PERTH, AUSTRALIA - MAY 12: Michael Knoll of the SANFL poses with the Foss-Williams medal for best SANFL player during the state game between WA and SA at Optus Stadium on May 12, 2019 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)

AFL mid-season draft hopeful Michael Knoll has shown a promising campaign for South Adelaide having moved from the US college basketball system three years ago.

The mature-age ruckman has been shown interest by a number of AFL clubs looking to inject height into their 2019 lists, with Knoll towering at an astonishing 205cm and 103kg.

Knoll first took up football having joined VFL side Box Hill in 2017, with the 26-year-old's football experiment flourishing with a move to South Australia this year.

Knoll took out the FOS Williams Medal with a best-on-ground performance for the SANFL side in their victory over the WAFL's best at Optus Stadium last weekend.

Knoll told AFL.com.au that believes he can contribute at a new level.

"Yeah, I do, I really do," Knoll said.

"I'm 26 now, so like most ruckmen, it's taken a bit longer for me to develop.

"This is my third year of footy, but I've learned a lot and I'm still learning a lot.

"I'm at a place where I could be put on an AFL list and play AFL games and really be able to compete for my team.

"I think in that sense, I'm ready for it, 100 per cent."

Knoll was overlooked by clubs to qualify for medical testing for 22 of the mid-season drafts most promising athletes, but remains on the radar for several AFL sides.

"I wasn't listed to get a medical, but there's been some AFL team interest since then," Knoll said.

Both Essendon and Richmond will be in the hunt for a new big-man via the mid-season draft, as both were recently dealt injury blows to their rucking stocks.

The Tigers will be without first-choice ruckman Toby Nankervis for an estimated 6-8 weeks, having suffered an adductor injury and will now have an added mid-season draft selection following the retirement of Shaun Grigg.

Bombers rookie-listed ruckman Sam Draper will miss the remainder of the season with an ACL injury.

Heading into the draft, Knoll's form has hit a purple patch, with 15 touches and 47 hitouts against West Adelaide in round six, followed up by a 15-disposal and 31-hitout performance while representing the SANFL.

"I'm continuing to develop and that's something in my game that is important," he said.

"I'm never going to settle for, 'I'm good enough now', I want to continue to get better and better.

"Maybe there are other ruckmen that have more knowledge of the game because they've been there longer, but I'm going to be the hardest-working ruckman out there."

Knoll contacted Box Hill via email having returned from the US after four years at St Ambrose University in Iowa.

"I went from knowing nothing in footy to getting a decent grasp on the game," Knoll said.

"I worked with (Box Hill senior coach) Max Bailey a lot, and he was really valuable to teach me a lot of ruck craft.

"In my first few games, I hadn't played a game of footy before, so just running patterns and what was going on.

"To be able to play a few league games last year was a quick learning curve, but they really supported my transition from basketball to footy really well."

Knoll moved to South Adelaide where the Panthers were looking to replace ruckman Keegan Brooksby, who had been given a second chance in the AFL having signed for West Coast.

"It would be bittersweet because I've grown to love the South Adelaide Football Club," Knoll said.

"I went to the club from word go and made my intentions clear that I want to be on an AFL list and I want to be playing AFL games.

"They're very supportive of that and they're not going to try and hold me back in any way."