Glenelg’s premiership hopes rocked by two mid-season draft blows on a big night for the SANFL

On another big night for the SANFL, six players were snapped up by AFL clubs. But can Glenelg and Central District recover from these mid-season blows?

Glenelg’s SANFL premiership hopes – and pursuit of a historic three-peat – have been rocked after it lost two towering key defenders in the AFL mid-season rookie draft.

2024 premiership full back Oscar Adams was picked by Gold Coast at pick 7 while his fellow key backman, giant teenager Harrison Ramm, went to Port Adelaide at No. 3 as the SANFL was plundered, with six players selected at the draft.

The loss of their backline twin towers halfway through the season has left the Tigers with giant holes to fill in their defence and seriously dented their flag hopes.

Four other SANFL players are also off to the AFL.

Oscar Adams is now a Gold Coast Sun. Picture: Kelly Barnes

Norwood's Jacob Newton is off to West Coast. Picture: Nelson Miles/Norwood FC

Classy Norwood medium forward Jacob Newton was drafted by West Coast at No. 9, North Adelaide midfielder/forward Ewan Mackinlay went to the Power at No. 11, South Adelaide key forward Noah Howes to Collingwood at No. 15 and Port struck the SANFL again with its third and final selection, taking Central District midfielder Mani Liddy at No. 16.

Glenelg’s losses were the most critical, with the club sitting third on the ladder with a 5-2 win-loss record as it pursues three flags in a row for the first time in its history.

The loss of ace midfielder Liddy also hurts the Bulldogs, who sit second on the premiership table with a 6-1 record.

The Redlegs, Roosters and Panthers sit in the bottom half of the ladder and are unlikely to play finals.

The Tigers have been left searching for key defensive reinforcements in two body blows that highlight why the mid-season draft, where AFL clubs can purge state league competitions of players mid-year, is despised by members and supporters of those leagues.

Adams, 21 and 198cm, has held down full back for them and can pinch-hit in the ruck.

He spent two years on St Kilda’s list in 2022-23 after being drafted from the Bays at pick 51 at the 2021 national draft but he failed to play an AFL game before rejoining his boyhood club Glenelg and playing in a premiership.

Ramm, 18, is raw but measures a towering 202cm and is still growing.

Mobile for his size, he has played six league games for a strong Bays team this season in various roles – as a key defender, back-up ruckman and forward – and illustrated his ability by taking a strong contested mark and kicking a goal to put Glenelg in front late in the round 5 clash against Sturt.

Liddy, 23, and Mackinlay, 21, represented South Australia at State senior level this season while 19-year-olds Newton and Howes were standout State junior players whose development has been stalled by injuries.

Originally published as Glenelg’s premiership hopes rocked by two mid-season draft blows on a big night for the SANFL