The Adelaide Crows kick off this year’s trade and draft review series.
I will look at all the players who came to the club since last December’s review, from the supplemental selection period to the mid-season rookie draft, then the actual draft and final list lodgement.
The Crows got off to the very worst start of the season in terms of list rebuilding when troublesome Tyson Stengle breached club rules for the final time, so they had no choice but to release him to the SANFL and cut their losses.
On the field, results were coming in as they had in the final portion of 2020, with several unexpected wins and plenty of optimism. Yet it wasn’t to last as the narrow wins became narrow defeats and another season became a write-off.
There were highlights, such as starting the season with a win against the losing grand finalists Geelong, then the thrilling shootout with the Demons where the Crows exposed some real weaknesses in Simon Goodwin’s game plan.
Then there was the seven-goal comeback in Cairns against St Kilda after failing to score a point until over halfway into the second quarter.
However, the wheels really fell off when Taylor Walker went toxic and racially vilified a SANFL player while spectating.
(Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images)
Taylor Walker is many things, but nobody can disagree that his footy does the best talking for him and his mouth is better off shut. For an ex-AFL captain with all that cultural training and development, he could not have been using his brain.
It shouldn’t matter to an article like this because this is just trade and draft analysis, but in terms of Walker’s excellent early-season form, he’s going to be crucial to getting this team back into a culture of winning before the veterans inevitably retire or leave.
Who’s gone?
Bryce Gibbs was technically on the list while playing for South Adelaide, so he at least frees up a roster spot, while veterans Daniel Talia and David Mackay retired as well.
(Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Media/Getty Images)
Tom Lynch has not retired, but he is as good as retired for Crows purposes, while Ronin O’Connor was let go without any takers.
Supplementary selection period
The Crows got out to a great start in 2021 in terms of recruitment by picking up ex-Giants academy player Nick Murray, who had captained Murray Bushrangers in the NAB League. He is a developing key defender who will continue in 2022 with Adelaide.
Mid-season rookie draft
After delisting Tyson Stengle in the off-season, Adelaide had a position of need at small forward, so they went back to the Murray Bushrangers to choose undrafted small defender Patrick Parnell at pick four. He managed to play a handful of games in the SANFL with his former Bushrangers teammate picked in the pre-season.
Free agency
Adelaide’s only involvement in free agency this year was to watch Jake Kelly walk to the Bombers, although they did come out of it with a third-round compensation selection.
(Photo by Daniel Kalisz/Getty Images)
Trade
Adelaide’s trade period was busy and fruitful, landing homesick Jordan Dawson. But the road to get to that point was one of the more complicated of the entire period and possibly the best outcome in a ready-made player who is an upgrade on their free-agency loss.
The Crows entered a dizzying four-club mega-trade designed to give different benefits to each club, which by and large it did.
Melbourne got back into this year’s first round, the Bulldogs traded back for a points surplus to match for Sam Darcy, while the Saints moved back strategically to get picks and points for their stable of next generation academy players.
However, it was Adelaide who got the most out of the deal having put up a massive six picks from the second to fourth rounds, then getting back the Demons’ future first and sliding back ten places in the second round.
A huge cost in terms of draft points, but it meant that the Crows did not have to part with or split their top pick in order to satisfy Sydney with Melbourne’s future first for Jordan Dawson.
Draft
Patterns emerge at clubs and the Crows had one particular secret blown open after picking their third Murray Bushranger in a row and fourth overall in Josh Rachele at pick six, which really did fill a glaring position of need for the list that had gone unaddressed at previous drafts.
(Photo by Daniel Kalisz/Getty Images)
Having traded back toward the end of the second round, Adelaide were happy to land slider Jake Soligo, who is a midfielder/forward who played some VFL for Richmond before the lockdown.
With their third pick early in the third round, the Crows went back to the Victorian well for the fifth time in 2021 to get yet another small midfielder/forward in Zac Taylor from the Calder Cannons.
Pre-season draft
The increasingly irrelevant pre-season draft once again benefited the Crows, who last year walked Jackson Hately back home to South Australia with the top pick and only pick in the pre-season draft.
This time around, after being spooked that another team were planning to take their preferred player in the rookie draft, Adelaide grabbed Luke Nankervis in the second of two players in this year’s pre-season draft.
Re-rookie
Having snared their main target, the Crows re-rookied Ben Davis, but took no further part in the rookie draft process.
