Will Verrall

”We didn’t know what was going to happen with Will because he had a really interrupted preseason with some injuries to his groins and hips which he carried through the back end of his U17 year.

”We thought he had gotten over that but as he started to come back into South Adelaide’s preseason in February last year, some signs of aggravation reared again so he had to stop training altogether and restart his rehab.

”That really hindered his ability to get on the track and get his match fitness. ”Had Will Verrall been fit and firing, on all four cylinders, like he was as a 17-year-old, we would have played both rucks at the Nationals.

”Because at his best, Will Verrall is as good as (Harry) Barnett. So (AFL) clubs are doing some work on Will Verrall now based on what he did as a 17-year-old, knowing it was at a really high level.”