Panther the AFL's No.1 target
By Andrew Capel
13aug04
HE gathered the ball in the middle of the MCG, took two bounces, sidestepped a couple of players in Andrew McLeod or Chris Judd fashion and then, from outside 50 metres, popped the ball through for a goal.
The speaker is AFL national talent manager Kevin Sheehan.
The subject? South Adelaide young gun Ryan Griffen.
Griffen, 18, so impressed Sheehan, the man with a golden eye for young talent, at the recent AFL under-18 championships in Melbourne that he rates the dynamic midfielder a potential No. 1 pick at this year's national draft.
If Adelaide had the first pick, Griffen would be in Crows colours next year.
"He's all class, he's got poise and is a terrific ball-handler. He's certainly in the top bracket (of young players)," Sheehan said, highlighting the individual brilliance of his solo effort against Victoria Metro at the under-18 carnival.
"There's no doubt he stepped up to the plate and (AFL) clubs took notice."
Powerfully-built at 188cm and 85kg, schoolboy Griffen is in line to be the second consecutive Croweater taken with the No. 1 pick, following West Adelaide's Adam Cooney who last year was selected first by the Western Bulldogs.
The fact that Sheehan mentions him in the same breath as McLeod and Judd – superstars of the competition – is testament to his ability.
SA under-18 coach Darren Trevena notes: "He's the type of player who can win a game off his own boot".
Born at Geranium (near Lameroo), raised at Goolwa and studying Year 12 at Mt Compass Area School, Griffen's name has been on AFL recruiters' lips since being lured to South from the Goolwa/Port Elliott Saints three years ago.
In his first season with the Panthers, Griffen made the under-16 State team.
In his second, he was selected in the SA under-18 team and the AIS-AFL Academy side, where he did not look out of place alongside seven players who have debuted at AFL level this year – Carlton's Andrew Walker, Essendon's Brent Stanton, Melbourne's Brock McLean, Western Bulldogs' Farren Ray, West Coast's Beau Waters and Sam Butler and Port Adelaide's Troy Chaplin.
This season, Griffen captained the Croweaters' under-18s and has made such a rapid rise through SANFL ranks that he debuted at senior level against Norwood at Noarlunga in round five.
Last Saturday against West Adelaide, he was the Panthers' best player – playing at half-back – in just his eighth SANFL game.
"He's been under the watchful eyes of AFL scouts for the past three years," Sheehan noted. "And they like what they have seen."
Griffen has come a long way from the kid who learnt the game in the backyard of his Goolwa home by kicking the football with brothers Travis, now 20, and Trent, 16.
But it has been hard work. The travelling has taken its toll with Griffen estimating this year alone he has travelled more than 30,000km to get to training and matches with the Panthers and SA.
"It can become tiring, but I know I've got to do it if I want to progress," the softly-spoken Griffen said.
Not only is he seeking progression, but perfection.
Griffen is leaving no stone unturned in his bid to become an elite player, saying it had been a lifelong ambition to play in the AFL. He is getting more nervous as the November 20 draft approaches.
"It's exciting, as much to see where I end up as anything," he said.
Prior to this season the only perceived weakness in Griffen's game was his defensive skills.
He now is proficient in that area, having spent countless hours working on the defensive side of his game with Panther coach Robert Pyman, leading to his smooth transition to half-back in the league team.
"The defensive side of my game has improved considerably," Griffen, an exquisite user of the ball, said. "Robert's helped me a lot and playing in the backline has definitely added to my game."
Sheehan says the fact that Griffen has been playing against men gives him an advantage when it comes to determining the top selections at the draft. It also has boosted his confidence "just to know that I can match it with these guys physically", he said.
Griffen is not giving much thought to being the possible No. 1 pick.
"I don't care what number I'm drafted at, as long as I do get drafted," he said. "Whether that's at No. 1, No. 2 or No. 10."
By Andrew Capel
13aug04
HE gathered the ball in the middle of the MCG, took two bounces, sidestepped a couple of players in Andrew McLeod or Chris Judd fashion and then, from outside 50 metres, popped the ball through for a goal.
The speaker is AFL national talent manager Kevin Sheehan.
The subject? South Adelaide young gun Ryan Griffen.
Griffen, 18, so impressed Sheehan, the man with a golden eye for young talent, at the recent AFL under-18 championships in Melbourne that he rates the dynamic midfielder a potential No. 1 pick at this year's national draft.
If Adelaide had the first pick, Griffen would be in Crows colours next year.
"He's all class, he's got poise and is a terrific ball-handler. He's certainly in the top bracket (of young players)," Sheehan said, highlighting the individual brilliance of his solo effort against Victoria Metro at the under-18 carnival.
"There's no doubt he stepped up to the plate and (AFL) clubs took notice."
Powerfully-built at 188cm and 85kg, schoolboy Griffen is in line to be the second consecutive Croweater taken with the No. 1 pick, following West Adelaide's Adam Cooney who last year was selected first by the Western Bulldogs.
The fact that Sheehan mentions him in the same breath as McLeod and Judd – superstars of the competition – is testament to his ability.
SA under-18 coach Darren Trevena notes: "He's the type of player who can win a game off his own boot".
Born at Geranium (near Lameroo), raised at Goolwa and studying Year 12 at Mt Compass Area School, Griffen's name has been on AFL recruiters' lips since being lured to South from the Goolwa/Port Elliott Saints three years ago.
In his first season with the Panthers, Griffen made the under-16 State team.
In his second, he was selected in the SA under-18 team and the AIS-AFL Academy side, where he did not look out of place alongside seven players who have debuted at AFL level this year – Carlton's Andrew Walker, Essendon's Brent Stanton, Melbourne's Brock McLean, Western Bulldogs' Farren Ray, West Coast's Beau Waters and Sam Butler and Port Adelaide's Troy Chaplin.
This season, Griffen captained the Croweaters' under-18s and has made such a rapid rise through SANFL ranks that he debuted at senior level against Norwood at Noarlunga in round five.
Last Saturday against West Adelaide, he was the Panthers' best player – playing at half-back – in just his eighth SANFL game.
"He's been under the watchful eyes of AFL scouts for the past three years," Sheehan noted. "And they like what they have seen."
Griffen has come a long way from the kid who learnt the game in the backyard of his Goolwa home by kicking the football with brothers Travis, now 20, and Trent, 16.
But it has been hard work. The travelling has taken its toll with Griffen estimating this year alone he has travelled more than 30,000km to get to training and matches with the Panthers and SA.
"It can become tiring, but I know I've got to do it if I want to progress," the softly-spoken Griffen said.
Not only is he seeking progression, but perfection.
Griffen is leaving no stone unturned in his bid to become an elite player, saying it had been a lifelong ambition to play in the AFL. He is getting more nervous as the November 20 draft approaches.
"It's exciting, as much to see where I end up as anything," he said.
Prior to this season the only perceived weakness in Griffen's game was his defensive skills.
He now is proficient in that area, having spent countless hours working on the defensive side of his game with Panther coach Robert Pyman, leading to his smooth transition to half-back in the league team.
"The defensive side of my game has improved considerably," Griffen, an exquisite user of the ball, said. "Robert's helped me a lot and playing in the backline has definitely added to my game."
Sheehan says the fact that Griffen has been playing against men gives him an advantage when it comes to determining the top selections at the draft. It also has boosted his confidence "just to know that I can match it with these guys physically", he said.
Griffen is not giving much thought to being the possible No. 1 pick.
"I don't care what number I'm drafted at, as long as I do get drafted," he said. "Whether that's at No. 1, No. 2 or No. 10."
