Adelaide has selected developing forward/ruckman Harry Dear with its final pick (No.58 overall) in the 2015 AFL National Draft.
Dear is a 197cm, 98kg, tall who marks the ball strongly and uses his body well in the contest. The 18-year-old is also a reliable set shot for goal, kicking 18 goals in nine games for the Sandringham Dragons this year.
He’s the son of Hawthorn 1991 premiership star Paul Dear and nephew of three-time Hawthorn premiership ruckman Greg Dear, who represented Victoria in the late 1980s.
Sandringham Dragons Talent Manager, Ryan O'Connor says: "Harry's recovering from shoulder surgery, which is disappointing because he exceeded a lot of people's expectations this year. He's had growing pains in the last couple of years and hasn't played much footy, but at 200cm and 100kg with pace and an ability to win the ball on the ground or on the lead, he's a pretty exciting prospect.
“He's not a player who would play straight away. He's going to need some time because he is so raw, but in a full time training environment he'd really start to get his body right and move forward. And his pedigree is pretty handy. Paul was a smaller player and more chunky than Harry, whereas Harry is ripped and lean at 100kg. In a football sense, he's like a 15 or 16 year old in terms of his exposed form and understanding of the game. He has a bit to learn about one on one marking, leading patterns and things like that, but once he learns how to start using his frame there's going to be a bit to work with."
Harry Dear at a glance
Club: Sandringham Dragons
Position: Forward/ruckman
DOB: 18/8/1996
Height: 197cm
Weight: 98kg