AFL draft: SA under-19 squad named for 2021 national championships

From a potential No. 1 pick to sons of guns and draft bolters – the final SA squad has been named ahead of the AFL under-19 national championships.

A star-studded, deep midfield and an exciting half-back line are the key weapons in South Australia’s 2021 AFL Under-19 National Championships squad, according to coach Tony Bamford.

The 33-player squad was released this week ahead of the championships, which have been delayed amid Covid outbreaks across the country.

SA was due to play its first game on Sunday until the statewide lockdown came into force and will now have to wait until at least Saturday, August 7 to get its campaign underway.

South Adelaide’s Jason Horne is SA’s standout 2021 AFL Draft prospect. Picture: Mark Brake

Panthers and St Peter’s midfielder Matt Roberts will be another top talent to watch. Picture: Roy VanDerVegt

A rescheduled fixture means the Croweaters will first face Western Australia before a clash against the Allies, however both contests are pending restrictions.

SA is then scheduled to play the two Victorian teams in Melbourne following the competition of the SANFL season in September.

Bamford said the task of trimming the squad was tough but SA had an exciting mix of emerging stars.

“We think we’ve got some real, nice top end talent which will run through our midfield,” Bamford said.

Jase Burgoyne, son of Peter, is a potential father-son selection for Port Adelaide. Picture: Michael Klein

“Across half-back we’ve got some really exciting players who can defend first and launch into offence from that, notably Jase Burgoyne, Blayne O’Loughlin and Cooper Beecken.”

The engine room will be led by potential No. 1 draft pick Jason Horne and South Adelaide teammate Matt Roberts.

Bamford also identified Glenelg product Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera, Central District midfielder Shay Linke and North Adelaide accumulator Hugh Jackson as three who have made a significant impression.

Glenelg’s Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera is the son of Terry Milera and nephew of Gavin Wanganeen. Picture: Tom Huntley

“They have certainly jumped up a few rungs on the ladder in our opinion,” he said.

“From where we saw Nasiah last year to where he is now, he’s a much better player than he was 12 months ago and that’s always a good sign.

“Shay’s proven he can perform at league level playing as a first-possession midfielder, plus a little bit half-forward and on the wing.

“Hugh, we challenged him to learn how to win more of his own ball and to his credit, his numbers in contested possessions and hard-ball gets this year have jumped and he’s more of a complete player.”

North Adelaide young gun Hugh Jackson has racked up huge disposal numbers for the Roosters in the SANFL under-18 competition this season. Picture: Naomi Jellicoe

Glenelg had the most players selected of any SANFL club with seven inclusions, followed by Woodville-West Torrens (six) and Central District (five).

Players who did not make the 33-man squad will still be eligible to work their way in for the second set of games through club and school form.

Bamford said he hoped that group would be finalised by late August.

The team’s captain and leadership group was expected to be announced in the coming weeks.

Originally published as AFL draft: SA under-19 squad named for 2021 national championships