WEST AUSTRALIAN defender Jed Adams is hoping his hard work and dedication can pay off with a selection on night two of the 2022 AFL Draft tonight. A Peel Thunder talent, Adams has had limited exposure to high levels of football over the last two years due to injury, and though another injury curtailed his 2022 season, it was a far better year.

“I started with Auskick back in Kalgoorlie,” Adams said. “Started first days there, then I was kind of just playing footy from there, had a few injuries last two years 2020 and 2021 which I know dampened spirits of getting to a high level.

“This year at the start of the year I wasn’t really playing to perform well but the invite to the State Academy made me realise that I can go somewhere. That was the spark that I can do something so I started putting in the hard work and dedication then.”

That spark allowed Adams to play a key role in the Sandgropers’ defence, as well as run out for Peel in the West Australian Football League (WAFL) Colts competition. Though he had to watch on from the sidelines after getting injured late in the season, he was happy with the result and how he performed throughout the year.

“It’s pretty good, got some good competition through the WAFL and I know really just the first year in the Colts that I had this year, so good season, got the job done, won the grand final,” he said.

“It was a pretty good experience (playing for WA), great group of boys, good talent there. We got one game at the end but I was lucky to play in two games. Coach has just helped me improve my game more and more, it was a good experience.”

After a couple of frustrating seasons, the Peel Thunder tall admitted it felt good to get an extended run out on the park, and despite the lack of on-field action of late, was still able to earn a spot in the State Under 18s side.

“It’s been very good to get a good majority of the season in,” Adams said. “Had a full preseason which has been a struggle the last few years, I did that injury in Round 17 so to play all the way through to then it’s been good been able to get back and play the sport that I love and get around the boys for the full year.”

The Collingwood supporter might stand out in Western Australia, but funnily enough, he was initially a North Melbourne fan, following in the footsteps of his father. However when he was six, Adams made the choice to switch his blue stripes for black ones.

“Dad brought me up as a North Melbourne boy as dad’s North Melbourne,” Adams said. “2010 actually I changed it was before the grand final. North Melbourne weren’t playing too well so I asked dad who’s sitting on top. Pies were at the moment, so switched to them, dad said I can never switch back, I only get to change teams once so stuck with them ever since.”

Though Adams said it would be “pretty exciting” to go to the Magpies which from the outside it looks like a “good fun club”, he has no qualms to moving interstate. However the West Australian said his mother might take some convincing to get on board.

“Open to the opportunity, mum might be a bit disappointed losing another one of her children because my sister’s over in America at the moment,” Adams said. “She might be upset, but I won’t be too mad, I might get mum getting off me about cleaning dishes.”

His favourite AFL player is ‘Buddy’ Franklin and though he grew up as a forward-ruck wanting to play like Franklin, now Adams the defender would love nothing more than to play against him. He conceded the 1000-plus goalkicking machine might “give me a bath”, he said it would be a great honour to step on the field with him.

As for his own personal draft aspirations, Adams said he was not expecting anything – much like the Draft Combine – but was thrilled to get an invite among so many other talented young players.

“I wasn’t really expecting it (Combine invite) to be honest,” he said. “First year on the scene, and didn’t think I was playing exceptionally well where I could get an invite. Clearly doubting myself but can’t be doing that now, got the invite, just got to believe that I can get picked up.”