Former Adelaide defender Patrick Parnell has spoken on his experience of being recruited out of local football to the AFL via the Mid-Season Draft in 2021.
"A little bit all over the shop" in the lead-up to the draft, Parnell suited up for Ovens and Murray League side Albury while also having stints with the Murray Bushrangers and GWS' VFL team.
Eligible for the AFL the year prior, Parnell's hopes of being taken in the National Draft were hampered by the COVID pandemic, with the young flanker unable to play at any level.
"I felt I had a pretty good pre-season back in 2020. I was really looking forward to showing what I had," Parnell told Zero Hanger.
"I played a little bit of footy the year before with the Bushrangers, so I wasn't quite sure where I sat in terms of being drafted. It was around March when they canned the season, and I didn't play a game of footy.
"It sort of ruined any chance of being drafted in my draft year when I was 18, which was disappointing. But I was pretty lucky with how it all worked out in the end and getting to the Crows in 2021."
Returning to football a year later, Parnell found strong form with Albury and the Bushrangers to earn himself a VFL debut with the Giants, suiting up for the New South Wales side against Richmond a month out from the Mid-Season Draft.
That game saw fellow Mid-Season Draft selections Sam Durham and James Peatling suit up for the Tigers and Giants, respectively, while Parnell's future teammate Jake Soligo featured as an 18-year-old early into his own draft journey.
"It was a little bit all over the shop," Parnell said of his lead-up to the Mid-Season Draft.
"I was playing with Albury, the Murray Bushrangers and did play a VFL game for the Giants against Jake Soligo and Sam Durham, and with James Peatling. I didn't get near the footy, but it was a good experience nonetheless.
"I played for a lot of different sides in the lead-up to the Mid-Season Draft and was lucky enough to play some pretty good footy with Albury and the Bushrangers, and the Crows took a chance on me.
Not short of interest, Parnell was still unsure if he would be recruited to the AFL, but his dream would become reality after training with Albury on a Wednesday night.
After getting home, Parnell kicked his feet up and watched the draft on his phone with his family as his name was called out as the fourth overall pick.
"I spoke to three or four clubs, maybe. I was aware there was a little bit of interest, but I wasn't certain I was going to be drafted. It was a nice surprise on the night," he said.
"It was a little bit different to the guys who get taken in the National Draft. I had been to training with Albury that night. I got home, and I was just watching it on my phone on the couch. One of my good mates, Daniel Turner, he also got drafted that night, and he came around.
"I was on the plane to Adelaide the next morning. It was a very quick turnaround."
Parnell was playing for the Crows within days, suiting up for the club's SANFL side two days after he made the trip to South Australia. He got his first glimpse of SANFL action, finding the lift in physicality a challenge at first.
Adelaide, and Parnell, were aware the young defender wasn't going to be ready for the AFL in 2021, with the first-year Crow made to wait his his debut.
"It all happened pretty quickly. I remember my first training session, it was two days after I got drafted. I was a little bit starstruck," he said.
"The step up from U18s footy to SANFL footy first was really big, just the physicality of it and the bigger bodies. The speed was probably similar.
"I felt like in those first 12 months, I made some really big strides, especially over that first pre-season. I was lucky enough to make my debut about 12 months to the day after I was drafted, which was a pretty cool moment.
"I played the week before the bye and held my spot for the rest of the year. You dream of playing AFL, and the three or four months there, I was able to do that consistently."
Parnell was delisted at the end of last year after 17 games, with a shoulder injury and subsequent surgery abruptly ending his time at West Lakes.
Having since decided to remain in South Australia, signing with SANFL powerhouse Glenelg, Parnell remains hopeful he can find himself back in the top flight in the near future, but for the time being is just looking to enjoy football again.
"I'd love to play AFL footy again. Most guys who get delisted want to get back," he said.
"If I didn't have those aspirations, I wouldn't be playing state league footy. Those aspirations are certainly there.
"Being injured and having not played a lot of footy over the past 12-18 months, you spend a few long days in rehab and wonder why you do it, but I'm just trying to find fun in it again, which I have.
"It was quite an easy decision to stay here in South Australia. There's always the lure of going to Melbourne, which is a bit closer to home, but I feel reasonably established here in Adelaide now.
"I spoke to a few clubs, but I think it was an easy decision to pick Glenelg. Speaking to Darren Reeves and Paul Sandercock, they were really impressive.
"One of my close schoolmates, Will Chandler, he played in the flag last year, that also helped it get over the line, I think."
Having been nominated for the Wednesday's Mid-Season Draft, Parnell is among a host of Glenelg players looking to return to the AFL.
Former Sydney forward James Bell and ex-St Kilda defender Oscar Adams have also been nominated, with Parnell believing the latter is good enough to be back on an AFL list.
"There's a handful of guys who would certainly fit on an AFL list," he said of his new teammates.
"Oscar Adams, he was obviously at St Kilda for two years, I think he's one of the best genuine defenders I've played with.
"I've been really impressed with him over the pre-season and in the first few rounds. He certainly deserves another chance on an AFL list."
The 2025 Mid-Season Draft will take place on Wednesday night, with the count to be streamed live on Zero Hanger's YouTube channel.
