Could Riley Knight be handed an AFL lifeline?
The 26-year-old was delisted by the Adelaide Crows last year after 55 games over six seasons.
Knight is starring in the SANFL with Woodville-West Torrens as a midfielder having not been afforded enough opportunities in the role at AFL level.
Ahead of the mid-season draft next month, former AFL recruiter Matt Rendell speculated about Knight’s future and how he could see him perhaps fitting in at Port Adelaide given their apparent lack of depth through the midfield.
“I think Riley Knight will be in there (the draft),” Rendell said on SEN SA’s Kymbo & The Rooch.
“I think someone who is a bit light on for midfielders might have a crack. You know what? Even Port might have a crack, but I don’t know.
“They are light on. They got found out again on the weekend for their depth of midfield. Heavy reliance on (Travis) Boak and (Ollie) Wines, even though the other bloke are doing ok.
“Riley Knight can play that negative midfield role and they might think about that.”
Knight picked up 30 disposals, five tackles and six inside 50s as the SANFL state side accounted for the WAFL last weekend.
Rendell also touched on Knight’s Eagles teammate Tyson Stengle, formerly of Adelaide and Richmond, who is reportedly attracting interest from Collingwood.
He believes Stengle may actually be a better fit for Carlton with the injured Jack Martin better suited up the ground and Eddie Betts coming to the end of his career.
“Stengle would be ideal at Carlton. Stengle is a natural small forward, kicks goals in all different ways,” he said.
“Jack Martin is more of a midfield type, not a small forward. He’s more of a marking type.
“Eddie (Betts) is in his last year even though he’s kicked a few goals. Wouldn’t be writing him off completely yet.
“Carlton can certainly use him (Stengle).
“I know they’re (Collingwood) interested with their third pick but I know they’re interested in another player as well. Depends if they go tall or small.”
Rendell is also expecting the Gold Coast Suns to make a play for Norwood ruckman Michael Knoll, who was picked up by Sydney in the 2019 mid-season draft.
“I think they’ll go for Knoll,” Rendell said of the Suns.
“They’re desperate for a bloke who is ready to go as a ruck. He’ll be competitive, as we know. He’s not going to tear anything apart, but they need a ruckman who is ready to go.
“I’m hearing that it’s possibly him.”
Another Woodville player, Jack Hayes, is also in the mix.
Hayes, who also played for the SANFL side, has been loosely linked with the Crows but Rendell can’t see why they would pursue the ruck/forward as they are suited in that position already.
“I haven’t heard Jack Hayes,” he said further.
“He rucks for Woodville-West Torrens but he played as a forward last week in the state game and kicked three.
“I haven’t heard that mentioned but I’m trying to think who the Crows have as their ruckmen. Obviously (Reilly) O’Brien who rarely misses, you’ve got (Riley) Thilthorpe and (Billy) Frampton. You’ve got (Elliott) Himmelberg there as well.
“I wouldn’t have thought you would need to take Jack Hayes, unless they’re thinking that Himmelberg could end up back. That’s the only thing I’m thinking.”
The mid-season draft takes place on Wednesday, June 2 between Rounds 11 and 12 of the AFL season.