SANFL News

Each SANFL club’s best recruit for 2024

With SANFL squads settling, we look at the big name each club has signed for the season ahead.

Published by
Jordan Routley

The summer of off-season signings is nearing an end as SANFL clubs begin placing their priorities on fine-tuning their game plans for the season ahead.

While some have been busier than others, all ten clubs have added to their list to strengthen their premiership chances for 2024.

Here we've named the top recruit at each SANFL club since the end of last season.

Adelaide Crows - Oscar Ryan

Given the Crows' current injury crisis in defence, new draftee Oscar Ryan may be called upon for an AFL debut in 2024, but if not he will be a valuable addition to the SANFL squad.

Taken with Pick 27 in last year's National Draft from the Murray Bushrangers in the Coates Talent League, Ryan is a 187cm rebound defender with a combination of both speed and toughness at the contest.

He finished runner-up in the Bushrangers' best and fairest and played all four U18 National Carnival matches for Vic Country.

Central Districts - Kai Pudney

Off the back of a semi-final appearance in 2023, the Bulldogs managed to lure experienced wingman Kai Pudney from the Eagles for 2024.

A premiership player in 2021, Pudney managed only five games last season following a serious ankle injury, but he is fully fit and ready to fire at his new home.

Pudney has played 54 league games, including 15 with Port Adelaide after being drafted by the Power as a Category B rookie in 2019.

Standing at 186cm, Pudney has the aerobic capacity and body strength to play both inside and outside midfield roles.

Glenelg - Will Gould

The reigning premiers received a major boost in the off-season with the news that former premiership defender Will Gould will return to the Bay in 2024.

Gould spent four years on Sydney's AFL list after being drafted with Pick 26 in the 2019 AFL Draft but received limited opportunities, playing four games in 2023 before being delisted in October.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JULY 03: Will Gould of South Australia handpasses the ball during the AFL 2019 U18 Championships match between South Australia and the Allies at Marvel Stadium on July 03, 2019 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

The 191cm defender was named the VFL Team of the Year in 2022 and managed 15 league games with Glenelg in 2019 as an 18-year-old, including the premiership win over Port Adelaide.

He will bolster what was already the best defence in the competition and provide valuable cover for the departing Toby Pink, who was picked up by North Melbourne as a delisted free agent.

North Adelaide - Cody Raak

North Adelaide has added defensive reinforcement for season 2024 with the signing of Cody Raak from the Western Bulldogs.

A 194cm key defender, Raak spent two years on the Bulldogs' AFL list after being drafted as a Next Generation Academy player in 2021.

Unable to break in for an AFL appearance, Raak played 40 VFL games with the Bulldogs and will slot straight into a defence that will be without Cameron Craig and Ben Jarman in 2024.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - DECEMBER 01: Cody Raak, Jamarra Ugle-Hagan and Luke Cleary of the Bulldogs train during a Western Bulldogs AFL media opportunity at Whitten Oval on December 01, 2021 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Mike Owen/Getty Images)

Raak also has the ability to move forward and hit the scoreboard, kicking 18 goals across two seasons with the Dogs.

Norwood - Ben Simpson

Norwood landed another Tasmanian in the off-season, luring star midfielder Ben Simpson from North Launceston in the Tasmanian State League.

Simpson finished runner-up in the Alastair Lynch Medal and the Player of the Year Award in 2023, staking his claim as one of the best players in the competition.

He was also picked to represent his state against Queensland in last year's representative game.

An inside midfielder who averages 25 disposals per game, Simpson will be crucial in filling the void left by departing midfielders Nik Rokhar and Matthew Nunn.

Port Adelaide - Tom Anastasopoulos

Port Adelaide used their first pick of last year's AFL draft to select small forward Tom Anastasopoulos from Geelong Falcons.

With Willie Rioli, Sam Powell-Pepper and Jed McEntee currently holding down small forward spots for the Power, it is likely Anastasopoulos will spend some time in the SANFL in 2024.

The 176cm pressure forward kicked 21 goals in 11 games for Geelong Falcons in last year's Coates Talent League, proving a threat both with and without the ball.

South Adelaide - Arlo Draper

South Adelaide will welcome home former junior Arlo Draper after two years on Collingwood's AFL list.

Drafted with Pick 45 in 2021, Draper was unable to break into the Magpies' strong AFL side, but played 31 VFL games before being delisted last year.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - MAY 12: Arlo Draper of the Magpies is challenged by Brayden Maynard of the Magpies during a Collingwood Magpies AFL training session at Olympic Park Oval on May 12, 2023 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)

Measuring in at 186cm, Draper was drafted as a midfield-forward but spent much of his time in the VFL as a rebound defender, which will help to shore up what was the leakiest defence in the competition last year.

Sturt - Will Snelling

Sturt clinched one of the biggest recruiting moves of the off-season when they signed former Essendon small forward Will Snelling.

A premiership player with West Adelaide in 2015, Snelling knocked back the offer to return to his junior club, instead picking the Double Blues.

Snelling played 64 AFL games with the Bombers after being picked up in the 2019 Mid-Season draft from West Adelaide.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - AUGUST 03: Will Snelling (left) and Andrew McGrath of the Bombers celebrate during the 2019 AFL round 20 match between the Essendon Bombers and the Port Adelaide Power at Marvel Stadium on August 03, 2019 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

While playing predominantly as a small forward at Essendon, Sturt will be hoping he can push higher up the field and apply his speed and dare around the contest.

West Adelaide - Patrick Wilson

They may have picked up their fifth consecutive wooden spoon in 2023, but the Bloods pulled off perhaps the biggest coup of the off-season in signing Patrick Wilson from Sturt.

The veteran midfielder has struggled with injury in recent years and will miss the first half of the season as he recovers from an ACL injury

If he can keep fit and on the park, he will undoubtedly add much-needed experience and firepower to a young team that has seen little success in recent times.

Wilson has long been a star of the competition, winning dual SANFL best and fairests in his time on the Crows' AFL list, in which he also played two AFL games.

Woodville-West Torrens - Josh Morris

Woodville-West Torrens' quest to return to finals action received a boost with the news that former junior Josh Morris will return to the club in 2024.

Morris spent four years on Hawthorn's AFL list after being taken with Pick 57 in the 2019 draft, amassing 15 games before being delisted last year.

Morris was a key member of the Eagles' 2019 U18s premiership, kicking 33 goals in seven games.

Former Hawthorn defender Josh Morris for Box Hill with coach Sam Mitchell, 2021 (Image via Hawthorn FC)

During his time at Hawthorn he transitioned into a defender, potentially giving new coach Sam Jacobs the flexibility to play Morris in attack and defence.

Published by
Jordan Routley