{"id":180753,"date":"2025-02-21T17:31:33","date_gmt":"2025-02-21T07:31:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/?p=180753"},"modified":"2025-02-21T17:31:34","modified_gmt":"2025-02-21T07:31:34","slug":"south-australian-prospects-name-their-idols","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/2025\/02\/21\/south-australian-prospects-name-their-idols\/","title":{"rendered":"South Australian prospects name their idols"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

GEELONG spearhead Jeremy Cameron<\/strong> was a popular choice among the South Australian Under 18 summer squad members when posed the question – ‘which AFL player do you mould your game on?’. The 254-game champion was selected a high of three times among the 23 surveyed top-age players.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

>> SCROLL to see all the player comparisons<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cameron’s traits as a mobile, left-footed tall forward proved the perfect archetype for West Adelaide’s Mitchell Marsh<\/a>, who has completed an impressive preseason. Eagles grand final hero Logan Hughes<\/a> and developing Centrals tall Aidan Schubert<\/a> were the others to single out Cameron as a model for their game.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Schubert’s teammates Dyson Sharp<\/a> and Matthew LeRay<\/a> both voiced appreciation for highly credentialed pair Patrick Cripps<\/strong> and Marcus Bontempelli<\/strong> – both being big-bodied midfielders with renowned leadership qualities. LeRay also joined Sturt’s Jett Dahlitz<\/strong> in using Will Day<\/strong> as a point of reference.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

>> AFL Draft:<\/strong> Sharp firms as top choice among peers<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

While Adelaide was the most supported club amongst the SANFL Academy, Port pair Zak Butters<\/strong> and Miles Bergman<\/strong> got some love. The former was grouped with Nick Daicos<\/strong> as the players Blake Oudshoorn-Bennier<\/a> admires, siting their ability to get out of stoppage and threat with ball in hand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bergman’s style was favoured by wingman\/half-back Harley Barker<\/a> and Norwood defender Bayln O’Brien<\/strong>. Barker, a member of the National Academy, also watches the running patterns of Carlton wingman Blake Acres<\/strong> closely and prides himself on his two-way work rate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

>> MORE:<\/strong> Crows the club of choice among SANFL Academy<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Eagles speedster Lachlan Sands<\/a> also mentioned Acres among a trio of players he looks up to. Crows recruit Alex Neal-Bullen<\/strong> was perhaps the most pertinent in the high half-forward role, while Jason Horne-Francis<\/strong>‘ prolific forward 50 stoppage work garnered Sands’ appreciation, too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

North Adelaide midfielder Sam Cumming<\/a> and emerging Eagles prospect Jevan Phillipou<\/a> both look towards high-flying Swan Isaac Heeney<\/strong> for inspiration. The pair were identified by their peers as prospects set to shine in 2025, with Cumming already a SANFL Under 18 MVP winner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

>> AFL Draft:<\/strong> SANFL prospects pick their breakout contenders<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The only other AFL player to be brought up multiple times was Greater Western Sydney midfielder Josh Kelly<\/strong>. His smooth movement and sharp left foot are traits admired by Glenelg’s Luke Candy<\/a> and Sturt’s Noah Roberts-Thomson<\/a>. Candy is also a fan of Lachie Whitfield<\/strong>‘s ball use, but support’s Hawthorn.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

>> TOP 10s:<\/strong> 2025 SANFL U18 preseason testing<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

PLAYER COMPARISONS<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Central District:<\/strong>
Matthew LeRay – Will Day, Patrick Cripps, Marcus Bontempelli
Cameron Nairn – Ashton Moir, Logan Morris
Joshua Reichelt – Jack Sinclair
Aidan Schubert – Jeremy Cameron
Dyson Sharp – Patrick Cripps, Marcus Bontempelli, Jordan Dawson<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Glenelg:<\/strong>
Luke Candy – Josh Kelly, Lachie Whitfield<\/p>\n\n\n\n

North Adelaide:<\/strong>
Sam Cumming – Isaac Heeney
Blake Oudshoorn-Bennier – Zak Butters, Nick Daicos<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Norwood:<\/strong>
Noah Daw – Max Michalanney
Jim Kelly – Andrew Brayshaw, Connor Rozee, Zak Butters
Bayln O\u2019Brien – James Sicily, Miles Bergman
Will Prescott – Zac Bailey<\/p>\n\n\n\n

South Adelaide:<\/strong>
Elliott Duffield – Darcy Moore<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sturt:<\/strong>
Harley Barker – Blake Acres, Miles Bergman
Jett Dahlitz – Will Day, Logan Evans
Louis Kellaway – Nick Martin
Noah Roberts-Thomson – Josh Kelly
Blake Thredgold – Josh Worrell<\/p>\n\n\n\n

West Adelaide:<\/strong>
Mitchell Marsh – Jeremy Cameron<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Woodville-West Torrens:<\/strong>
Jack Cook – Dayne Zorko, Darcy Wilmot
Logan Hughes – Jeremy Cameron
Jevan Phillipou – Isaac Heeney, Christian Petracca
Lachlan Sands – Alex Neal-Bullen, Jason Horne-Francis, Blake Acres<\/p>\n\n\n\n

>> Q&As:<\/strong> Harley Barker<\/a> | Matthew LeRay<\/a> | Blake Oudshoorn-Bennier<\/a> | Jevan Phillipou<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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