Adelaide Crows sign father-son prospect Tyler Welsh for SANFL team

The Crows have made an early play to ensure they’re in the box seat to land a promising father-son prospect next year.

Top Adelaide father-son AFL draft prospect Tyler Welsh is a Crow – a SANFL one at least.

The son of four-time Adelaide leading goalkicker Scott Welsh, 17-year-old key forward Tyler, isn’t eligible to be drafted until next year.

But the Crows have swooped early, signing the Woodville-West Torrens product to their SANFL team under the league’s rookie program.

Under the program, Adelaide and hometown rival Port Adelaide have the right to list approved father-son-aligned players in their SANFL teams for a full season in their 18th year.

Bringing Welsh to the club a year before he is eligible to be drafted – he is considered a first round prospect in 2024 – allows the Crows to fast-track his development.

Under SANFL rules, if Welsh is not selected in Adelaide’s SANFL team next season he can return to play for the Eagles at reserves or under-18 level.

The Crows will also not select him during his under-18 state and national academy commitments.

Tyler Welsh celebrates kicking one of his five goals for South Australia against Vic Country at this year’s AFL under-18 championships. Picture: Graham Denholm/AFL Photos via Getty Images

Welsh in action for Woodville-West Torrens in the 2022 SANFL under-18s grand final against Glenelg. Picture: SANFL

“We obviously know Tyler really well, not only through his dad Scott who had a successful playing career with the club, but also from his involvement with our father-son academy in recent years,” Adelaide head of football Adam Kelly said.

“The opportunity for him to work with our coaches and high performance staff will help his development and we are excited about integrating him with our SANFL team next year.”

Welsh has been a member of Adelaide’s Next Generation Academy for the past four years and will begin training with the club when its pre-season program starts on November 27.

He is currently completing an AFL Sportsready Community and Football Administration Traineeship and has been placed at the club for the practical component of the course.

The son of former Crows, Western Bulldogs and North Melbourne goalkicker Scott, Tyler is only eligible for father-son draft status at Adelaide, where Scott played 129 of his 205 games, kicking 270 goals in the Crows’ tri-colours from 2000-2007.

Tyler, 191cm, is an outstanding prospect who shone in the Eagles’ 2022 SANFL under-18s grand final win against Glenelg, while he bagged five goals for SA in his first appearance at state under-18 level against Vic Country this year.

Father-son members of the 2022 State under-16 team, from left, Louie Montgomery, Lucas and Ben Camporeale with dad Scott, Tyler Welsh with dad Scott, Tom Tasker with dad Sean, Tom Cochrane with dad Stuart, Ned Atkinson with dad Brodie and Will McCabe. Picture: Tricia Watkinson

New Woodville-West Torrens chief executive David Couzner said his club had no issue with Welsh joining Adelaide.

“We respect the SANFL list rules and match conditions and that the Adelaide Football Club has the right to enlist Tyler,’’ Couzner said.

“This is a great opportunity for Tyler and his development and we will continue to support him where possible in his footballing journey.”

Welsh is one of seven new development players Adelaide has signed to its 2024 SANFL squad.

The others are Wangaratta ruckman Toby Murray, who is the younger brother of Crows defender Nick Murray, Gawler South’s Steve Burton, Prince Alfred Old Collegians’ Jayden Davis, Broadview’s Sam Daniele, Langhorne Creek’s Darcy Clifford and former Central District midfielder Austin McDonald.

“We’re very pleased with the additions to our SANFL squad for next season,” Kelly said.

“All of these players bring different attributes but a shared commitment to wanting to get the best out of themselves and the team.”