Both the Adelaide Crows and the Gold Coast Suns are out of the finals race and probably can’t wait for this season to be over.
The Crows finish their campaign with a dead rubber against North Melbourne while the Suns finish theirs with a match against Sydney, which is unlikely to affect the top eight.
So both clubs will be looking ahead to the upcoming trade period and draft, but let’s go back for a little bit.
I’m sure many people will remember the 2018 AFL draft, which many labelled as the best draft class in that decade. What was talked about a lot in that draft was the amount of South Australians expected to be selected high up in that draft.
Three of the top five selections were from the SANFL with Jack Lukosius going to Gold Coast at pick two along with Izak Rankine at pick three, and Connor Rozee going to Port Adelaide at pick five.
Jack Lukosius of South Australia during the U18 AFL Championships. (Photo by Michael Dodge/Getty Images)
It was also widely debated as to whether Adelaide or Port Adelaide would splash the cash and get one of those South Aussies.
The Power were able to get their way to pick five, which was obviously used for Connor Rozee, but the Crows decided not to, which might’ve been a mistake.
Jack Lukosius was recruited by Gold Coast from Woodville West Torrens as a key forward that could also play down back when needed, although he’s transitioned into a more permanent defender in recent years.
But I think that the Adelaide Crows should go out and try and sign Lukosius, and move him back down forward where people compared him to Nick Riewoldt.
Looking at the Crows’ current team, in the past five games, the average height of their front six was 189 centimetres, which is a bit taller than their opponents in the past five matches, with the front six of those teams having a 187-centimetre height average.
Some could then argue that they should play another short forward considering that the Crows have the least amount of marks inside 50 this season, and that they may as well have someone who can bring the ball to ground.
But I think they would be better off trying to find someone that can mark the ball.
Also, when a team is rebuilding, it would be better off to stick with one strategy, especially when the Crows have put faith in coach Matthew Nicks to get them back to the finals.
Going back to my previous point, Adelaide have taken the least amount of marks inside 50 this season, only having 5.7 a game. And it’s really cost them as they have scored the least amount of goals all season, only 6.8 a game to be exact. They desperately need another tall forward.
(Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)
Looking at Lukosius, he’s the third highest mark taker in the league this season, behind only premium defenders Tom Stewart (Geelong) and Harris Andrews (Brisbane). He also had taken eight marks down forward including 14 scoring shots. That is not bad for a player who’s played in defence most of the season.
So he would help fix the Crows’ marking issues in the forward 50, but he’d have to adjust to playing back there again, especially his kicking for goal, which hasn’t been great at all this season, with three goals and 11 behinds, which was what forced the Suns to play him in defence.
But they might have lost patience a bit early with him. Matt Taberner from Fremantle had a reputation for poor kicking accuracy for a long time, but after sticking with him, he now he has a reputation of being a consistent forward that scores every game. Lukosius is still only 21 and still has plenty of potential.
Then there’s the issue of how much Adelaide would be willing to pay in order to secure the Suns’ utility. They do have a first-round draft pick, which will range from pick two to four. The Suns have two second-rounders or maybe a third-rounder of which one could be thrown in the deal.
The Suns have a history of undervaluing their players and overvaluing others. Remember the Lachie Weller pick two thing?
Lukosius still has a future up front like many saw in 2018. The Crows didn’t think he was worth it then, but with their issues in the forward line, they might think he’s worth it now.
Rexxinald
Guest
Pick 4 & 23 (effectively pick 6&25) does not entice north enough to give up pick 1! They needed to shop m Crouch to north for enough to trigger first round compensation. Crouch then announces he wants out to north at $700 / 5 years - which triggers first round compo ….. then trade picks 4&5 to north for pick 1
Thom Roker
Roar Guru
I think Adelaide needs to think about how it can get up the order to get Jason Horne-Francis. Although he'd be really good for any team, North are pretty well set up for mids and haven't got much to work with at the draft. You'd start by downgrading their pick value because you're Adelaide and you'll bid on Daicos and Darcy before picking Horne-Francis. Pick 4 and pick 23 gets it done, maybe with something coming back.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
I doubt this is a criticism of Adelaide footy. It's a criticism of and admin that is shedding 2 players essential to a rebuild.
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
Pull ya skirt down, your arrogance is showing.
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
I don’t think you understand the passion with which footy is followed with in Adelaide. Unfortunately the club has made some monumental stuff ups in the past 10 years. Chief is the Tippet saga and the camp. With the right levers being pulled we’ll come out of that soon enough. ——— I’ve never said much about Freo because it’s hard to start a club but I’d thought a Freo fan would be more than understanding given their rampant and unbridled success over 26 years. ——– How’s the 6 year rebuild going?
