AFL Draft 2024: Angus Clarke, Alex Dodson and the 11 South Australian draftees from the SANFL

It was a big night for the SANFL on Thursday as nine more junior stars had their AFL dreams come true – but some were forced to wait longer than others. See how it all unfolded.

A second cousin of Adelaide AFLW coach Matthew Clarke was among 11 Croweaters selected at this year’s AFL national draft as highly-touted Sturt ruckman Alex Dodson became one of the draft’s big sliders.

Playmaking Glenelg half-back Angus Clarke, who hails from the tiny south-east country farming town of Tantanoola near Mount Gambier, was selected by Essendon at pick 39 on night two of the draft, rewarding him for his dedication to fly to Adelaide regularly for games.

Clarke, who grew up working on the family dairy farm – four-and-a-half hours from Adelaide – follows his second cousin, Matthew (a ruckman who played 258 games for Brisbane, Adelaide and St Kilda from 1993-2007) into the AFL.

Angus’s dad, Stuart, is Matthew’s cousin.

Glenelg's Angus Clarke was drafted by Essendon at pick 39. Picture: Cory Sutton

While Angus will link up with the player he models his game on at Essendon (Mason Redman), Dodson was surprisingly made to sweat far longer than expected to realise his AFL dreams.

Touted as a late first-round pick, the 203cm giant - the All-Australian under-18 ruckman this year - slumped to pick 53, where he was claimed by St Kilda.

Remarkably, he was taken one selection behind his Sturt under-18 ruck sidekick Jacob Molier, who was selected by Geelong at No. 52.

Dodson, who nominated for the draft after choosing football over his other great love, basketball, described his long, anxious wait to find an AFL home as “pretty crazy’’ but that he remained confident a club would give him a chance.

“I missed out last night (in the first round) but I tried to remain confident the whole way through and I’m just stoked to be with the Saints,’’ he said.

“I’m fully focused on footy now and can’t wait to get started.’’

Nine South Australians were picked on night two of the draft following the first-round selections on Wednesday of South Adelaide midfield sensation Sid Draper, who went to Adelaide at pick four, and athletic Norwood forward/midfielder Ned Bowman (pick 26 to Sydney).

Central District key forward Charlie Nicholls landed with Fremantle at pick 34, Glenelg midfielder Ben Camporeale was claimed by Carlton at No. 43 under the father-son rule after the Blues matched a bid from Geelong, Norwood high flyer Jay Polkinghorne went to the Cats at No. 44 and another key forward, Woodville-West Torrens’ Charlie West - the grandson of former AFL chief executive Wayne Jackson - was selected at No. 50 by Collingwood.

Get around him, Alex Dodson is now a Saint 😇 pic.twitter.com/NzVc8D9xMP

— AFL (@AFL) November 21, 2024

Alex Dodson in action for South Australia’s under-18s. Picture: Sarah Reed/AFL Photos

Fremantle-bound Charlie Nicholls in action for South Australia at this year’s AFL under-18 championships. Picture: Sarah Reed/AFL Photos

Camporeale’s twin brother, Lucas, was also claimed as a father-son player by Carlton after it matched a bid by Sydney at No. 54.

The boys are the sons of Carlton premiership midfielder Scott Camporeale.

As expected, Adelaide took father-son prospect Tyler Welsh - son of their four-times leading goalkicker Scott Welsh - with their fourth-round pick at No. 59.

The 11 Croweaters selected easily eclipsed the seven who were selected at last year’s national draft.

Originally published as AFL Draft 2024: Angus Clarke, Alex Dodson and the 11 South Australian draftees from the SANFL