Sydney Swans fans and recruiters alike will be buoyed by the development of Will Edwards, who rose into draft contention as an over-ager this year. The New South Welshman is tied to the Swans Academy and represented them over the last two seasons, earning Allies selection in the process. In terms of senior experience, he managed four VFL appearances in Sydney colours and turned out 10 times for North Shore Bombers in the AFL Sydney Premier Division.

A solidly-built defender who thrives in one-on-one contests, Edwards offers an exciting point of difference in his explosive athleticism. It means that on top of holding his own in jostles, he has the potential to use his speed and power in an attacking sense too. His athletic upside was best showcased at the state draft combine, where Edwards notched a rapid 20m sprint time of 2.876 seconds.

Though relatively low in a production sense, Edwards does most of his best work defensively and has also plied his trade in the ruck and up forward. Going forward, he could certainly lift his output with ball in hand and sharpen his footy IQ, but as it stands is a handy late-draft option with plenty of development left in him.