Chris25
Moderator
- Oct 30, 2007
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The best team in underaged football is back again in 2015, and they'll be looking to win another Championship to add to the trophy cabinet. And with 17 players from SA drafted across the two drafts last year, could another bumper year be on the cards? At the moment, it's not looking quite as good of a season for SA in terms of pure draft talent. But I imagine they'll again pick a side to win at the Championships, so there's no reason to think they wont do well again.
South Australia had 6 players chosen in the AFL/AIS program - Aaron Francis, Tim Sullivan, Ryan Burton, Luke Partington, Keiran Agius and Stephen Tahana. And it's safe to say they are the top 6 prospects from SA this year. As you'd expect so early in the year, the gap between them and the next group is pretty big. But that should shrink as the season progresses. The SA Academy itself can be found here.
My top 10 at this stage would look something like this...
1. Ryan Burton (190cm, 82kg from West Adelaide)
2. Aaron Francis (190cm, 88kg from West Adelaide)
3. Stephen Tahana (183cm, 79kg from North Adelaide)
4. Luke Partington (180cm, 75kg from Norwood)
5. Keiran Agius (187cm, 84kg from North Adelaide)
6. Tim Sullivan (198cm, 90kg from Glenelg)
Like I said, clear top 6. And versatility is the real highlight amongst these guys. We wont see a great deal of Burton until later in the year, as he recovers from a broken leg but he's a really talented forward that we saw in the Championships last year. He's your Gunston type forward, and if healthy will be the first South Australian taken. Francis and Agius are similar, in terms of both having played a lot as KPPs but just show something suggest to they could have an impact through the middle. Francis can play tall at either end, but moves incredibly well and I'm throwing him out as that Bontempelli type. And I'll be looking for similar progress through the year. Agius is along the lines of Stringer and Petracca, being that powerful medium forward who kicks a lot of goals. He has a bit to work on, but I imagine he'll play as a high half forward this year and should show something. I really like Tahana, I said last year he was the best defender I've seen come through the draft. He's just so composed, and now he'll be looking to move through the midfield too. Partington is the pick of the midfielders, gets a lot of production but at the moment I'd describe him more as neat than elite. I'll be watching how he compares to his peers this year. And finally, Sullivan will be our lead ruckman this year and also has the ability to play at either end.
7. Matthew Nunn (181cm, 76kg from Norwood)
8. Maris Olekalns (179cm, 70kg from North Adelaide)
9. Riley Bonner (189cm, 78kg from West Adelaide)
10. Wayne Milera (184cm, 74kg from Central Districts)
Rounding out the top 10 was much harder than it should have been, I could have plucked out a bunch of names. Nunn has the performances on the board, and will probably be part of the leadership group. While I've always liked Olekalns, will likely play through the midfield in the SANFL and across half back in the Championships. A little on the short side, but good pace and skills. Bonner and Milera are just guys who I'm hoping will develop nicely this year, Bonner has nice height and can play at either end. While Milera has flashed potential, and is in line for early senior action in the SANFL.
Other players who could at this stage push up would include Jordan Dawson, Cameron Hewett, Will Combe, Campbell Wildman, Kyle Presbury and most likely Will Snelling.
One thing that is lacking though, are key position players - at both ends of the ground, but particularly down back. Up forward, they could fashion a smaller attack with Burton, Agius and Dawson along with maybe Mackenzie Hansen. Otherwise, the most likely options would be Luke Surman (195cm, 95kg), Matthew Allen (194cm, 93kg) and Sam Gurney (196cm, 94kg). Down back, I don't think the selectors would have anyone pencilled in. The opening couple of months of the season will be very important, it wasn't until Keenan Ramsey was switched back late last year that they finally settled their line up after all. But if they were to play a game tomorrow, it would probably be Francis along with Kyle Broadwood (197cm, 85kg) and the underaged Sam Walker (186cm, 78kg). Of course the other option is to bring back an overaged player or two, something which SA always takes advantage of.
South Australia had 6 players chosen in the AFL/AIS program - Aaron Francis, Tim Sullivan, Ryan Burton, Luke Partington, Keiran Agius and Stephen Tahana. And it's safe to say they are the top 6 prospects from SA this year. As you'd expect so early in the year, the gap between them and the next group is pretty big. But that should shrink as the season progresses. The SA Academy itself can be found here.
My top 10 at this stage would look something like this...
1. Ryan Burton (190cm, 82kg from West Adelaide)
2. Aaron Francis (190cm, 88kg from West Adelaide)
3. Stephen Tahana (183cm, 79kg from North Adelaide)
4. Luke Partington (180cm, 75kg from Norwood)
5. Keiran Agius (187cm, 84kg from North Adelaide)
6. Tim Sullivan (198cm, 90kg from Glenelg)
Like I said, clear top 6. And versatility is the real highlight amongst these guys. We wont see a great deal of Burton until later in the year, as he recovers from a broken leg but he's a really talented forward that we saw in the Championships last year. He's your Gunston type forward, and if healthy will be the first South Australian taken. Francis and Agius are similar, in terms of both having played a lot as KPPs but just show something suggest to they could have an impact through the middle. Francis can play tall at either end, but moves incredibly well and I'm throwing him out as that Bontempelli type. And I'll be looking for similar progress through the year. Agius is along the lines of Stringer and Petracca, being that powerful medium forward who kicks a lot of goals. He has a bit to work on, but I imagine he'll play as a high half forward this year and should show something. I really like Tahana, I said last year he was the best defender I've seen come through the draft. He's just so composed, and now he'll be looking to move through the midfield too. Partington is the pick of the midfielders, gets a lot of production but at the moment I'd describe him more as neat than elite. I'll be watching how he compares to his peers this year. And finally, Sullivan will be our lead ruckman this year and also has the ability to play at either end.
7. Matthew Nunn (181cm, 76kg from Norwood)
8. Maris Olekalns (179cm, 70kg from North Adelaide)
9. Riley Bonner (189cm, 78kg from West Adelaide)
10. Wayne Milera (184cm, 74kg from Central Districts)
Rounding out the top 10 was much harder than it should have been, I could have plucked out a bunch of names. Nunn has the performances on the board, and will probably be part of the leadership group. While I've always liked Olekalns, will likely play through the midfield in the SANFL and across half back in the Championships. A little on the short side, but good pace and skills. Bonner and Milera are just guys who I'm hoping will develop nicely this year, Bonner has nice height and can play at either end. While Milera has flashed potential, and is in line for early senior action in the SANFL.
Other players who could at this stage push up would include Jordan Dawson, Cameron Hewett, Will Combe, Campbell Wildman, Kyle Presbury and most likely Will Snelling.
One thing that is lacking though, are key position players - at both ends of the ground, but particularly down back. Up forward, they could fashion a smaller attack with Burton, Agius and Dawson along with maybe Mackenzie Hansen. Otherwise, the most likely options would be Luke Surman (195cm, 95kg), Matthew Allen (194cm, 93kg) and Sam Gurney (196cm, 94kg). Down back, I don't think the selectors would have anyone pencilled in. The opening couple of months of the season will be very important, it wasn't until Keenan Ramsey was switched back late last year that they finally settled their line up after all. But if they were to play a game tomorrow, it would probably be Francis along with Kyle Broadwood (197cm, 85kg) and the underaged Sam Walker (186cm, 78kg). Of course the other option is to bring back an overaged player or two, something which SA always takes advantage of.
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