JAKE Eime started this season the focus of an administrative error, but ended as one of South Australia's best prospects after bolting up draft boards the longer 2026 progressed.
The AFL knocked back Adelaide’s final application to add Eime to the club’s Next Generation Academy in June, denying the Crows priority access to the half-back in November due to a SANFL database error.
Eime has Indigenous heritage, but Adelaide wasn’t aware of that background until last year, and despite multiple attempts with the League, the answer was no. Under AFL rules, players need to be members of club academies before they turn 15 to get access to them in their draft year.
The 18-year-old grew up a diehard Crows supporter in a household full of them. He wore a Matt Crouch badge on his scarf. Rory Sloane was an early favourite. And Taylor Walker has been a central figure in his fandom across his lifetime.
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Adelaide holds picks No. 15, 32, 35, 43 and 56 entering this month’s Telstra AFL Draft. Eime looms as a late night one/early night two option for clubs after earning under-18 All-Australian selection in July, before putting the finishing touches on an impressive draft year by running a 6:13 2km time-trial at the Combine to finish equal 10th.
Eime might still land at the Crows, but has enhanced his status in the eyes of recruiters with the way he has handled an unusual situation.
“There was a bit of miscommunication between the Crows and myself. It was something that was a bit of a tricky situation and sort of hard to explain, but I've taken it from the perspective of it is what it is, and all I can worry about is getting better as a footballer and keep working hard. We'll see what happens,” Eime told AFL.com.au.
“It would have been nice. It was definitely a little bit of a bummer, but everything's all played out now. I'm really grateful for the spot I'm in at the moment. All 18 clubs that can pick me. It will be a dream come true if it does happen.”
Eime models his game on Greater Western Sydney star Lachie Ash, who was named in the All-Australian team for the first time in 2026 after being included in the squad last year.
The lightly built 183cm rebounding defender has battled with adding size to his frame as a teenager. It counted against him in 2024 when he was overlooked for the under-16 state team.
“I've been told that I'm too small a few times in my career, which is a bit of a punch in the guts. But I think it's given me fire in the belly; there's a reason why I'm here today,” Eime said.
“I've done a lot of work with diet and nutrition and I've seen a lot of nutritionists and just made little tweaks to make sure I'm hitting my protein and fats intakes. I've been gymming really hard the last two or three years to really help me put on size. I know I don't have to be really big and I can still be strong. I think it's something that's sort of naturally going to come.”
Wayne Milera also earned All-Australian selection for the first time this year after establishing himself as one of the best rebounding defenders in the game. Eime was mentored by the 29-year-old after the under-18 national championships and saw up close what is required Monday to Friday to perform on weekends.
“It was really cool working with him. After he got All-Australian, I flicked him a message, and I thought it was really cool. I learned a lot from when I was in there with him,” he said.
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Eime spent a full month inside the Crows, training with Matthew Nicks AFL squad during the week and playing two SANFL league games for Adelaide at the start of August. He didn’t need a peek behind the curtains to know this is the life he wants, but it certainly lived up to his expectations.
“It definitely did. I remember going back home and saying to Mum and Dad: I really want this even more than I already wanted it; it's just growing the belief I have in myself and where I think I might end up,” he said.
“It was very good to see what an elite environment really looks like at that next level. It gets me even more excited for what might come in the future. I had some really good role models in there with Wayne Milera and Jake Soligo was really good with me. It was great to get in there and feed off of a lot of those senior boys. It's something that I definitely I would do for a job.”
Sitting inside the MCG a week after the Grand Final at the Draft Combine in October, a recent tragedy remains is never far from Eime’s mind. His close friend, Campell Thorp, died at the start of August after a car accident in Adelaide.
“It definitely has been a tough time,” he said. “One of my good mates passed away about two months ago which was definitely a very big shock. It is still very raw; it shocked the friend group, but it was good to see us boys really get together and be really tight. It's definitely been a lot of motivation and will be a big part of what I do in the next few years.”
No matter who or where Eime is playing in 2027 and beyond, the Golden Grove product will be representing much more than just himself.
