WHILE the fresh cycle of draft prospects often come with high hopes garnered from strong bottom-age campaigns, Memphis Webb was sidelined for nearly all of his. The North Adelaide midfielder racked up 32 disposals in his only full appearance last year before an ACL tear stopped him in his tracks.

Now, Webb has pencilled in a return date for early in the AAMI Talent League season and will look to impact a representative squad hunting its second consecutive title. We sat down for an interview with Webb at the South Australian preseason testing combine in Adelaide on Sunday.

Q&A

Q: Memphis, can you walk me through your footy journey and how you got to where you are now?

MW: I started club [footy] pretty late, it was about Under 10s when I started playing for Tea Tree Gully. I played for them up until Under 14s and then I’ve pretty much been with North (Adelaide), full-time from 15s through to now.

Q: It’s been a prolonged preseason for you, so how has it been managing your recovery and stepping into the state program?

MW: It’s been good. I just spent a lot of time when I wasn’t playing footy trying to do other things that would just keep me occupied. But footy focus was still a thing, so I got in the gym as much as I could and tried to put some serious strength and size. Then as it got into more running and I could use my legs more, just trying to get my fitness back up. Obviously that drops away a bit when you don’t run for four months or so.

Q: What sort of things were you doing outside of footy?

MW: I was trying to just get out the house as much as I could. So hanging out with mates, and I got pretty heavily into golf. Tried to get my swing good. I tried all different things, just trying to get a bit of variety because I’m so used to it being just footy, so tried to find other things.

Q: Do you have a timeline on your return?

MW: Yeah, Round 3 against Sturt at Unley Oval. I’ve got it pretty locked in, I’m looking forward to it.

Q: When you return to the field, are you looking to nail down that midfield spot once again?

MW: Yeah, that’s the focus. Just trying to get that midfield craft back. I feel like my skills and stuff are back where they were, if not better. Just midfield craft, working on that and then being able to have that squirt forward when I need to and try and impact down there.

Q: What are some of your strengths, and some areas you’re still working on?

MW: My strength is definitely strength in the contest. So just physical power and being clean with the ball in tight. Some things I want work on are just that burst out of contest. I’m all good at getting the ball, but then trying to get on the outside. I’m working on my kick a bit, so I feel like my kick’s in a good state now. That was the one thing I wanted to work on coming into preseason, just trying to be a bit more damaging when I do get on the outside.

Q: Do you watch a lot of footy?

MW: Bits and pieces. I did a lot more last year when I wasn’t playing… I’m a Crows man.

Q: Are there any players you model your game on?

MW: Not really from the Crows. I like [Patrick] Cripps because he’s a bigger body. He’s pretty strong and powerful so I try to take a few things out of his game. And [Marcus] Bontempelli, he’s so classy and he’s really good to watch. I just try and pick bits and pieces from everyone’s game and try and make a bit of a complete game in myself.

Q: What sort of goals have you set up to achieve this year?

MW: The first one would be to get back and playing and get through my first game. Then after that it’s just trying to play consistent footy and hopefully play well enough to play in the National Champs this year. Then the end goal is to get drafted.

Q: Is there a teammate you think we should look out for to have a big year?

MW: Two that weren’t in the state program, Alby Bradshaw and Bradley Rogers. Both terrific leaders, I reckon they’re pretty handy towards the team. Then obviously in the state program, Ethan Herbert. I reckon he’ll have a pretty big year. Rate him pretty highly.

>> State in Focus: 2026 South Australia Under 18s