The verdict
Adelaide ripped in and churned over their list during their rebuild, adding young talent that will move forward together over the next few years as the club endures an uncustomary period in the lower regions of the ladder.
This is a team that suffered the sudden death of their coach in the season and then lost a grand final it had been favoured to win.
Looking back, the Kurt Tippett affair robbed the Crows of their potentially best players right now when they were kicked out of the draft, then the notorious camp damaged the culture in the team and players ran for the exits.
The Crows’ rebuild has unofficially been going on for a few years and this relatively small turnover of players is more a sign of consolidation than trying to fix everything at once.
(Photo by James Elsby/AFL Photos via Getty Images)
Josh Rachele is a high-quality talent who might otherwise have gone earlier than pick six depending on who was picking. His forward craft and potential to go into the middle is exactly what the faithful had been cawing for, with credible comparisons to Toby Greene.
Jake Soligo is a midfield accumulator with a penchant for tackling and marking. He was touted as a first-rounder during the actual NAB League season but fell away as the lockdown recruitment process ground its way down to draft day, like his comparison Lachie Neale did too.
Zac Taylor is another midfielder with forward versatility who racks up possessions, likes to tackle and can launch the ball into inside 50 to find a target, which is why the Crows have gone for a similar player again.
In-season acquisitions Nick Murray and Patrick Parnell will push during the off-season to find spots in Adelaide’s new-look defence as it evolves with the young quartet of Murray Bushrangers, including incumbent Jordan Butts and their top draft pick in Josh Rachele.
However, the whole Crows post-season strategy was to land Jordan Dawson, which is a key in their rebuilding process that may just unlock a rise up the ladder.
His game went to new levels in 2021 with elite intercept marking, rebound out of defensive 50 and launching into forward 50.
Final word
The Crows have copped a lot of criticism in the media since their ignominious grand final defeat, yet the 2022 team will look vastly different as the club rebuilds its list and looks to find a new identity.
Successive drafting periods heavy on talent will give third-year coach Matthew Nicks the building blocks he needs to shape his game plan around.
WCE
Roar Rookie
Truth is you live life once. Greenwood understands this and wants what's best for him and his family also clearly challenges himself with many goals. Gets offered better opportunities and takes them what do you want him to do? Be loyal to a make believe world like you? Or take life and live it to the fullest?
Thom Roker
Roar Guru
Blegh. You always dump your takes and never engage after. Carlton’s tampering is inexcusable and you have no defense besides simple denial.
Thom Roker
Roar Guru
All good when a player chooses self interest over club loyalty and there is obviously mitigating circumstances in this case. My main point is that Hugh Greenwood has a past of disloyalty and always goes for top dollar. There’s a pattern and I’ve shown it. David Noble is also complicit. End of the day I’m pleased that a player who has already said before this that he wants to go back to basketball will drain Kangaroo dollars rather than Suns dollars. Not salty in the least as he simply wasn’t best 22 at the Suns and cost a buttload. Bullet dodged.
Willie
Roar Rookie
Greenwood didn't walk out of a sinking ship. He was pushed, and it was an appalling decision by Crows management, and he has since proven.
Willie
Roar Rookie
Laird has been a great success in the middle, and must stay there. The big question is whether Crouch will ever be right, fitness wise. If he starts the season truly fit, he must get plenty of time in the middle. If not, he may lose his his chance altogether. Milera is another part of the puzzle. If he starts the season fit, time in the middle for him is likely. I think its time to find another position for Rory Sloane. Maybe a half forward flank? He can kick a goal, and can dispute the ball keenly on the ground. And still do some occasional, hopefully inspirational stints out of the middle. I think the Crows seem more settled, more balanced and more happy than in a long time. Dawson will be an asset, and I expect Taylor Walker to have a strong year, once allowed back on the field. Real demonstrated growth in players like Fogarty, and Milera is key.
Thom Roker
Roar Guru
The Bombers still have spots to fill on their rookie list and then there is the midseason draft. The fact is Aussie played colts for half a season last year and finished school. This year he had a few VFL and Suns Academy games and got injured. It’s just not a solid base on which to launch into an AFL side. Being able to go around at Calder puts him in the frame for the National championships where he can compete against the best teenagers in the country. Toss in a few more VFL games and he’ll catch the eye of every recruiter in the league.
