Jake Eime rises to round one despite missing Crows academy spot
Jake Eime climbed AFL draft boards after academy rejection and has become a likely round-one pick.
Jake Eime started the year facing rejection. Eime has become one of South Australia's best draft picks ahead of November's AFL draft.
Adelaide knocked back a final application to add him to the club's Next Generation Academy in June. The Crows didn't know about his Indigenous heritage until later.
Despite missing academy access, Eime responded with an under-18 All-Australian selection in July and a strong Combine result. Eime ran 6:13 in the 2km time-trial at the Combine, finishing equal 10th.
Recruiters from all 18 clubs can now pick him. He looks like a late round one or early round two pick.
Eime grew up a devoted Crows supporter wearing a Matt Crouch badge.
- 6:13 in 2km time-trial, equal 10th
- Combine time
- 18 years old
- Age
- Late round one or early round two
- Draft window
- All 18 AFL clubs
- Clubs eligible to pick
Why it mattersEime's response shows how a player's ability to bounce back matters more than the setback itself. It also gives smaller clubs a chance to recruit top talent.
AustraliaAdelaide Crows fans are watching whether the club can land Eime despite the earlier administrative snub; his story is a standout in the 2026 AFL draft class.
✓ Claims checked against the source and corrected before publish. checked 4 h ago
