Kane Cornes has questioned how both Adelaide and Port Adelaide overlooked Willie Rioli.
The West Coast small forward was running around in the SANFL for Glenelg before the Eagles selected him with pick 52 in the 2016 national draft.
After Rioli’s performance in last night’s Elimination Final win over Essendon, Cornes raised the topic.
“It’s easy to go back to historical drafts and have a look at mistakes clubs made,” the Power premiership player said on SEN SA Breakfast.
“Watching Willie Rioli last night… I did some part-time coaching in my first year out of footy at Glenelg. Willie Rioli was there.
“I also helped dad (Graham) out as assistant coach with the SANFL State side and we selected Willie and he kicked four or five on that day at Adelaide Oval.
“I thought, ‘This guy is amazing’.
“He’s got a pretty great story to tell. He was overlooked in the draft, put on a lot of weight, came back and got himself fit then played some outstanding SANFL footy.
“You would think, playing in the SANFL against Port Adelaide and the Crows, right under the nose of our recruiters that one of the clubs would have identified Willie Rioli as a player who could play at AFL level.
“Clearly he wasn’t a player you’d take with a first-round draft pick, we get that, but with pick 44, Adelaide took Myles Poholke.
“With pick 51, the pick before Rioli, Adelaide took Elliott Himmelberg. What do Adelaide need right now? Eddie Betts is almost 33 and Charlie Cameron has gone. No one has filled the void of the small forward.
“Port Adelaide the same. They took Willem Drew at 33. I reckon you’d have Willie Rioli ahead of him.
“I reckon he’s (Rioli) the best field kick in the AFL and both Adelaide and Port Adelaide could have had him.
“He was right under their nose.”
Co-host Andrew Hayes did not agree with Cornes' opinion, suggesting it has taken Rioli some time to find his feet as an elite footballer.
“This was a bloke who was inconsistent and that’s probably his biggest issue,” said the four-time Central District flag winner.
“He had some weight issues and there were question marks on whether he had the professionalism to go the next level.
“I don’t think you should be frustrated because at the time, I think West Coast even took a punt with drafting him. He could have quite easily been rookie listed.
“He’s gone above and beyond, he’s a star now. He’s exceeded expectations.
“There’s no way in the world that the Crows or the Power or any club would have predicted that Willie Rioli has come on the way he has.”
Rioli has now tallied 38 AFL games, including last year's premiership, and has kicked 46 goals.