A LITTLE known midfielder from Southport has zoomed onto the AFL radar with a stunning season for the last-placed Sharks.
Jordan Keras came to the Gold Coast from Victoria prior to the 2016 season to further his education and has made a great fist of things with his footy at the same time.
Through sheer weight of numbers, the 23-year-old is leading the competition's MVP award from a host of former AFL and Academy players.
Keras is averaging 36 disposals and 9.5 clearances, all at an efficiency of 75 per cent.
His fitness level would easily fit in at AFL level.
Worth a look from other leagues
- VFL stars pushing their draft case
- SANFL stars pushing their draft case
- WAFL stars pushing their draft case
The one question mark on the in-and-under midfielder is his ability to go forward and kick goals, but in a team running last and with less talent than most of its opponents, he hasn't been given many opportunities.
Former Sydney forward Xavier Richards would also still be of interest to AFL clubs after he unexpectedly walked away from the Swans at the end of last season.
While not setting the world on fire for Sydney University, Richards has been solid and his athleticism and footy smarts should be still appealing.
Oskar Baker (Aspley)
The flying winger has some real X-factor and is a smoky for the draft. Just 19, 'The Ginger Ninja' loves to take the game on between the arcs and has speed to hurt the opposition. Still a work in progress, Baker is capable of going forward and kicking goals.
Darcy Baron-Hay (Sydney University)
The former Swans academy member has been a quality key defender this season after playing most of his junior footy as a forward, taking on the likes of AFL star Jon Patton and acquitting himself well. A solid finish to the year could put him back on the radar.
Hayden Bertoli-Simmonds (Redland)
The former Lions Academy player won the NEAFL Rising Star last year and is having another strong campaign. At 21, the in-and-under midfielder is the club's youngest ever captain, is still improving and works both ways.
Nathan Cooper (Sydney University)
The athletic key defender is a great size at 195cm and 93kg and at just 19 has plenty of time to develop. Spent time with the Swans development squad last year where he was a member of their losing NEAFL Grand Final side, and represented the League in this year's win over Tasmania.
Jordan Harper (Canberra Demons)
The midfielder is currently sitting eighth in the NEAFL's MVP award after finishing second last year, and starred for the representative side with 33 touches in their win over Tassie. The former NEAFL team of the year representative attended last year's draft combine and is still only 23.
Jordan Keras (Southport)
The competition's standout player this season, Keras is averaging 36 disposals and 9.5 clearances at 75 percent efficiency in the midfield. In his second season at Southport since moving from Geelong, Keras has incredible endurance that could easily match it at AFL level and a hunger to find the ball that's hard to match.
Xavier Richards (Sydney University)
The former Sydney forward shocked the footy world when he walked away from an AFL contract at the end of last season and landed in the NEAFL, where he represented the League against Tasmania in July. Still has the attributes to play at the top level and might be worth another look.
Jack Rolls (Redland)
Overcame knee tendinitis early in the year to again be having a strong impact at NEAFL level. The former AFL and Lions Academy midfielder has just turned 19 and received a Rising Star nomination for the third year straight. Rolls has a high workrate, can find the ball, and has steadily improved his disposal efficiency, which has previously been a knock.
Adam Sambono (NT Thunder)
A truly untapped talent, Sambono started the NEAFL season in white-hot form, with his uncanny goalsense proving difficult to match up on. A late-comer to organised footy, Sambono is from a remote community in the Northern Territory, is wiry, and has freakish skills. The 20-year-old earned selection in the competition's representative team and was granted special permission to play in the Allies under-18 team.
Adam Sambono shone for the Allies in this year's Under-18 Championships. Picture: AFL Photos