THE South Australian National Football League (SANFL) yesterday announced its 2021 State Talent Hub, consisting of Under 17 and 18 squads. As the AFL steps away from its national hub-based academies, South Australia has designed its own state program around the two age groups to better prepare talent for next year’s Under 17 and 19 National Championships. The 50-player Academy allows players access to a concentrated high-performance program which is set to commence next month, with another camp due in January next year.
>> SCROLL TO VIEW THE U17 & U18 TALENT HUBS
Among the prominent names in the Under 18 squad is Jason Horne, who has made his claim as the current 2021 number one pick frontrunner. The South Adelaide midfielder has already gained SANFL League experience and shone with his speed and aerial marking. Fellow Panthers Matthew Roberts and Arlo Draper are other high-end prospects to feature, while Norwood premiership player Cooper Murley would also have been one of the first names picked.
There are a few notable players already tied to clubs too, with the likes of Jase Burgoyne (Port Adelaide, father-son), Isaiah Dudley (Adelaide, NGA), and Blayne O’Loughlin (Adelaide, NGA) all earning selection. Jase is the son of Port premiership player Peter, while Dudley is the cousin of Melbourne livewire Kysaiah Pickett, and O’Loughlin is the nephew of Sydney champion Michael.
In the Under-17 crop, Jaiden Magor looms as an early leader having starred in SA the Under 17 Futures game this year. Austin McDonald is another ball winning midfielder at the top end having already established himself as a key cog in Central District’s engine room, while Kobe Ryan is an outside type with terrific run and Westies teammate Tyson Coe featured at the 2019 Under 16s championships as an under-ager. Will Verrall and Isaac Keeler are a couple of exciting, mobile talls, and the latter is tied to Adelaide’s NGA.
2021 South Australia Under 18 State Talent Hub:
Oscar Adams | Glenelg
Zac Becker | Sturt
Cooper Beecken | Glenelg
Jase Burgoyne | Eagles
Brayden Calvett | Eagles
Lukas Cooke | Eagles
Matt Dnistriansky | Norwood
Arlo Draper | South Adelaide
Isaiah Dudley | Central District
Morgan Ferres | Sturt
Cody Gilchrist | Central District
Jason Horne | South Adelaide
Declan Hortle | Sturt
Jonte Hunter-Price | Eagles
Hugh Jackson | North Adelaide
Cade Kennedy | West Adelaide
Hugo Kittel | Sturt
Shay Linke | Central District
Alastair Lord | Norwood
Cooper Murley | Norwood
Blayne O’Loughlin | North Adelaide
Jarrod Parish | Glenelg
Lewis Rayson | Glenelg
Matt Roberts | South Adelaide
Will Spain | Sturt
Hugh Stagg | Glenelg
Nasiah Wanganeen | Glenelg
Jay Watson | Eagles
Luca Whitelum | Central District
James Willis | North Adelaide
2021 South Australia Under 17 State Talent Hub:
Shaun Bennier | North Adelaide
Max Blacker | North Adelaide
Fraser Bone | West Adelaide
Oliver Britten-Jones | Sturt
Hayden Brokensha | Glenelg
Hunter Carter | Eagles
Tyson Coe | West Adelaide
Adam D’Aloia | Eagles
Isaac Keeler | North Adelaide
Harry Lemmey | West Adelaide
Jaiden Magor | South Adelaide
Austin McDonald | Central District
Taj Rahui | Norwood
Kobe Ryan | West Adelaide
Nick Sadler | Sturt
Lachlan Scannell | Glenelg
Brodie Tuck | Central District
Riley Verrall | Norwood
Will Verrall | South Adelaide
Tyson Walls | Norwood
Featured Image: Jason Horne in action for South Adelaide | Credit: Deb Curtis/SANFL