Adelaide’s need for more key defensive options could reunite Eric Mackenzie with Don Pyke
ADELAIDE’S need to deepen its key defensive options has put contracted — but out-of-favour — West Coast backman Eric Mackenzie on the Crows’ asking list for next week’s trade talks.
ADELAIDE’S need to deepen its key defensive options has put contracted — but out-of-favour — West Coast backman Eric Mackenzie on the Crows’ asking list for next week’s AFL trade talks.
Mackenzie, the 2014 John Worsfold Medallist as the Eagles’ club champion, could accept the chance to reunite with Crows senior coach and former West Coast assistant Don Pyke as a critical break in reviving his career.
Mackenzie is on contract to the Eagles for next season, but the 28-year-old key defender has fallen from West Coast’s first 22 with the rise of young defender Tom Barrass.
Adelaide’s key defensive stocks are solid — but not deep — with All-Australian Daniel Talia, the impressive Jake Lever and Kyle Hartigan, who had a top-10 finish in the Malcolm Blight club champion count this season.
But more than once this season Adelaide learned how injury can expose the Crows in defence, particularly at the end of the season when Kyle Cheney and Luke Brown battled groin injuries. And there is more reason to look at defensive options in the trade market after young defender Sam Shaw was held back by concussion problems in the SANFL this year.
Trade talks open on Monday when all 18 clubs gather at Etihad Stadium. But there will be preliminary movement when the clubs’ recruiting bosses meet in Melbourne at the draft combine from Thursday.
Adelaide’s headlines in the trade period will be made by the Crows’ search for a midfielder, in particular contract Brisbane captain Tom Rockliff.
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There also is the question of utility Ricky Henderson testing the free agency market that opens on Friday — and uncontracted midfielder Jarryd Lyons commanding interest from rival AFL clubs.
Adelaide’s football department also has to be refitted with the loss of football chief David Noble to Brisbane.
The Crows are still waiting for Pyke’s West Coast premiership teammate Peter Sumich to accept an offer to lead the high-performance program at West Lakes.
DELISTED Port Adelaide key forward Jay Schulz, 31, is still waiting for the chance to sign with his third AFL club — and his manager Liam Pickering remains hopeful an offer will emerge soon.
“I hope so,” Pickering said on Monday. “We know what Jay can do — he is great in the air (taking a contested mark) and we do know he can kick straight. And his experience would help someone’s list.”