AFL Draft 2021: An early look at the top prospects at every SANFL club
Only Tom Powell won more footy in the SANFL under-18s last year than the son of an AFL great — playing in his bottom-age season. Which club has first dibs?
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The SANFL season is here and it is time for the next crop of AFL draft prospects to show their wares.
Some will enhance their standing among the country’s best junior footballers, while others will draw the serious attention of recruiters for the first time.
There will be plenty of movement on draft boards throughout the year but, for now, here is an early look at every SANFL club’s top underage talent.
Central District
Isaiah Dudley
Midfielder/forward
17, 167cm, 69kg
Key stats: Averaged 18 disposals, 13 contested possessions, 12 tackles, 1.7 goals and 138 Champion Data rankings points at the 2019 under-16 national carnival.
The nephew of AFL superstars Shaun Burgoyne and Eddie Betts, Dudley is raw but an excitement machine, who knows where the goals are. While small in stature at 167cm, the under-16 All-Australian is quick, elusive and boasts terrific vision and clean hands at the contest. The Prince Alfred College student, who has battled injury recently, is tied to the Crows as a Next Generation Academy product.
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Glenelg
Nasiah Wanganeen
Forward/Midfielder
18, 187cm, 70kg
Key stats: Averaged 5 score involvements, 4 tackles, 4 groundball-gets, 4 intercepts and 4 marks per game at under-18 level in 2020.
The nephew of Port Adelaide and Essendon great Gavin Wanganeen is an exciting prospect who boasts plenty of x-factor. The 187cm midfielder was a standout in last year’s SA All Stars game at Thebarton Oval, impressing with his speed, craftiness around goals and vertical leap. But he is also sublimely skilled and has proven he can have a big impact, even though he’s not yet a huge ball-winner.
Cooper Beecken, who plays like Andrew Mackie or Will Day, and Lewis Rayson are two other highly-rated teenagers from Glenelg to keep a close eye on this year.
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North Adelaide
Blayne O’Loughlin
Defender
18, 171cm, 74kg
Key stats: Averaged 23 disposals, 7 intercepts, 6 rebound-50s and 113 rankings points at under-18 level in 2020.
Another member of the Crows’ Next Generation Academy, O’Loughlin is a neat distributor who helps set up play in defence. The left-footer loves to get his teammates involved and is sometimes given the responsibility of taking kick-ins. He is the nephew of Sydney Swans great Michael O’Loughlin. He tries to model his game on Richmond’s Bachar Houli and Carlton recruit Zac Williams – the halfback version of Williams rather than the midfield one.
Norwood
Cooper Murley
Midfielder
17, 178cm, 70kg
Key stats: Averaged 26 disposals, 11 contested possessions, 6 score involvements, 5 clearances, 5 inside 50s and 128 rankings points at under-18 level in 2020.
After earning All-Australian selection at the 2019 under-16 carnival, the speedy, 178cm midfielder dominated in his bottom-age year in 2020, averaging 26 disposals and winning Norwood’s best-and-fairest in a premiership side. Murley may be slightly built but he is clean, well-balanced, wins the ball on the move and uses it well with both feets. He is one of four South Australians in the NAB AFL Academy. Academy coach Tarkyn Lockyer says Murley is one to watch because of his speed and repeat running efforts.
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South Adelaide
Jason Horne
Midfielder
17, 184cm, 78kg
Key stats: Averaged 157 ranking points in six under-18 matches in 2020, before making nine SANFL League appearances
The South Adelaide midfielder has it all, which is why he is an early favourite to be picked first in this year’s draft. Horne is strong on the inside, but also electrifying away from the contest, boasting a mix of speed, evasiveness and terrific hands overhead. Horne was SA’s MVP at the under-16 national carnival and, after a dominant start to 2020 in the under-18s, played the final nine games of the year in South’s league side. Panthers coach Jarrad Wright has declared the 17-year-old is “bigger, stronger and better” this season. One coach at the SANFL season launch on Tuesday said Horne was ready to take the competition by storm and could even figure in state coach Jade Sheedy’s plans to face WA in May.
Teammates Matthew Roberts and Arlo Draper are two other highly-rated prospects from Noarlunga.
Sturt
Morgan Ferres
Forward
18, 190cm, 80kg
Key stats: Booted 25 goals and averaged three contested marks and 112 ranking points in eight non-injury-affected under-18 matches in 2020
Only Adelaide draftee Brayden Cook booted more goals than in the under-18s last season than Ferres, who kicked 22 from six games. The 190cm athletic forward is not only strong in the air, he reads the ball well, is clean at ground level and brings his teammates into the game once the ball spills. The St Peter’s student is also a quick, has great endurance and will be looking to showcase his strong skill set at multiple levels in 2021.
West Adelaide
Cade Kennedy
Midfielder
17, 176cm, 72kg
Key stats: Averaged 18 disposals, nine contested possessions, six tackles, seven groundball-gets, three intercepts, three inside-50s and 96 ranking points in 2020.
The Bloods under-18 captain is coming off a standout season, winning the club’s under-18 best and fairest as a bottom-ager. He capped his campaign by averaging 24 disposals, including 13 contested, and 128 Champion Data points in his final three matches. Kennedy’s contested work is strong but he can also play as an outside midfielder. He has a fierce attack on the ball and will look to establish himself as one of the better on-ballers for his age in SA this year.
Woodville-West Torrens
Jase Burgoyne
Midfielder
17, 185cm, 70kg
Key stats: Averaged 28 disposals, six score involvements and 133 ranking points at under-18 level in 2020
Burgoyne is a ball-magnet, averaging 28 disposals per game at SANFL under-18 level last year. Only North Melbourne draftee Tom Powell had more of the footy. Burgoyne is damaging with the ball and breaks lines with his run and carry. Last season he won the Eagles’ under-18 best and fairest in his bottom-age season. Like older brother Trent, Port Adelaide has access to Burgoyne as a father-son prospect.
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Originally published as AFL Draft 2021: An early look at the top prospects at every SANFL club
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