Adelaide Crows pick Mitch Marsh in the AFL Draft after Essendon knocks back trade for Dyson Sharp
Adelaide took another step in preparing for life after Taylor Walker on Wednesday night – but it could’ve been a whole lot different if its audacious play for Dyson Sharp paid off.
Adelaide has taken another step towards preparing for life without Taylor Walker, selecting an athletic forward who is the son of a premiership Crow.
Mitch Marsh became the Crows’ sole selection in the national draft’s first night on Wednesday – 27 years after his father, Ben, was a ruckman in the club’s 1998 flag success.
Adelaide had tried desperately to move up the order to select South Australian under-18 captain Dyson Sharp at pick 13.
The Crows offered multiple packages to Essendon that reportedly included their 2026 first-rounder, but the Bombers did not budge and chose the Central District midfielder who happened to barrack for them.
Adelaide then grabbed Marsh, a 191cm leading forward, with pick 22.
Crows recruiting boss Hamish Ogilvie told this masthead the club could not have tried any harder to land Sharp, but was thrilled to secure childhood Crows fan Marsh.
“We gave it our absolute best shot for Dyson and threw everything,” Ogilvie said.
“We always thought he was seriously going to be in the mix for Essendon.
“With Marshy, we think there’s big scope for him to still improve and we’re only scratching the surface.
“He has the ability to play wing, forward and three different forward spots.
“He’s a season-ticket holder who loves the Crows, whose dad played for the club and cuts the grass (as a groundskeeper) at Adelaide Oval.
“It doesn’t make you pick them but it’s a good story.”
Marsh was ineligible to be drafted under father-son rules because Ben (48 games for Adelaide) fell short of the 100-match threshold.
The 18-year-old joins a Crows attack that includes fellow talls Riley Thilthorpe, 23, Darcy Fogarty, 26, and club great Walker, 36 in April.
Marsh booted 30 goals from 15 games for West Adelaide this year, along with 12 for the national championship-winning SA team.
“We had a lot of meetings with him during the year,” Ogilvie said.
“Him and Shedda (Crows recruiter Shane Edwards) are nearly best mates.
“He’s a cracking kid.
“He had to carry a big load in that Westies team and didn’t shirk it.
“He’s got a great attitude to work and is such a good runner for a tall kid.
“(Selecting him) really helps to future-proof for whatever happens, even if it’s injury.
“Tex will be gone soon when he’s 43 and can’t play anymore.”
Ogilvie said the club would likely now take the best available player with its next selection (46) on Thursday night because of Marsh’s versatility.
Marsh told Fox Footy getting drafted to the Crows was unreal.
“Dad’s obviously been a huge influence throughout my whole life with his experience and the knowledge he’s been able to give me,” said Marsh, who modelled his game on Geelong superstar and fellow left-footer Jeremy Cameron.
Fox Footy’s Leigh Montagna said: “Adelaide would be rapt they’re able to get a local product who can eventually replace Tex in that half-forward role.”
Originally published as Adelaide Crows pick Mitch Marsh in the AFL Draft after Essendon knocks back trade for Dyson Sharp
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