Charlie Keegan
Roar Guru
The deal that would get it done would be they’d have to split pick four into two most likely trading it to Richmond for their two picks they’d then have to trade those picks plus a first round selection from next years draft along with Riley Thillthorpe and then I’m not even sure Gold Coast would go for that.
Charlie Keegan
Roar Guru
I think three first round picks wouldn’t get it done haha
berrlins
Roar Pro
Adelaide should go for anyone that'll improve their side and Jack would certainly do that but considering the fact that he is contracted I doubt they would cough up the required price to get him and the Suns would ask for the farm and then some. In reality Adelaide are better off waiting a year until he's out of contract, it'll still be a first round pick if he decides he wants to go home although if the suns can qualify for finals I think he'll stay.
JB
Guest
Thank you. You clearly have no idea what's happening Adelaide. And thank you for returning the conversation back Lukosius. Did your original post even discuss Lukosius? My memory was you just banging on about Talia and Lynch. Oh, and having a crack at Adelaide. You haven't even bothered addressing my thoughts on Lynch. Adelaide bottom 4-6 next year for sure. Neither Talia or Lynch will effect that outcome.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Freo has nothing to do with what is happening at Adelaide. Strange connection. In the context of this article, Jack Lukosius has no likelihood of even considering an Adelaide offer until they start acting like a club instead of a runaway train. 18th in 2022?
JB
Guest
Of course your post was ironic. I just don't agree with you. And you haven't really posted anything compelling. 'Talia is the best' doesn't really cut it. Hope you're not basing your knowledge and opinions on a Fremantle rebuild?
Brendon the 1st
Roar Rookie
Probably more about house prices in Adelaide, they're still low here but rising fast
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Good luck is ironic. You have no chance with what you have and have nothing to trade. You need more than one good key back and one potentially ok one. We'll see.
JB
Guest
So does this mean you don't know much about Adelaide, or that perhaps you were initally just busy throwing shade?
Thom Roker
Roar Guru
Pick 2 or 3 will only be worth 4 or 5 once father-son bids are matched for Daicos and Darcy. The Suns spent pick 2 on him in a superdraft. Unless a player is out of contract, which Jack isn't, the team selling names the price. Adelaide would be coming cap in hand ready to part with a buttload of picks and possibly a player like Himmelberg (who has a connection to Queensland). Apart from Adelaide media, there has been no suggestion that Luko is unhappy at the Suns. His best mate is Charlie Ballard and he lives with Ben King. The Suns playing group is very close and Luko has been given licence to develop according to his own needs. At 21, he could actually be the most expensive player to try to trade for on the market. Jeremy Cameron's trade deal involved the Cats trading three first round selections, with Pick 13, 15 and 20 heading to the Giants. GWS gave back two future second round selections in the deal. That was for a 28yo.
Jordan Klingsporn
Roar Guru
Permanent defender may have been the wrong word to use And in terms of the draft picks, I think the Sun's would probably accept Pick 2-3, seeing as what they've done in the past
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Good luuuck!
JB
Guest
Out of the current starting mids Matt Crouch was probably the last decent mid they drafted. Keeping Scott Thompson for an extra yearn which he played 1 senior game, and as a result letting Jarryd Lyons go to the GCS for a bag of peanuts was probably their biggest mistake.
JB
Guest
Butts has gone past Talia. Talia can only play FB and is limited by a lack of ground speed and the ability to drive attack from the D50. Brown, M Crouch (unless he gets a better offer), Kelly, Keays, Laird, Seedsman, Sloane and Walker are still on the list. And you could probably add Keays and Milera to that list. Adelaide lost 5 games this year by 2 goals or less. The only genuinely disappointing games this year were vs GWS and Essendon. They'll be fine.
Thom Roker
Roar Guru
I don't know how much of Jack Lukosius' AFL career you've watched, but it isn't as much as me and I disagree with quite a few of your observations. For a start, Jack isn't anything like a "permanent defender", he's a loose defender who cheats up the wing and spends periods of time forward. But your main error has been your analysis of Luko's marking stats. He was moved out of the forward line because he couldn't take the necessary contested marks and, as you have identified, he isn't accurate from the set shot. He gets his marks by two main sources: coming out of defence and taking intercept marks. It is definitely in Adelaide's interest to enquire about Lukosius. Port certainly will be. But don't be fooled that there is a go-home factor. No South Australian recruit has ever wanted to go home from the Gold Coast. The only players that have gone back to the SANFL are Harrison Wigg, who never played an AFL game, and Jesse Lonergan, whose uncle coaches WWT and won a flag together. And have I got it right? Are you suggesting the Suns would have to send a 2nd rounder with Jack for pick 4? That wouldn't get you half of Luko.