Pick 1 contender Dyson Sharp will commence his 2025 SANFL campaign at the league level for Central Districts as he looks to strengthen his workload against senior state-level opposition.
Sharp, who hails from the Barossa District, will suit up for the Bulldogs in their season opener against Woodville-West Torrens on Saturday.
A big-bodied and bullish onballer, the 17-year-old played five games under senior coach Paul Thomas in 2024 during his bottom-age season, with Sharp featuring in the Dogs' three finals.
A qualifying final win over Sturt saw Sharp collect 21 disposals, five clearances, four inside 50s and a goal to flex his value as a teenager on the SANFL stage, with solid outings following in the weeks after despite Centrals suffering successive defeats.
A Round 1 matchup with fellow 2024 finalist Woodville-West Torrens has seen the Dogs throw the keys to Sharp to start his draft run at the top level of SA football, with Sharp not named for the Dogs' first two U18s games.
A season mostly positioned at the league level could do the Pick 1 chance wonders as he builds his case under the close watch of AFL recruiters, looking to follow in the footsteps of reigning Pick 4 selection and SA teammate Sid Draper.
Draper played nine SANFL league matches before being recruited to Adelaide last November, with his six-game run at South Adelaide a highlight in his stellar 2024 season.
Sharp and Draper were dominant forces in South Australia's U18s side at the National Championships last year, combining with Camporeale twins Ben and Lucas to create a formidable engine room ensemble.
Across his four games for the Croweaters as an age 17 prospect, Sharp averaged 17.8 disposals, 5.5 tackles and 5.3 inside 50s per game.
Sharp is one of four South Australians named in this year's AFL Academy, with Central Districts teammate Matt Leray, North Adelaide's Sam Cumming and Sturt's Harley Barker also featuring in the 28-prospect squad.
The latter trio will all feature for their respective sides' U18s teams this weekend for Round 3 of the season, with Sharp's absence alleviated by the number of promising prospects who call Elizabeth Oval home.
Leray, who trained with the Crows over the summer alongside Sharp, has enjoyed a solid start to his season in the U18s midfield, while defender Josh Reichelt has been a standout to date, averaging 32 disposals, 10 marks, four inside 50s and 5.5 rebound 50s per game while moving the ball at 84 per cent efficiency.
Key forward Dusty Geister has also been one of promise across his pair of appearances this season, while leading 2026 prospect Dougie Cochrane was pivotal in the Dogs' one-point win over Sturt's U18s side last weekend.
