STRENGTHS:

+ Aerial ability
+ Overhead marking
+ Scoreboard impact
+ Set shot goalkicking

IMPROVEMENTS:

- Fitness
- In-between size

Perhaps somewhat of an unknown out of the South Australian crop, Jay Polkinghorne remains on the draft radar despite missing out on the Under 18 National Championships. A knee injury in preseason scuppered his early-season run, though he did enough thereafter to be called up to Norwood's Reserves side.

There, Polkinghorne ended up a premiership player after bagging two goals from 17 disposals and eight marks in the Grand Final. It was arguably his best performance at the level. Such was his scoreboard impact this season, that throughout five Reserves appearances and six in the Under 18 grade, he was never held goalless.

Among the range of weapons at Polkinghorne's disposal are his marking ability and reliable set shot routine. He moves well for a player his size (191cm) but is also strong overhead, drawing comparisons to Charlie Curnow for both attributes. On top of that, he finishes his chances over the mark with assuredness.

Polkinghorne has a ways to go if he is to meet Curnow's running capacity, however. Having the disrupted preseason doesn't help, and while he can be an effective link player up the line, it won't hurt to continue to build his endurance base. He presents as somewhat of an in-betweener too, arguably just below key position height and size.

DRAFT RANGE: Rookie

Image Credit: Cory Sutton/SANFL