Father-sons for 2024: Who is on the radar for the Crows and Port Adelaide next year?
The Crows and Power ended the trade period well placed with future selections to help them match rival bids for sons of guns. We analyse the five players coming through for 2024.
South Australia’s two AFL clubs have been procuring 2024 picks to help them be able to match rival bids on their highly-touted father-son prospects.
Forward Tyler Welsh is on the Crows’ radar next year, while Port Adelaide has Rome Burgoyne, Louie Montgomery, Ky Burgoyne and Oliver Francou who will come under consideration.
Welsh, the son of four-time Adelaide leading goalkicker Scott Welsh, is considered a potential top-30 candidate 13 months out from his draft.
The Crows are well placed to match an early bid for the 17-year-old because they have their own first, second, third and fourth-rounders in 2024, as well as Melbourne’s second, acquired in a trade for high flyer Shane McAdam.
Haggling between Port and Essendon that ensured the Brandon Zerk-Thatcher deal for Xavier Duursma went down to the wire ultimately helped the Power secure two future fourth-round selections to boost its hand next year.
Rome Burgoyne, the son of Power premiership star Peter Burgoyne and brother of Jase Burgoyne, is the top prospect of Port’s quartet.
Like Welsh, he plays at Woodville-West Torrens and has been selected in South Australia’s under-18 academy for 2024.
Rome, 17, is a strong-bodied midfielder who is considered a possible top-40 contender.
Port gave up its 2024 first-round selection as part of its trades last week for Zerk-Thatcher, intercept defender Esava Ratugolea and rucks Ivan Soldo and Jordon Sweet.
But the Power still has its second and third-rounders next year, as well as two fourths (one tied to Carlton and the other to Essendon).
North Adelaide utility Montgomery is the son of 2004 premiership defender and GWS assistant Brett Montgomery, while fellow Rooster Francou’s dad is 2002 Brownlow Medal runner-up Josh Francou.
West Adelaide half-back Ky Burgoyne, the son of Power and Hawthorn champion Shaun Burgoyne, is tied to both his father’s former clubs.
Shaun played 157 games for Port Adelaide from 2002-09, then 250 at the Hawks from 2010-21.
Brett Montgomery lined up in 78 matches for the Western Bulldogs, 22 short of ensuring father-son eligibility there.
The Power overlooked Louie and Oliver’s older brothers, Harper and Will, in last year’s drafts.
ADELAIDE
Tyler Welsh
Son of: Four-time Crows leading goalkicker Scott Welsh
Position: Medium forward
SANFL club: Woodville-West Torrens
2023 statistics: Three reserves matches, kicking one goal, and 10 under-18 games, averaging 2.7 majors, 9.1 disposals, 4.8 marks
“He’s a 190cm, powerful, explosive forward who reads the footy really well in the air and has good hands. He’s still got a lot to learn. After he kicked five goals for South Australia (against Vic Country in June), he probably didn’t reach those heights until our semi-final versus South, when he kicked six. He was very, very good that day,” Eagles talent manager Darren Hams said.
PORT ADELAIDE
Ky Burgoyne
Son of: Port Adelaide and Hawthorn champion Shaun Burgoyne
Position: Half-back
SANFL club: West Adelaide
2023 statistics: 15 under-18 games for the Bloods, averaging 13.4 disposals, five tackles, 1.6 rebound 50s, 65.1 ranking points
“From what I’ve seen, he’s had a pretty solid year and come along nicely. He came across from Glenelg to us last year. He’s certainly a competitive defender who reads the play well, competes well one-on-one and his ball use has got better throughout the year. There’s still a fair bit to play out but he’s made some good progress,” West Adelaide football boss Paul Streatfield said.
Rome Burgoyne
Son of: 2004 Power premiership star Peter Burgoyne
Position: Half-back/midfielder
SANFL club: Woodville-West Torrens
2023 statistics: Six under-18 games for the Eagles, averaging 18.8 disposals, five rebound 50s, 1.3 clearances, 1.2 tackles, 66.3 ranking points
“He had a bit of an injury-riddled year – his knee early then he got some hamstring soreness. He boarded at Prince Alfred College. He is more talented than (older brothers) Trent and Jase. He’s much cleaner with the footy, he’s got better skills and because he has a little more size he’s more enduring to the contest,” Eagles talent manager Darren Hams said.
Oliver Francou
Son of: Port’s three-time Showdown medallist Josh Francou
Position: Midfielder
SANFL club: North Adelaide
2023 statistics: Nine under-18 games for the Roosters, averaging 13.6 disposals, four tackles, 1.6 clearances, 1.3 inside 50s, 61.4 ranking points
“He’s one of those players who is super fit and runs low six-minute two-kilometre time trials. Like Josh, he is hard at the football. He still needs to work on his footy smarts, but has got some good attributes with his running. Oliver is 177cm and also plays for St Peter’s College. We’d expect him to have a pretty good year next year,” North Adelaide talent manager Neil Sanders said.
Louie Montgomery
Son of: 2004 Power premiership defender Brett Montgomery
Position: Utility
SANFL club: North Adelaide
2023 statistics: 11 under-18 games for the Roosters, averaging 18.7 disposals, 5.8 marks, 2.2 tackles, 76 ranking points
“He’s got good athleticism for his size and has got a good overhead mark for his size. He can cause defences a few problems. He’s got more AFL attributes than his older brother, Harper, but probably doesn’t work as hard as Harper does. Louie goes to Prince Alfred College and is 183cm,” North Adelaide talent manager Neil Sanders said.
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