Torrens University Draft Targets – James Borlase

By ZAC MILBANK

He’s the son of a Port Adelaide premiership captain but James Borlase appears more likely to find his AFL home at cross-town rival Adelaide.

A member of the Crows’ Next Generation Academy, Borlase is continuing to develop his craft as a tall backman with SANFL club Sturt.

His father Darryl Borlase played a total of 246 League games for the Magpies between 1985 and 1998.

But James Borlase qualifies as a selection from the Crows Academy as Darryl had not played the necessary amount of matches to qualify as a Port father-son within the the prescribed time frame.

Born in Egypt while Darryl was working there for the Australian Wheat Board, James Borlase falls under the Next Generation Academy’s banner for overseas-born talent.

Regardless of where the talented 17-year-old lands, he’s aiming to be a reliable lockdown key backman.

“James is a developing tall defender – He has really good aerial contest skills,” Torrens University SA Under-18 coach Tony Bamford said of Borlase, originally from the Unley Jets FC.

“He’s not as natural a footballer as some of the other more high profile guys in this draft class and is still learning the game.

”His improvement in game knowledge and competitiveness over the past 12 months has been a joy to watch.”

Measuring in at 191cm and 88kg, Borlase mixed his time between grades for the Double Blues last year, featuring in eight Reserves matches and five Torrens University U18 games.