Charlie Keegan
Roar Guru
So he’s not playing for the Bombers afl squad? Interesting
Thom Roker
Roar Guru
Looks like Sam Landsberger has let the cat out of the bag. Austin Harris AKA Zaharakis 2.0 is heading to the Hangar to try out for the Bombers VFL team. He'll play for Calder Cannons and be in the mix for VFL games as part of the 30 player squad. What news corpse failed to divulge is that he's still eligible to play for Allies and connected to the Suns Academy. If he gets through to the national draft next season, he and the Suns could exercise their option to nominate for Academy status, but that option is a long way down the road. Bombers still have 2 rookie spot to fill and the kid in en route to train before Christmas.
Thom Roker
Roar Guru
Take a look at my profile. I write about the Suns. People who pay heed to mainstream media tend to echo the garbage about the Suns that gets peddled on a daily basis. I choose to refute it and set the record straight. Imagine you are having a conversation with a person who keeps repeating lies and halftruths to you, insisting that they are right when you know for a fact that they have it all wrong. That's what it is like being a Suns fan. Some fans just withdraw from social media because it is full of bullies and trolls. Others gather on boards and snipe at each other about how bad the club is. I choose to engage people and the best way to do that is to be up front. Where else can you find a commentator on the Suns who is actually a fan? If they exist, I haven't come across them.
Charlie Keegan
Roar Guru
Yeah the first three rounds are brutal 3 of the top four
Thom Roker
Roar Guru
Bombers don't leave Melbourne until Round 9, but they play 6 finalist teams in the first half of the season with 4 more in the second half. Playing twice against Sydney, Brisbane, Richmond, Port and Collingwood. Harsh, but only leaving Melbourne 5 times and have 8 games at the MCG.
Thom Roker
Roar Guru
Very happy with the Suns fixture. Playing North, Collingwood, Hawthorn, West Coast and Brisbane twice. 9 games at Metricon, 2 games in Darwin followed by the bye. The Q-clash 22 is during ANZAC weekend and the annual Gabba match later in the season, with only 1 trip each to Adelaide and Perth, 2 trips to Sydney, Hawks in Tassie, Bulldogs in Ballarat, Pies at the G and the rest of the games will be at Marvel. The only complaints Suns fans will have are that 9 home games at Metricon after 7 games last year is not enough to justify the membership plus there is a lot of travel involved the early part of the season. Only 4 games in the first 12 are at Metricon, with the 2 Darwin games regarded as home games for the Suns which you would think the AFL could have split. Another game in Cairns is good, but it is the Suns zone and a place where the club has done significant work to promote the game with 3 current listed players, 2 former players and plenty of boys and girls in the Academy.
Johnno
Roar Rookie
Not sure if Hamling was with a Freo or not when Collins was here. He certainly couldn’t get a regular game.
Charlie Keegan
Roar Guru
So apparently Austin Harris is training with the Bombers now. I hope he gets a game next year
Luke
Guest
I don’t bash Suns. I just prefer reading articles of sports writers who try to keep their allegiances in check. For instance, I always hated hearing Ed McGuire call a Collingwood game, he was just too one sided. Also, I consider you a journalist, as you write lots of articles on here. But you’ll be a better one if you don’t bring it back to your team all the time. For instance, the article is about Adelaide…not Gold Coast
JB
Guest
Never let the truth get in the way of a good story .. Keath was offered a contract by the Suns as priority selection as an underager. He chose to sign a contract with cricket instead
Chanon
Roar Rookie
Thank goodness!
Thom Roker
Roar Guru
We had days in Toowoomba so cold this year that the weather forecast had the possibility of snow. Weather is changing so much that southern cities now experience things like high humidity in summer.
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
Melbourne is colder in the winter than Adelaide, granted, but cooler than Adelaide in the summer; evidently not worse. Including much cooler nights. Living in Melbourne is not living in Adelaide.
Thom Roker
Roar Guru
I lived in Melbourne for 15 years. All extremes of weather. Like Adelaide, but a day later and usually worse. There are few more intolerable climates than far North Queensland. Even a 30 degree day in Cairns can come with a stale humidity in the 80s that is revolting. You can't even go for a swim because of crocs and Irukandji. The summer I left Brisbane about 20 years ago was putrid. Nights with actual fog from the heat and humidity. Days where all you could do was sit in your jocks and stare at the cricket. Last time I felt that kind of humidity was the start of 2020 when the Suns played a double header of men's and women's games at Metricon. The men played a preseason game against the Lions and the ball was so slick with humidity each side used around 40 players. The club neglected to provide courtesy buses back to the train station, so I had to walk through the swamp. I was half dead when I got there.