SANFL State Talent Manager Brenton Phillips has run his eye over some of the key South Australian draft hopes in 2020.
Phillips joined SEN SA’s Kymbo and the Rooch to go through a number of young South Aussies who are expected to be picked up in this year’s AFL Draft in December.
Taj Schofield, son of Port Adelaide premiership player and current midfield coach Jarrad, is one who Phillips expects to find a home at AFL level.
“Taj was very good on the agility run,” he said of the Power father-son prospect.
“He ran sub eight seconds on the agility run which gets him to the elite bracket. It means he gets in and out of traffic really nicely.
“He’s just got a good football sense and football head on him. He understands the game, knows where to run, uses the ball really, really well.
“He’s promising father-son there at Port Adelaide.”
The Adelaide Crows may also land a father-son of their own with Luke Edwards, son of 300-gamer and trot-time flag winner Tyson, highly rated.
Phillips added: “Obviously Luke Edwards, Tyson’s middle son.
“I’d classify him as a more all-round type of footballer. He’s probably not elite in the physical component but he’s elite in terms of what he does on the football field.
“Ball use, vision, understanding of the game, all that sort of stuff is where his eliteness comes from.”
How will the pair find their way to those respective clubs?
“The player still has the choice. At some point in time either Luke or Taj has to nominate that particular club as their club of choice,” Phillips explained.
“Once that is locked away, the wheels are in motion.”
One talented South Australian is Riley Thilthorpe who has been gaining experience in the SANFL with West Adelaide this season.
“I think he’s been very impressive,” Phillips said of the key forward.
“It’s really hard to dominate the SANFL competition as a 200-centimetre 18-year-old. It’s a big game, it’s a man’s game and he’s come into the competition and has done really well in a side that has struggled, to be fair.
“The ball coming forward to him probably hasn’t been what he would have liked. I think he’s held his own. The games I’ve seen him play, you can just tell there’s talent there.
“That’s what you pick them on. You pick them on talent and what it is going to project to when in the 23 to 26 age group.”
South Adelaide’s Brayden Cook is one name that has somewhat bolted into the conversation due to his impressive form in 2020.
“Brayden has had a really big growth spurt.
“He’s then been able to compete strongly. He’s about 189 centimetres so he gets into that really nice size. He’s smooth moving, plays up forward.
“He’s won a couple of games almost singlehandedly for South under-18s this year. He’s turned games on its head and dragged them across the line.”
Phillips was asked to rank his top South Australian draft hopes and landed with Thilthorpe on top while naming a handful of other key hopes.
“I think Riley is going to be our number one pick out of Adelaide.
“He’s going to be fairly high.
“I’d be looking out for Tom Powell from Sturt. He had an unbelievable year at under-18s level this year. He’s a big chance to win the McCallum-Tomkins Medal.
“He’s at about 182 (centimetres). An inside mid that just finds the footy and has great vision. He sees the game really quickly, probably the best I’ve seen at seeing the game quickly and making really good decisions.
“Cook’s jumped up late, he’s another one.
“The one that everyone has forgotten about because he’s had a knee reconstruction is Kane Baldwin.
“As a 16-year-old, he was the one that could have been anything. He’s a centre half-forward, almost Tex Walker-ish. Big body, kicks the ball nicely, big strong catch on him.
“I reckon don’t write him off because once he gets his body right, he’s going to be pretty good.”