ADELAIDE Crows fans will be cursing the revised Next Generation Academy (NGA) bidding rules, given the club’s ties to North Adelaide tall Isaac Keeler in this year’s AFL Draft. The talented ruck-forward has been on the radar for a few years now, having produced exciting patches of play in the Roosters’ SANFL Under 18s side.

Should he attract a bid within the top 40 picks at year’s end, Adelaide will not be able to match and get access to Keeler as an NGA product. That means all 17 other clubs will likely be in play for the 18-year-old, who offers rare athletic upside at 198cm and the type of x-factor that can turn games.

In his latest Under 18s outing, Keeler produced his best goalkicking numbers yet as the Roosters downed South Adelaide by 26 points on the road, for their fifth-straight win. We put Keeler’s Round 5 performance under the Player Focus microscope.

North AdelaideRuck Forward

Isaac Keeler

Height: 198cm

Weight: 89kg

DOB: 23-04-2004

Strengths:

Athleticism

Clearances

Goal sense

Kicking

Mobility

Upside

Improvements:

Consistency

Contested marking

SEASON SO FAR:

Averages (5 games): 16.6 disposals, 4.4 marks, 0.8 tackles, 2.0 clearances, 2.6 inside 50s, 6.8 hitouts, 1.4 goals (7 total)

Coming into the season as one to watch, Keeler has continually shown glimpses of his best form and started out in style. He booted 2.3 from 19 disposals and six marks against Central District in Round 1, and despite going goalless in the next two weeks, ticked up to 20 touches and four clearances against South Adelaide in Round 3. In a goalkicking sense, four of his seven majors came in Round 5 against the Panthers.

2022 SANFL Under 18s – Round 5
North Adelaide 12.11 (83) def. South Adelaide 8.9 (57)

Stats: 13 disposals (9 kicks, 4 handballs), 3 marks, 1 clearance, 1 inside 50, 1 rebound 50, 5 hitouts, 4 goals 

FIRST QUARTER

It was a steady start for Keeler in the opening quarter, as he got his hands on the ball twice rotating through the ruck from his usual forward post. Stationed as North Adelaide’s deepest forward, the delivery was not quite there for Keeler to truly excel inside 50.

On a few occasions, he could only manage to get one hand to the ball when flying under a long kick inside 50, forced to leap straight up rather than getting that fluent run and jump at the contest.

His first touch came shortly after attending his maiden centre bounce, as he scooped up a ground ball and flicked it out under tackling pressure. Later, he had a bit more space on a handball receive in the corridor and kicked wide to half-forward in front of a leading teammate.

In the way of ruckwork, Keeler showcased his lovely leap against Will Verrall and Thomas Welk, but unfortunately North Adelaide went 0-3 at the centre bounces he attended. Keeler held his own around the ground too, able to at least get his hand to the ball even if his direction needed a touch of polish.

SECOND QUARTER

Again playing out of full forward, an early opportunity presented for Keeler to get on the board. As North Adelaide surged forward from the opening centre bounce, Keeler drew a free kick inside 50 but put the resultant 30-metre set shot wide.

South began to turn the screws and owned a heap of the territory in term two, so opportunities were limited for the talented tall. Still, Keeler got his goal late in the quarter, parked in the goalsquare for an uncontested mark as the Roosters broke quickly inside 50.

In between those scoring moments, Keeler had one quick rotation through the ruck and also notched a goal assist for Jed Dignan. Gathering on the bounce inside 50, Keeler quickly handed off to the running number 13 for a classy major.

With 1.1 for the half and plenty of time spent operating very close to goal, we had not seen much of Keeler’s marking exploits or athleticism around the ground. That was all, of course, to come.

THIRD QUARTER

Keeler kicked off term three with a bang. After being spoiled on North’s first forward 50 entry, a ruck infringement went his way and he slammed home a 50-metre set shot with just a tick under 90 second on the clock. Perfect start.

He produced another couple of moments more typical of his raw talent, first collecting a half-volley with aplomb on the lead, and next running the ball forward from the wing before hitting a searing pass to Jack Hodges on the attacking arc.

He linked with Hodges a couple of times as the two swapped ruck-forward roles, with a flying shot from 45 off Keeler’s boot assisting the number three’s goal. A special grab and handball out of the centre bounce ruck contest was Keeler’s other eye-catching moment, as his dynamism came to the fore.

On the flip-side, he showed there was clear room for improvement in his contested work. He passed up a couple of opportunities to crash packs inside 50, and for a player so good at ground level, was beaten in terms of follow-up work and by South’s rucks. Still, the signs were there.

FOURTH QUARTER

Isaac ‘The Sealer’ Keeler arrived in term four, as he booted two goals to help North Adelaide see off its fifth-straight win. While the going was tough with plenty of bomb kicks inside 50, Keeler took his opportunities when they presented.

The talented tall broke a six-minute deadlock for his first major of the term, leaning on his athleticism to gather a ball which snuck over the back, and snapping home on the turn. His next goal was more straightforward, taking front position as the ball fell in his lap from a forward 50 stoppage. The 15-metre conversion was a formality.

Looking at Keeler’s game as a whole, the ‘wow’ moments are still there and the raw talent he showed as an under-ager remains. To be somewhat critical, three of his four goals were kicked within 15 metres of the big sticks, and the other was a free kick, which won’t always pass at the next level.

Going forward, if Keeler can convert his highlight reel into a feature length film over four quarters, watch out. He has all the pieces with athleticism, the ability to win the ball both aerially and below his knees, and a touch of x-factor.

Those traits alone will see him attract interest within the top 40 zone, which is obviously unideal for Adelaide. He looms as a highly developable type, but has room for improvement to catch up to others in a draft well stocked with key position prospects.