Little-known South Australian AFL Draft prospect Blake Oudshoorn-Bennier has built a strong case to be listed by an AFL club despite playing the season with a serious shoulder injury.
Oudshoorn-Bennier suffered a dislocated shoulder and torn labrum while training with North Adelaide's senior side four weeks out from Round 1.
The first piece of medical advice he received was that it would require surgery, ruling him out of most of the season
After a plethora of opinions, Oudshoorn-Bennier opted against the surgery, recognising the significance of 2025 in his footy journey.
“It was a really emotional time when it did happen and a tough situation,” Oudshoorn-Bennier told Craft of the Draft.
“I saw plenty of doctors, physios and surgeons and all of those, and (they) came back with all different opinions as well.
“Mainly the surgeons were saying, Yep, there's probably no chance I'd play it all and statistics suggested there was a high chance of dislocating my shoulder again.
“I understood that regardless of how strong I got it, these were the chances of it happening and I knew how big a year it was for footy so I worked hard with the physios at North Adelaide to get back.
“I was able to get a 12-18 week injury down to six weeks and my right shoulder came back stronger than my left.
“I have been playing with the torn labrum, but it's really given me no problems.
“It hasn't ached or anything, or hasn't really given me any grief at all, so I've been quite lucky.”
The shoulder may still require surgery, but he's now put himself in a position to very likely find an AFL home.
After missing just a fortnight of footy, the Roosters midfielder had an excellent 2025 season despite the injury, which, save for the weekly strapping on his right shoulder, would have been unknown to even the most keen observer.
He was typically strong over the footy and got the opportunity to play footy against senior bodies late in the year, shining, with a reserves final against West Adelaide, particularly important in building his draft case.
After a quiet start to the National Championships, Oudshoorn-Bennier worked into the carnival as it progressed, showcasing his piercing and penetrating kicking and clean hands, which has captured recruiters' attention.
“I was kind of able to play the way I wanted to in the last two games of ‘champs', and I guess explode a bit more into how I actually play the game," he added.
"I think my kicking is definitely probably one that can be damaging and open up the game.
“I think I can see the game quite nicely and take on those risky kicks at times and I think that power and that and that running from stoppage and from contest to contest to contest is probably a real weapon.”
Leadership is an intangible trait that Oudshoorn-Bennier would bring to an AFL club, having completed the rare feat of captaining an U18s side in back-to-back years.
The South Australian calls himself a leader by actions more than words, and has seen great progression in his leadership across the past two seasons.
North Adelaide coach Mitch Clisby believes Oudshoorn-Bennier's commitment gave the 2025 Roosters list a benchmark to understand what it takes to strive for the next level.
“His professionalism and drive and dedication put himself in a position to perform well off the back of what looked like a season-ending injury was super impressive,” Clisby said.
“If it was any other kid, they're probably not having the season he had but due to his commitment to the rehab and program, he got it done, but I'm not surprised because that's the kid he is.”
A natural midfielder, Oudshoorn-Bennier believes he will eventually end up playing in the middle at senior level, having got engine room minutes at league level for North Adelaide this season, but is prepared to take on any role to start his career.
Clisby has seen a clear area of growth in Oudshoorn-Bennier's game, which adds to the coach's certainty that he could make the step up.
“His ability to win the ball and distribute suggests he has league and AFL attributes so we wanted to give him an opportunity (at senior level) to put his weapons on show,” Clisby said.
“His contested and kicking game we wanted to put on show at the highest level and there were glimpses that showed he could do it at the next level.
“His transition game has come a long way: that has been his number one growth area for a number of years and in the last 12 months, his two-way transition has come a long way.
“If he continues to work on that it will complement his strengths.”
