Latrelle Sumner-Pickett has emerged as a major prospect in the AFL draft, sharply climbing up the ranks after only debuting in the top-flight of the SANFL in August.

The crumbing forward, who is predicted to come into first-round calculations, has a familiar style and a famous surname to attract attention.

His path has been quite different to that of Kysaiah Pickett, the 12th overall selection of the 2019 draft, via the Adelaide private school football system at Prince Alfred College and through to SANFL club Woodville-West Torrens.

Pickett-Sumner in contrast did not get an invitation in July to last month's AFL draft combine in Melbourne, instead forced to turn up to the state combine for draft hopefuls rather than certainties.

"To play with my cousin would be pretty good - definitely would be great to get to Melbourne but I really don't mind," Sumner-Pickett told reporters at an AFL draft media launch last week on the Adelaide Oval.

"I guess wherever I go, I'll be happy - I just want to get that opportunity, that's all."

Draft pundits have reported genuine interest from Adelaide in Pickett's younger cousin - possibly with the club's first-round pick No.16 - after being overlooked for a place in Port Adelaide's Next Generation Academy this year.

However, the Demons may well gazump a Crows' pick should rookie coach Steven King employ one of his two back-to-back selections inside this year's first eight selections in calling Sumner-Pickett's name out on Wednesday.

The 19-year-old's chances of being plucked from relative obscurity vastly increased late in the SANFL season.

By the end of Glenelg's finals' campaign, an inspiring four-goal debut against Central District had tongues wagging.

"I never thought I would be up for the draft this year," Pickett-Sumner said.

"Obviously, I was coming back from injury because I really missed out in my (2024) draft year."

Pickett-Sumner, who has a near-identical goal sense to his cousin under intense pressure, has put together a highlight reel in his own right to admire.

He first came to the attention of scouts leading a state under-20 lineup to victory with three goals in the South Australia's annual youth fixture.

After being overlooked in the 2024 draft, Pickett-Sumner turned back to basics this year following another season featuring injuries and disappointment.

The turnaround was built first on finding consistency for Glenelg's reserves, producing 28 goals from 17 appearances before a call up into the seniors shone a spotlight on his talent.

Pickett-Sumner later stepped back into the SANFL reserves grand final to lead the Bays to the 2025 title with a further four goals in front of the building Adelaide Oval crowd.

"I reckon it's just in the name and it's just in the blood, I reckon," Sumner-Pickett said.

"I think I've just always had it, the same as Kozzy."

Pickett-Sumner does admit he almost lost faith in reaching the highest level of the game.

The Port Lincoln product can always lean on his uncle Byron Pickett, a multiple AFL premiership-winner at North Melbourne and Port Adelaide, and second-cousin Marlon Pickett, for guidance, but it's advice from the remaining Pickett in the game that Pickett-Sumner credits as crucial to reforming his development this year.

"Kozzy's given me some of his programs of what they do over at Melbourne like their running," Pickett-Sumner said.

"He also tells me all the time to keep my head up, like stay strong, just keep grinding and don't die wondering, so I've kept my head screwed on."

The setbacks have spurred Sumner-Pickett on, after the Ngarrindjeri teen struggled to run out onto the ground more than four times over his previous two under-18 seasons for Norwood.

"That was a bit hard, and I decided to go back home and spend some time with family," he said.

"The little pushbacks, you kinda need them in life, I guess, to get to where I'm at now."