After winning the national under 18s championships for a second successive year, surprisingly South Australia goes into the national draft this week with few certain pick-ups.

Riverland product Sam Durdin, who finished off the season strongly playing league football and winning the Alan Stewart Medal as best on ground in SANFL Under 18s premiership win by West Adelaide, is our single potential top 10 pick-up.

Billy Stretch already has a place in the Melbourne squad through the father-son rule, but after that there is a lot of conjecture about who may be selected in one of the most open drafts since this system started back in 1986.

SA talent guru Brenton Phillips and title-winning Under 18s state coach confirmed this year’s AFL draft to be held on the Gold Coast, on Thursday, 27 November, was very open.

“What our lack of draft certainties this year highlights the fact that we had a very even team at the national championships,” Phillips told InDaily.

“Billy (Stretch) has already found a home, while Alex Neal-Bullen and Sam (Durdin) are AFL draftable types.

“Sam could go as high as five, but he could be a sneaky chance to drift out to 14, where the Crows have their first pick currently.

“This year is intriguing as there could be only about 60 live picks, with the players that have already been committed to clubs under the father-son and academy selections.

“There are also a few recycled players, like Taylor Hunt, who has just been taken by Richmond, which further decreases positions.”

Including the rookie draft, Phillips expects at least 10 South Australians to enter the AFL system for the first time.

“We’ve had strong success at the draft over the previous five years, but I’m a little more nervous about this one,” he said.

On the eastern seaboard, the 197cm, 87kg Durdin’s stocks seemed to have been lowered after modest performances at the national titles.

Many didn’t take into consideration the injury that sidelined Durdin for 12 weeks and forced him out for the opening month of the season.

In the next group of candidates to come out of the under 18s system are Port Adelaide talent Declan Hamilton, Corey Gregson from Glenelg (judged most valuable player for the Croweaters at the national champs), North Adelaide’s precise left-footer Harrison Wigg, the Double Blues pair of midfielder Dean Gore and high marking athletic forward James Rose, along with small men Caleb Daniel and Jake Johansen.

Keenan Ramsey, a tall key position player who comes from the famous football nursery at Sacred Heart, is another who was at the national draft combine. Originally from the Eyre Peninsula, he lost an eye aged four, but has adapted brilliantly.

Interesting cases are Norwood’s tough inside midfielder Peter Bampton, who was injured during the SANFL season and missed the titles, and 200cm Sturt ruckman Tom Read.

There are a good handful of experienced senior footballers in the mix, including Bulldog Josh Glenn, South Adelaide forward Brett Eddy, and Norwood premiership pair Sam Baulderstone and Matt Panos.

Out of left field are athletic talent Oleg Markov, the son of pole vaulter Dimitri Markov, and a lad who excelled in the SA state screening, Glenelg’s Ben Edwards, who is in his first year in the SANFL system after playing with Bernie Vince’s home club the CMS Crows on the Yorke Peninsula in 2013.

All prospects that don’t have their number called out on draft night will get a second chance at the AFL Pre-Season Draft and Rookie Draft on Wednesday, 3 December.

Peter Argents’ Top 10 SA Draft Prospects

Number – Name – Club – selection range

1. Sam Durdin – West Adelaide – Selection number 5 to 14
2. Alex Neal-Bullen – Glenelg – 25-40
3. Delcan Hamilton – Port Adelaide – 25-40
4. Josh Glenn – Central District – 25-50
5. Harrison Wigg – North Adelaide – 35-60
6. Corey Gregson – Glenelg – 50-rookie
7. Dean Gore – Sturt – 50-rookie
8. Caleb Daniel – South Adelaide – 50-rookie
9. Brett Eddy – South Adelaide – 60-rookie
10. Jake Johansen – Port Adelaide – 60-rookie