Under 19 Championships: Blayne O’Loughlin impresses again after Crows choose not to nominate him as an NGA draft prospect
Adelaide last week confirmed it would not nominate Blayne O'Loughlin as an NGA prospect. But he had some more eye-catching moments against WA on Sunday.
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A pair of SA products with famous last names did their draft prospects no harm despite going down yet again to WA in the U19 championships.
While West Australian midfield bull Angus Sheldrick continued his bolt up the draft boards with a best on ground performance as the Sandgropers claimed a clean sweep over South Australia
Sheldrick, a West Perth product likened to Matt Rowell, had 29 disposals and kicked the sealer with just seconds to go at Thebarton Oval on Sunday as WA triumphed over SA for the third time this year - 9.14 (68) to 4.9 (58).
The two states were missing a lot of their top-end talent with SA without Jason Horne-Francis, Arlo Draper and Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera.
Missing for WA were the state’s first four likely to be picked in the draft, Neil Erasmus, Matt Johnson, Jacob van Rooyen and Jye Amiss.
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With Horne-Francis absent, it was South Adelaide teammate Matthew Roberts who nearly led SA to a come-from-behind win with 26 touches and five clearances.
Jase Burgoyne and Blayne O’Loughlin both also impressed for SA, getting plenty of the ball on the wing and in the back-half.
Burgoyne, the son of 2004 premiership winner Peter, will meet with Port Adelaide in the coming weeks as he and the club prepare to decide whether they will commit to him landing at Alberton.
On Sunday, Burgoyne showed why he is considered a top-40 prospect with some impressive kicking. Adelaide is not going to nominate O’Loughlin, the nephew of Sydney great Michael, as a Next Generation Academy prospect.
But the playmaker showed enough down back against WA to suggest that he could still get picked up in next month’s draft.
The 171cm prospect was able to get plenty of the ball in the back-half, with his left foot prominent in the home side trying to attack from defence.
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They weren’t the only two players with famous last names to show their talent.
Taj Woewodin, son of Melbourne Brownlow Medal winner Shane, finished up with 18 and six marks while Jesse Motlop provided a late spark in the midfield.
Motlop, the son of former Port Adelaide and North Melbourne player Daniel, is tied to Fremantle’s NGA.
But the Dockers can’t match any bid inside the top 40 for Motlop because he is a metropolitan member of their academy.
No decision on Port’s father-son gun
- Matt Turner
Father-son prospect Jase Burgoyne will meet with Port Adelaide in coming weeks as he and the club prepare to decide whether they will commit to him landing at Alberton.
The Power has access to the Woodville-West Torrens half-back/wingman – the son of 2004 premiership star Peter Burgoyne – and has collated late draft picks to give it the option of matching rival clubs’ bids.
Burgoyne, along with his family and manager, will catch up with the club ahead of the November 24-25 national draft to discuss their plans as all parties weigh up their options.
He is considered to be a top-40 prospect.
This year, Burgoyne featured in three senior SANFL matches for Port Adelaide, averaging 15.7 disposals.
The state under-19 representative also played four reserves and eight under-18 games for the Eagles.
“We understand Jase has a decision to make, as does the club in the fullness of time,” Port Adelaide football manager Chris Davies said.
If the Power drafted him, Burgoyne would follow in the footsteps of Brett Ebert (Russell), Taj Schofield (Jarrad), Jackson Mead (Darren) and older brother Trent as father-son selections.
Trent is out of contract at the Power after two seasons on the rookie list without playing a game.
Burgoyne has been named on a wing for SA for its under-19 state clash with Western Australia at Thebarton Oval on Sunday.
Last month his uncle, Port Adelaide premiership player Shaun Burgoyne, rejoined the Power from Hawthorn in a multi-faceted off-field role after ending his 407-game career.
Port Adelaide finalised its coaching panel on Friday, adding Luke Kelly from GWS in a midfield development role, switching Brett Montgomery from defence to on-ball to replace Jarrad Schofield and promoting Chad Cornes.
Kelly was the Giants’ VFL coach this year, a development coach their in 2020 and was previously a performance analyst at the Western Bulldogs.
Cornes will step up from a development position to look after the Power’s defence.
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Why Crows have snubbed academy guns
Adelaide will not be nominating two nephews of AFL greats as Next Generation Academy prospects for next month’s national draft.
The Crows have access to Blayne O’Loughlin, whose uncle is Sydney champion Michael O’Loughlin, and Isaiah Dudley, the nephew of recently retired stars Shaun Burgoyne and Eddie Betts, but they are instead heading for the open draft because the club has already filled its two Category B rookie spots.
Adelaide retained defender James Borlase and speedster Tariek Newchurch last month.
It means if another club calls North Adelaide halfback O’Loughlin or Central District small forward Dudley’s names on November 25, the Crows cannot match the bids to secure them.
Adelaide still has the Indigenous duo in its talent order, but now has to see how things unfold at the draft.
Landing them would seem unlikely.
Armed with pick 4, the Crows do not have a selection between 33 and 75 – the range O’Loughlin is considered most likely to be taken.
Dudley is tipped to be a late or rookie option, but there have been concerns with his work ethic.
O’Loughlin was SA’s best in the AFL grand final curtain-raiser in the under-19 match against Western Australia in Perth a fortnight ago.
Captaining North Adelaide’s under-18s this season, the left-footer averaged 28.5 disposals from 13 matches at that level and was in blistering form early in the campaign.
The 171cm prospect with neat skills was used as a playmaker in defence, taking kick-ins and accumulating plenty of the ball.
But he has also shown he can line up on the opposition’s best small forward and has had midfield stints.
He featured in three reserves matches in 2021.
Dudley, a 168cm goalsneak/midfielder, is quick, elusive and boasts terrific hands.
He kicked 10 goals from 11 reserves games this year and averaged 21.5 touches in 10 under-18 appearances.
“In order of talent, he’s number one, but he’s still a bit immature and learning about the game and what it takes to get the best out of yourself, including fitness,” SA under-19 coach Tony Bamford said earlier this year.
“But his talent, hands, smarts, kicking and football intelligence is unbelievable.’’
Last year Adelaide opted not to nominate father-son prospect Luke Edwards and he landed at West Coast with pick 52.
Cats eye ex-Crow
Geelong is facing competition from multiple clubs for Tyson Stengle.
The Cats have publicly registered their interest in the former Richmond and Adelaide small forward as he seeks a third chance in the AFL after he and the Crows parted ways earlier this year after three off-field indiscretions.
The appointment of relative and mentor Eddie Betts in a development and leadership role is in the Cats favour.
But other clubs are also very keen on Stengle.
Essendon is believed to be one, while Collingwood was very keen ahead of the mid-season draft but ultimately decided not to draft him then.
The Advertiser understands that clubs who had registered an interest ahead of the mid-season draft have maintained it in Stengle – who is a delisted free agent.
But it is unsure whether a club will try and take him as a rookie or as a free agent yet.
Stengle had zoom meetings with clubs on Tuesday, missing Woodville-West Torrens’ SANFL premiership celebrations.
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Originally published as Under 19 Championships: Blayne O’Loughlin impresses again after Crows choose not to nominate him as an NGA draft prospect
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