Port Adelaide and Adelaide are set to benefit from a major boost in South Australia's talent pathway.
Two new Academy coaches have been appointed – one employed by each South Australian AFL club – to foster the state's elite male talent, with a focus on their respective Next Generation Academies.
It comes ahead of a period where the Power are set to benefit from their NGA, with 2026 AFL Draft Pick 1 contender Dougie Cochrane approved as part of the club's Academy last month.
In a separate development, Cochrane has been approved to play full-time for the Power's SANFL side and spend the year in the club's football program.
Zemes Pilot is viewed as one of the leading 2027 talents, while Tevita Rodan – son of David – and Louis Salopek – son of Stephen – are other leading 2027 prospects tied to the Power.
North Adelaide's Zach Young (Port Adelaide) and West Adelaide's Anthony Long (Adelaide) are other members of the U18s State Academy who will benefit immediately from the investment.
The investment will provide those players with further coaching and improve their holistic development ahead of joining an AFL list, with greater alignment between SANFL talent and the AFL a key focus.
South Adelaide U18s premiership coach Mark Clayton has been appointed by Port Adelaide as its Academies coach, while Sturt U18s coach Chris Trapp will fill the corresponding role at Adelaide.
Both will help mentor the SANFL U18s coaches while continuing to play a key role in preparing the U16s and U18s National Championships squads.
SANFL Head of Talent Sean Toohey said the key aim of the new Academy structure was to increase collaboration between SANFL and AFL clubs to further improve outcomes for talented footballers in SA.
“The new SA Academy structure is aimed at building strong connections between SANFL, the eight SANFL Clubs and two AFL Clubs to develop the best homegrown talented players,” Toohey said.
“Ultimately, we want to develop more talented footballers who are well equipped for success at either AFL or SANFL level.
“Already we saw the benefits of an extended Academy program, now spanning 13 weeks between December and March, with South Australian players representing a significant 23 per cent of last month's AFL Draft, including a record seven players selected in round one.
“This fantastic result for South Australian talent also came on the back of SA's success in winning this year's Under-18 AFL National Championships.”
“Ultimately, we want to develop more talented footballers who are well equipped for success at either AFL or SANFL level.''
The new roles form part of a significant strategic investment into talent development in SA which has seen an expanded Under-18 boys Academy program introduced two years ago and the development of the $25 million high performance facility at West Lakes, to be opened in December.
The benefits of the work were underlined in 2025, with 14 Crow Eaters selected at the AFL Draft, including seven in the first round following an undefeated U18s National Championships campaign.
That number could yet swell with two South Australians training at Port Adelaide to try to win a list spot in the SSP.
It comes at a time where Victoria's talent pathway has been questioned, with private school football preventing many prospects from taking part in practice matches, and unlike other states, neither Vic Metro nor Vic Country having dedicated head coaches, with the programs instead charged by Talent League coaches.
