New and old: SA’s AFL rookies
A broad range of South Australian players received their AFL opportunity yesterday in the AFL rookie draft.
Second year Bulldog Josh Glenn was the first SA player selected at pick six and he’s Gold Coast bound.
He was watching the draft online at home with his family, and a phone call from the Suns came soon after.
“There are a bundle of emotions – I was nervous, excited, bubbling over – yeah, I was pretty relieved when my name came up,” Glenn told InDaily.
“On reflection I feel the work and commitment I’ve made over the last two years at Central District has now been worthwhile.”
In 2012 Glenn was playing division four amateur football with the Elizabeth Eagles, before a break out SANFL season in 2013, during which he won the Powerade Rising Star award. He backed up his first winter at the Ponderosa with a strong 2014 campaign.
Other senior listed SANFL players collected in the rookie draft included the South Adelaide pair of Tom Fields and Keegan Brooksby, along with Nathan Krakouer and Anthony Wilson.
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For Krakouer, this is his second stint at the Power after playing 40 games between 2007 and 2010, before joining Gold Coast in ’11.
He was one of the Magpies stars in the 2014 SANFL Grand Final loss, while Wilson played a key role for the victors in that game, Norwood, as a hard running and creative small forward.
“It is pretty incredible,” said Wilson, who was playing country footy at Meningie in 2013.
“I’m a bit stunned, but it’s slowly sinking in.
“The second half of the year has been pretty amazing – a premiership and this caps it off.”
Brooksby is the son of 300-game Panthers great Phil and came into the code after playing basketball through his youth. He is seen as one of the premier ruckmen in SANFL football. His club colleague Fields has gained a strong reputation as a defender.
One of the great stories to come out of the rookie draft is key position player Keenan Ramsey, from Marble Range, near Port Lincoln, who lost an eye at the age of four. After an impressive under 18s campaign with South Australia, he gets a chance on the Crows rookie list.
“I did barrack for the Power, but I’m an Adelaide man,” Ramsey said with a smile.
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“Like many around the country I was with the family watching on a computer. It’s certainly good to see your name come up.”
Ramsey was a three-year boarder at SA most renowned football school Sacred Heart, adding his name to a rich list of draftees from that institution.
Sturt’s Tom Read, a young ruck talent who played against side Ramsey in the title winning SA under 18s team, was grabbed by Geelong with their first rookie pick, at number 14 overall.
“I’m overjoyed, as I wasn’t really expecting that,” Read said, about being drafted to the Cats.
“‘Gorey’ (Sturt team mate Dean Gore) and ‘Grego’ (Corey Gregson) are already over at Geelong, so it’s great to have a SA contingent there.
“I’d only spoken to Geelong at the draft combine, but I’m grateful to get a chance.
Adelaide took 19-year-old, 201cm Riley O’Brien from the Calder Cannons footy factory with their initial pick, bolstering their ruck capacity with an interstate option instead of taking a home grown talent. The academically impressive O’Brien finished secondary school with a tertiary entrance score of 99.6.
Veteran Tom Logan, after being dropped from Port’s senior list at the end of ’14 campaign, was re-engaged as a rookie for 2015.
Former Crow Shaun McKernan has also found a new home and a second opportunity with Essendon.
South Australian rookies drafted
Selection Number – Player – SANFL club – AFL club
6 – Josh Glenn – Central District – Gold Coast
14 – Tom Read – Sturt – Geelong
16 – Nathan Krakouer – Port Adelaide – Port Adelaide
27 – Keenan Ramsey – Port Adelaide – Adelaide
34 – Tom Logan – Port Adelaide – Port Adelaide
41 – Tom Fields – South Adelaide – Carlton
42 – Keegan Brooksby – South Adelaide – Gold Coast
44 – Anthony Wilson – Norwood – Adelaide
51 – Johann Wagner – Central District – Port Adelaide (via reality TV show The Recruit)
Adelaide’s selections
9 – Reilly O’Brien (Calder Cannons)
27 – Keenan Ramsey
44 – Anthony Wilson
Port’s selections
14 – Nathan Krakouer
34 – Tom Logan
51 – Johann Wagner
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