SA clubs urged to bring Bombers gun back home

The Adelaide Crows and Port Adelaide would be derelict in their duties if they weren’t working behind the scenes to bring top South Australian talent back to the state.

One player in this situation who jumps out is Essendon’s Dyson Sharp who was selected with Pick 13 out of SANFL club Central District in last year’s draft.

Sharp, who captained the SA Under-18 team in 2025, is contracted with the Bombers until the end of 2030.

But that shouldn’t stop the Crows and Power from looking at him down the track, says SANFL State coach Tony Bamford.

Bamford was asked: Is Sharp a player both the Crows and Power should be speaking to?

“Absolutely,” Bamford said on SEN SA Breakfast.

“If they’re doing their jobs properly they’ll be trying to get him back. For sure.

“He’s a remarkable human, not just an awesome footballer. Just a remarkable person.

“Certainly the best leader I’ve been lucky enough to work with in my time at the SANFL.

“Superstar person, superstar player, and both clubs should be trying to get him back.”

Sharp played 15 AFL games and averaged a tick under 18 disposals as well as three clearances in his debut Dons campaign.

He finished seventh in the Crichton Medal and won the Lindsay Griffiths Rising Star award.

Bamford was quizzed on the importance of a club like Port, who will have one of the youngest playing lists in 2027, looking at local players in this year’s draft.

“I think AFL clubs are now definitely more mindful of that (player movement) when they draft a player,” he added.

“So I think you’ll see AFL clubs target local players where possible. They’ll always take the best talent, particularly at the top end of the draft.

“But getting local players into your club and getting them comfortable without having to go interstate is certainly an advantage.

“For our sake hopefully Port and the Crows can dig deep into the SA pool. If not, there’s still plenty of good players here for other AFL clubs to come and have a look at as well.

“I think your point about the local players is certainly becoming more prevalent now.”

Listen below to the full chat with Bamford which also shines the spotlight on some 2026 SA draft hopefuls: