PORT ADELAIDE welcomed two more South Australians on the final day of the 2018 NAB AFL Draft, another local product with pick 9 in the Rookie Draft and two Next Generation Academy players as Category B rookie listed players.

The Power selected Riley Grundy at pick 73, followed by North Adelaide premiership player Boyd Woodcock at pick 76 in the National Draft.

Grundy, the brother of Collingwood ruckman Brodie Grundy, is a fiercely competitive, developing tall defender who represented Sturt this season at under 18 and reserves level in the SANFL.

Although Grundy was a relative late-starter to football, Port Adelaide National Recruiting Manager Geoff Parker believes he has plenty of upside.

“Riley only took footy up four or five years ago but is developing very well as a tall defender,” Parker said.

“He’s very competitive and we wanted to get another developing tall defender onto our list so we had no hesitation when he became available.”

Woodcock, the 2017 McCallum-Tomkins Medallist as the SANFL’s best-and-fairest in the Under 18 competition, was outstanding for North Adelaide in their Grand Final victory over Norwood kicking three first half-goals, having two score assists and gathering 15 disposals.

Parker says Woodcock adds great versatility as a forward option for the Power.

“Boyd played in the forward half at league level for North Adelaide this season and showed great poise and class against bigger bodies,” he said.

“Boyd was very dangerous as an attacking forward for North Adelaide through the finals series but he has also demonstrated an ability to play a more defensive role if required as well.”

With its two picks in the Rookie Draft Port Adelaide selected Tobin Cox with pick 9 and re-rookie listed Cam Hewett with pick 25 after he was temporarily delisted at season’s end.

Cox was recruited from Glenelg and Parker says he will add value as a creative small forward.

“Tobin was a highly rated 16 and 17-year-old but missed most of last year after injuring his shoulder,” said Parker.

“He’s a very clever, creative small forward who has played some league footy for Glenelg in the SANFL this year. He also represented South Australia in the Under 18 National Championships against Western Australia but was injured and missed the remainder of the championships.”

Hewett gets a second chance on Port Adelaide’s rookie list after an injury interrupted pre-season.

“We think Cam deserves another chance on our rookie list,” he said.

“He had a very good pre-season last year before getting injured on the eve of the season. Cam never got going this year because of injury so we are keen to give him an opportunity to have a full pre-season to give him every chance to prove himself in 2019.”

Port Adelaide completed the Rookie Draft by adding Next Generation Academy players Martin Frederick and Kai Pudney as Category B rookies.

Frederick, who represented South Australia in their national championship winning under-18 team, has impressed Parker over the last twelve months.

“Martin is of South Sudanese descent and has developed well at the Eagles and within our NGA program over the last twelve months,” Parker said.

“He has worked really hard this year and progressed from under-18 level to reserves level this year for Woodville-West Torrens in the SANFL. We are looking forward to his continued development over the coming years.”

Pudney, the 2018 McCallum-Tomkins Medallist, also represented South Australia at the 2018 under-18 National Championships.

Like Frederick, Parker has been delighted with Pudney’s development at the Eagles and in Port Adelaide’s Next Generation Academy.

“Kai has enjoyed a great year at the Eagles winning the under-18 medal in the SANFL as the competition’s best-and-fairest player,” Parker said.

“Kai’s mother is Japanese and he has been part of our NGA program. We’ve all seen him develop well over the last twelve months. He had an outstanding South Australian Draft Combine where he dominated both the yo-yo test and the agility test in October so we look forward to seeing his continued development within our program.”

Port Adelaide 2018 AFL National and Rookie Draft Summary:

AFL NAB AFL DRAFT

Pick 5

CONNOR ROZEE

POS: Half-forward/midfielder
Ht 185cm, Wt 74kg, DOB 22/1/00
From North Adelaide/South Australia

Pick 12

ZAK BUTTERS

POS: Midfielder
Ht 181cm, Wt 70kg, DOB 8/9/00
From Western Jets/Vic Metro

Pick 18

XAVIER DUURSMA

POS: Midfielder
Ht 185cm, Wt 71kg, DOB 7/7/00
From Gippsland Power/Vic Country

Pick 73

RILEY GRUNDY

POS: Defender
Ht 194cm, Wt 84kg, DOB 28/7/00
From Sturt

Pick 76

BOYD WOODCOCK

POS: Forward
Ht 175cm, Wt 71kg, DOB 5/3/00
From North Adelaide


NAB AFL ROOKIE DRAFT

Pick 9

TOBIN COX

POS: Midfielder
Ht 177cm, Wt 77kg, DOB 15/7/99
From Glenelg

Pick 25

CAM HEWETT

POS: Defender
Ht 189cm, Wt 82kg, DOB 26/02/97
From Port Adelaide

 

CATEGORY B ROOKIE LIST

KAI PUDNEY

POS: Midfielder
Ht 186cm, Wt 78kg, DOB 9/1/00
From Woodville-West Torrens

MARTIN FREDERICK

POS: Defender/Wing
Ht 178cm, Wt 74kg, DOB 17/5/00
From Woodville-West Torrens

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