South Australian AFL Draft prospect Dyson Sharp has spoken about how the opportunity to grow his forward and outside game has positioned him well three weeks out from the AFL Draft.
Entering 2025 as one of the most hyped prospects, Sharp's arsenal of weapons as an inside midfielder has long been established, having won the Kevin Sheehan Medal as the best-performed player at the U16s National Championships in 2023.
But time spent forward at senior level in 2024 and 2025, as well as the opportunity to play deep for South Australia during the Crow Eaters' undefeated U18s National Championships campaign, has given Sharp a strong platform to launch into life on an AFL list.
Sharp scored five goals across his four U18s National Championships games in 2025 while also balancing his contested ball-winning with more uncontested possession.
"(Being versatile) was a major focus point coming into the year. I definitely wanted to work on my outside game, and getting into the league squad allowed me to get forward more and work on my outside game," Sharp told the SANFL's South Aussie Select podcast.
"It was pleasing to get on the end of a couple this year and (I'm) definitely still working on hitting the scoreboard and getting as many points on the board for the team.
"(South Australian coach Tony Bamford) wrote a little note (last year) that as a midfielder I could be more attacking and get on the end of goals and goal assists.
"Once I got the feedback from him, that's where it lifted off and going into the league squad, playing as a half forward to start with, put the wood to the fire and allowed me to experiment with a few things and work on that side of my game.
"It's definitely added an element to my game.
"Some see me as a pure midfielder, but having the forward weaponry to hit the scoreboard definitely does add a little bit of versatility to my game, which will definitely help me in the long run."
Sharp has played 14 league games for Central District across the past two seasons, learning how to use his skillset effectively against men as he has been played largely as a half forward.
Widely viewed as one of the most AFL-ready players in the draft class, Sharp spoke about how his time at senior level had equipped him with the tools to make the transition to an AFL list.
"Coming from the 18s to the league squad, the bodies are a lot bigger and the ball moves faster," Sharp said.
"Having all those things at my feet to use was a massive advantage for me.
"It was a reason for my success this year.
"You're (playing against) ex-AFL players and guys with a lot of knowledge and experience.
"Going against that high-end talent in what is probably the next best league in Australia, apart from the AFL, is amazing.
"Having that experience will definitely help me out coming into what may be in the future, and I would love it to help me out playing in the early rounds next year."
A mad Essendon supporter growing up, the Bombers are well in the mix of clubs who could pick Sharp up, currently possessing two picks in the second half of the top 10, which is Sharp's expected range.
But it's a player from the Bombers' crosstown rivals that the South Australian U18s captain has grown up idolising.
"(Growing up), I loved how he played," Sharp said.
"It felt like we were very similar in terms of bigger bodies at the source, doing lots of our work inside the contest.
"I've always admired how he uses his body to manipulate the players so he can be the first to the footy, which I've tried to model in my own game.
"Still moving forward, I watch him all the time.
"With the change of the game, it's more high speed, more running, more damage on the outside, so I've been watching guys like Jai Newcombe, Jason Horne-Francis, Tom Green who get the job done at the source but are equally dangerous on the outside."
Sharp will learn his fate at the AFL Draft on 19 November.
