Brenton Phillips says plenty of talent to be had at the AFL draftAnne Mather
Adelaide Advertiser
October 19, 2015SANFL high performance manager Brenton Phillips has hit back at the draft doomsayers, saying there is plenty of quality to be found in this year’s AFL draft pool.
Former Hawthorn recruiting manager Gary Buckenara claims the 2015 draft crop is thin, with three clear groups — an elite top 10, a quality group from 11-to-30 and then speculative picks from pick 31 at the national draft through to the pre-season and rookie drafts.
But Phillips, SA’s under-18 coach, insists the draft depth is not much different to any other year and that rich pickings are there to be had for clubs who do their homework and spend time developing their young players.
“I come out of the development side of football and you watch 18-year-old young men develop and some develop really quickly and some take a little bit of time,’’ Phillips said after watching 13 SANFL players be put through their paces at the State screening session at Netball SA Stadium.
“If you want to invest a bit of time in finding something you’ll find something pretty special from around pick 60 onwards.
“You’ve got to have good structures in place in football clubs, you’ve got to support and you’ve got to actually bring them along slowly.
“Some will jump out really quickly at you but you’ll also get some diamonds down the bottom.
“If you want to develop properly and let them come at their own rate you will still get some really good footballers.’’
Phillips forecast SA could have 15 players drafted this year, with about 10 to be taken at the national draft — to be held in Adelaide on November 24 — and five in the rookie draft.
He said West Adelaide utility Aaron Francis and Central District midfielder/forward Wayne Milera were SA’s two standouts and likely top-10 picks.
High-leaping North Adelaide forward Ryan Burton is the top-10 wildcard, according to Phillips.
Burton did not play a game this year after badly breaking his leg in a college game last year.
“The one you’ve got to assess is Ryan Burton,’’ Phillips said.
“Everyone is trying to get their head around his injury, what that looks like and how he will develop.
“Clearly his talent is good enough to be in the top 10 of the draft this year so it’s just a matter of determining where he’s at as far as injury is concerned.
“Adelaide last year took a punt with Jake Lever (selected at No. 14 following reconstructive knee surgery) and it paid dividends and I think Ryan is in a similar boat.’’
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