There are a plethora of contenders to be pick one in this year’s national draft — and Sid Draper is one of them.
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In his own words, he is “fast, powerful, agile, clean and competitive,” — the type of player all clubs at the top of the draft order will be hunting for.
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At just 18 years of age, Draper is already the ultimate professional; and certainly with no shortage of goals or motivation.
A two-time Under 18 All-Australian and 2024 state captain, he just about has all the under-age accolades you could ever ask of a junior footballer before joining the AFL.
Ahead of this month’s draft Draper spoke to Foxfooty.com.au’s Ben Waterworth about life before football, preparation and when it all started to click — among a plethora of other topics.
“(I’m) trying to stay level-headed with it all; it’s pretty surreal being here, looking at the Colosseum (MCG) out there,” Draper began by telling Waterworth.
“It’s an awesome opportunity that I’m in (with) all these other boys, but yeah, I’m just trying not to think too far ahead at this point.
“I’m a bit of a goal setter, just following those things and not looking too far ahead.”
In the lead up to this month’s draft though, Draper has — rightly — looked ahead as part of his grand plan to become one of the AFL’s best young prospects.
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Goal-setting is a crucial part of Draper’s make-up as a footballer; a ritual that became engrained in his day-to-day life heading into his penultimate junior year of football in 2023.
“One thing I implemented into my weekly routine during games was weekly resets; sort of like that mantra of not looking too far ahead (and) processing the week before,” Draper revealed.
“That allows me to set up my goals for the weekend, and I really think that helped me stay balanced and level during that whole U18’s carnival, because that was really the first national champs I was able to do.”
Big picture, his vision was to be picked as one of the carnival’s best players in his under-age year.
“That was the goal. I talked with my manager about it, and the goal was (to make it) as a bottom-ager,” Draper said.
“Fortunately, it did happen, but yeah – I just like to work hard for things. I like to be driven and work hard.”
To varying degrees, injuries have played their part in helping the South Australian become as resilient as anyone in this year’s draft class.
“(2024 was) a rollercoaster – lots of highs, lots of lows. Earlier in the season, was a bit of a low coming back from injury, but I think I’ve set myself up well coming back from injury,” Draper explained.
“It’s tough to do that, but I think I had a really good group around me, so I think from that earlier setback, I’ve been able to enjoy myself and have a good, consistent year.
“You want to start being professional as early as you can, because you’re going into that industry where everyone’s professional.
“You don’t really want to give yourself time to have to play catch up with everyone else. Having the AFL Academy week where I got spent with an AFL club, showed me how professional you need to be.”
Post his under-18 state carnival, Draper returned to the SANFL for South Adelaide — playing alongside his brother and former Collingwood-listed player Arlo Draper.
Sid was dominant from game one in 2024, notching up 23 disposals, 11 tackles, six inside 50s and five clearances in his first game for the season against Sturt in a 19-point loss.
Draper finished the season averaging a tick over 22 disposals and six tackles a game, doing more than prove his capacity to compete at a senior level.
“It’s good. The plan was to just enjoy my football for the rest of the year, and I’ve been able to do that,” Draper said on playing SANFL.
“From doing that, I was able to perform, and I think it sets me up well, and I was able to show what kind of player I am.
“I’ve been able to pick his (Arlo’s) brain a bit; you’re only in there (the AFL system) for a finite time. It depends who you are, and Arlo was the one of the unfortunate ones.
“Really maximising your time while you’re there, using every resource that’s there, and yeah, maximising your input when you’re at a club.
“He’s been a great support for me and really helped me with my on-field stuff; recognising things that I might not have in my game … I think he’s a very high IQ footballer.”
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Interestingly, the Panthers product didn’t play Aussie Rules from day dot.
Following in the footsteps of his older brother Manny, Sid started playing the sport as an adolescent after spending his early junior days as a different kind of football player.
“I was originally (playing) soccer up until I was 12. So, until then, I wanted to be the next Lionel Messi, and from then on, I wanted to be the next Gary Ablett Jnr,” Draper said.
“My eldest brother (Manny) went to football, and then Arlo followed it. Arlo played soccer with me as well, and they moved over (to football), and so did I. Ever since I picked up a football, I thought: ‘I love this. This is the game for me.’
“In game, you have so many opportunities to do something amazing with ball in hand – and even without it. I think it’s the most unique game in the world; one of the hardest, but one of the most beautiful as well.”
And while he may not have kicked a red Sherrin around as early as the likes of a Levi Ashcroft, his want to learn and gather intel on the sport is unsurprisingly, as good as any.
With an IQ and tactical maturity well beyond his years, Draper is regularly studying the game; more than willing to do the one percenters and stay one step ahead.
“This year I’ve been watching it to learn more. Previously, it’s just been for enjoyment, but now you’re trying to get an edge as much as you can,” Draper explained.
“You’ve got to learn off those top end players in the AFL … but you can’t really avoid talking about football when it’s your life; I wouldn’t call myself a footy nut.
“The players I look for are the ones who play similar roles to me. Your Zak Butters (and) your Chad Warners, who are great players and very smart footballers who I think I can implement into my game; their running patterns, how they use the ball and what they do without it.
“I think I’ve always been like that (professional), but I think properly it clicked after my second injury with my thumb in 2022 (and) leading into that pre-season for my bottom-age year.”
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A Crows fan since he was a child, Draper noted that he has always looked up to both Rory Sloane and Matt Crouch; both who play a similar style of football to the 18-year-old.
Given the Crows currently hold Pick 4 in the national draft, there’s every chance he joins both his favourite club, and also his favourite players.
Draper is familiar with Adelaide’s list, particularly given he’s previously spent time training alongside them in pre-seasons gone by.
“It’s every kid’s dream to play for the club they support, but I don’t hold one club above another. It’s a national draft, and I’d love to go anywhere. But obviously, going to the club you support would be a pretty awesome dream to fulfil,” Draper transparently noted.
“I’d be very happy to go to the Crows … I hold no resentment or anything against them. It was a fabricated story (of him not wanting to be picked by them), and I’d love to go there.
“I did talk to Jordan Dawson a bit (when training with them), as well as Matt Crouch – and also with Jake Soligo a fair bit.
“Being able to talk to him (Soligo) and see how he’s gone. He was in my brother’s year, and he’s gone pretty awesome over the past couple years.”
All that being said, Draper is just as comfortable with the idea of moving interstate — and additionally, try and find himself in the best 23 of whichever club picks him come Round 1 next season.
“I’m more than comfortable going interstate, or anywhere for that matter. The good thing for me I think, is there’s so much to play out in the draft, so I don’t have to really think about where I’m going or anything,” Draper said.
“I’m very much comfortable (and) so is my family in me going anywhere.
“It’s not up to me, but yeah, my goal is to play Round 1, and if I do everything I can to get to that point, then I think the rest will hopefully take care of itself.
“Playing Round 1 is what I want, and to really fit into the environment, be the best clubman I can be for whatever club.”
Whichever club ends up selecting Draper on November 20 will be welcoming a player with maturity beyond his years, a healthy amount of self-confidence and a level of professionalism rarely seen in 18-year-olds before joining an AFL club.