{"id":149490,"date":"2024-01-23T15:47:59","date_gmt":"2024-01-23T05:47:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/?p=149490"},"modified":"2024-01-23T15:48:00","modified_gmt":"2024-01-23T05:48:00","slug":"2024-afl-draft-race-to-1-sid-draper","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/2024\/01\/23\/2024-afl-draft-race-to-1-sid-draper\/","title":{"rendered":"2024 AFL Draft | Race to #1: Sid Draper"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

SID Draper<\/a>‘s list of accolades is the envy among this year’s crop of budding AFL hopefuls. The South Australian is already a state MVP, Under 18 All Australian, and senior player in the SANFL. That’s not to mention his best afield performance in South Adelaide’s Under 18 premiership last year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

All of the above are feats even the most elite top-agers often go without claiming, let alone bottom-agers. Draper has done it all, producing a remarkable season across all levels to be considered one of the top draft prospects heading into 2024.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

>> SCROLL for player highlights<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This year, he’s part of the National Academy and can look forward to linking up with big brother Arlo<\/strong> in the Panther’s League side. His journey to the top will be backed by a 10-thousand dollar grant via the AFL Life Member’s scholarship – an honour also achieved by 2023’s top pick, Harley Reid<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a new series on Rookie Me Central<\/em>, we cast a lens over the race to be crowned number one, running through a range of talented footballers from around the nation. Draper is up first and will be followed by a handful of others in the running to take top spot in our opening Power Rankings edition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

>> Ones to watch:<\/strong> 24 AFL Draft prospect in 2024<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\"SouthSouth Adelaide<\/a>Midfielder<\/span><\/div>

Sid Draper<\/h4>

Height: <\/span>182cm<\/p>

Weight: <\/span> - <\/p>

DOB: <\/span>05-07-2006<\/p><\/div><\/div> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n

BY THE NUMBERS:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

2023 SANFL League (3 games)
<\/em><\/strong>14.0 disposals | 3.0 marks | 0.7 tackles | 2.3 clearances | 3.0 inside 50s<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2023 SANFL U18s (14 games)
<\/em><\/strong>21.6 disposals | 3.9 marks | 3.2 tackles | 4.2 clearances | 3.1 inside 50s<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2023 AFL U18 National Championships (4 games)
<\/em><\/strong>24.8 disposals | 3.5 marks | 3.8 tackles | 3.8 clearances | 6.5 inside 50s<\/p>\n

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STRENGTHS<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

+ Speed
+ Clean hands
+ Poise
+ Inside-outside balance
+ Leadership<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The trait which immediately catches the eye with Draper is his speed. He wins the ball cleanly on the inside and steps into space in a flash, utilising his high-end agility which tested as the best nationwide last preseason. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Draper is near-untouchable when possessing the ball in tight spaces, but doesn’t give opponents the same freedom with his tackling pressure. He opens the game up going forward and to top it all off, is a noted leader at high levels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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