Young defender Blayne O’Loughlin says missing out on being selected at the 2021 AFL Draft still hurts, almost a year later.

But with the help of his uncle, former Sydney 300-gamer and AFL Indigenous Team of the Century star Michael O’Loughlin, the backman has turned that into a positive.

The 19-year-old has signed with Adelaide’s State League side ahead of the 2023 season, as part of the SANFL Rookie Program.

O’Loughlin will spend a year at West Lakes before returning to his original club, North Adelaide, if not selected by an AFL club.

Speaking to AFC Media, O’Loughlin revealed his uncle’s guidance was what helped spark a move to the Crows’ nest.

“The goal is to still play AFL one day and that’s one of the main reasons why I signed (with Adelaide),” O’Loughlin said.

“Uncle Mick rings me regularly, especially after missing out on the draft, he was the person who I leant on and who helped me.

“Not just from a footy stand point, but as an uncle as well, and he said that this was the best choice, to come across and get that exposure.

“It’s the question I still want answered about whether I’m up to that next level and there’s no other way to do it than be in front of the eyes of Crows coaches, staff and players.”

“Uncle Mick rings me regularly, especially after missing out on the draft, he was the person who I leant on.

O’Loughlin is a highly-skilled defender who can also play on the wing and was named as an emergency for North Adelaide’s SANFL grand final team this year.

The speedy backman was a member of the Crows’ Next Generation Academy as a junior and trained with Adelaide’s AFL side in 2020 and 2021 while playing with the Roosters.

He was a state under-18 representative and judged best afield in the SA v WA curtain-raiser before the AFL Grand Final in 2021.

O’Loughlin said he was keen to return to the Club and hoped to add versatility to his game by learning from Adelaide’s rising stars and the more experienced players.

“For me, being a youngster, it’s all about development and hopefully playing some League games,” O’Loughlin said.

“I’ve been playing across the backlines throughout my juniors but I want to learn different aspects, including maybe midfield or forward, and there’s no better Club to come to for that, with all the help of the AFL boys and everyone involved.

“I’ll get to watch the likes of Rory Laird and (Rory) Sloane, Ben Keays and all the hard workers here which will be great.

“I’m also hoping to learn that small forward craft as well, so learning off (Josh) Rachele, who’s made a big step up into AFL footy.”