t imagine it will be an issue,” Burgess said.

Ned McHenry (knee soreness) and Will Hamill (concussion) are in line for returns as long as they get through training.

In-form forward Shane McAdam (ankle) needs to pass a fitness test to play.

The Crows will monitor veteran defender Luke Brown, who is nursing a sore knee from the club’s SANFL win on the weekend.

Brown has spent the past three rounds in the state league.

“He got a bit of a knock to the knee,” Burgess said.

“I imagine it will be pretty sore in the next couple of days but hopefully he will be able to train and be available for the weekend.”

Originally published as AFL Draft 2022: Meet Isaac Keeler – the Adelaide Crows Next Generation Academy prospect rising up draft boards fast