South Australia captain Sid Draper looms as a strong chance to land in the opening five selections of November's AFL Draft despite an injury-hit campaign.
The lightning-quick and agile onballer had a delayed start to his draft season due to a stress fracture in his shin, while a chronic pars defect in his back saw him miss the recent AFL Draft Combine.
Nevertheless, Draper's form across the year - coupled with his stellar bottom-age campaign - has kept the South Adelaide talent right towards the top of the draft board.
The younger brother of former Collingwood-listed midfield-forward Arlo, Draper was a shining light for his state at the U18s National Championships as a leading force in a midfield unit that also boasted Camporeale twins Ben and Lucas as well as 2025 prospect Dyson Sharp.
Draper averaged 21.0 disposals, 3.3 inside 50s, 3.8 clearances and 5.5 score involvements across his quartet of appearances for the Croweaters after entering the carnival underdone, proving to show his value as an exciting midfield talent.
The second half of the year saw Draper enter a purple patch of form, with the teenager featuring in six games at the senior SANFL level for the Panthers. He would be able to replicate similar numbers against some of the best state league opposition in the country, going at 22.2 disposals, 3.7 inside 50s, 4.7 clearances, 4.5 score involvements and 6.2 tackles during his spell for South Adelaide, adding to a trio of promising performances at the same level a year ago.
2023 also saw Draper take out the MVP award for South Australia's U18s carnival as a bottom-ager, firmly raising his stocks ahead of his draft year.
Between senior matches and injury battles, Draper did manage one game for South Adelaide's U18s side, with the Willunga native amassing 31 disposals, five marks, six tackles and nine inside 50s in a win over North Adelaide.
His balance of speed, power, ball-winning nous, evasiveness and agility have seen Draper model his game off Sydney superstar Chad Warner and Port Adelaide pair Zak Butters and Connor Rozee.
Adelaide at Pick 4 look to be one of the more likely landing spots for the South Australian, while Carlton, North Melbourne and St Kilda could also call out Draper's name given their place toward the front of the queue.
Position: Midfielder
Height: 182cm
State: South Australia
Club: Willunga
Speed
Senior Experience
Evasiveness
Leadership
Work Rate
Pick 1-7
North Melbourne (Pick 2)
Carlton (Pick 3)
Adelaide (Pick 4)
St Kilda (Picks 7 and 8)
"Sid is a midfielder with high-end football talent, athletic ability whilst also possessing an unconditional work ethic. Sid has been working hard on his ball use by foot when exiting stoppage at speed." - Tony Bamford