ADELAIDE coach Neil Craig says it’s just a matter of time before draftee Shaun McKernan gets his chance at AFL level.
McKernan made his SANFL league debut in round one and quickly established himself as a consistent contributor in the struggling South Adelaide line-up.
The 18-year-old travelled to Melbourne last weekend for the Crows' clash with Essendon and experienced the pre-game routine with his teammates.
Craig said McKernan was on the cusp of being included for real.
"Shaun came under strong consideration last week and, if his form continues at South and with the things he’s doing there, he’ll play AFL football this year," Craig said.
"I hope Shaun can push into our side because it’s important for him to do that, just as it is for Rory Sloane, Phil Davis and James Sellar, who have got really good form and are starting to push their cases for AFL selection."
Adelaide’s three-game winning streak has pushed McKernan back into the queue of players waiting for an opportunity.
The big man said it was exciting to be on the verge of realising a childhood dream.
"I’ve achieved most of my pre-season goals already and the only one left standing is to play AFL," McKernan said.
"When someone like Craigy or even (development manager) Alan Stewart comes to you and says, 'You’re ready to play AFL', it’s a pretty big reward for effort.
"Now, I’ve just got to bide my time and hopefully in the next couple of weeks that opportunity will come up."
The Crows were thrilled to secure the former basketballer at No. 28 in last year’s NAB AFL Draft.
McKernan had earned All-Australian selection at under-18 level alongside Vic Metro teammates and fellow top-10 draftees Jack Watts, Tyrone Vickery and Michael Hurley.
He also impressed at draft camp where he finished second to Nick Naitanui in the standing vertical jump and sixth overall in the agility test.
Over the pre-season, McKernan also demonstrated his impressive running capacity by recording a time of 10min 40sec in the 3km time trial.
McKernan, who played seniors for Tullamarine at 15, only discovered his biggest strength—his versatility—when he relocated to the Calder Cannons.
"I’ve always been pretty big for my age, so I played most of my junior footy in the ruck," McKernan said.
"It was only when I started playing TAC Cup that I got chucked around a bit more and realised that I could play different positions because I had the running capacity and speed.
"I don’t mind where I play. I like the ruck and also kicking a few goals up forward, but last year I even played as a rover."
McKernan, who models his game on mentor Nathan Bock, took it to teammates Ivan Maric and Jon Griffin during ruck stints with the Panthers and also played at centre half-forward opposed to Brad Moran.
His ability and appearance have attracted inevitable comparisons to older brother Corey, a dual premiership player with North Melbourne and best-and-fairest winner at Carlton.
Corey will join another brother Matthew and sister Rachel in Adelaide this weekend to watch Shaun play for South Adelaide.
"I’ve had aspirations to play AFL for a long time," the youngest McKernan said. "I think I would have wanted to play AFL anyway, but seeing Corey play spurred me on that little bit more."
