Finding diamonds in the rough a key behind Adelaide Crows’ AFL premiership charge
ADELAIDE’S journey to the big dance has not been done in the conventional manner. The Advertiser’s Andrew Capel takes a look at how the Crows built their grand final side.
ADELAIDE’S journey to the 2017 AFL grand final has not been done in the conventional manner.
The Crows have remarkably built a grand final, and potentially premiership, team without one top-10 draft pick.
While Saturday’s opponent Richmond will have five top-10 selections run onto the MCG — Brownlow Medallists Trent Cotchin (No. 2) and Dustin Martin (3), Josh Caddy (7) and Dion Prestia and Nick Vlastuin (9) — Adelaide’s highly-touted recruiting department has masterfully found plenty of diamonds in the rough.
Its current squad does not feature a top-10 pick — the only club to not have at least one on its list.
Of the 22 players named in Adelaide’s grand final starting line-up, the highest-drafted player is key defender Daniel Talia, who was selected at No. 13 at the 2009 national draft..
Former Saint Ton Lynch was also drafted at 13, by St Kilda, before being traded to the Crows in 2011 for draft pick 37.
Five members of Adelaide’s 22 were picked by the club at the rookie draft — All-Australian Rory Laird, his defensive sidekicks Kyle Hartigan and Jake Kelly, preliminary final hero Charlie Cameron and tough midfielder Hugh Greenwood — while captain Taylor Walker was a NSW scholarship player.
Lynch, small forward superstar Eddie Betts, lead ruckman Sam Jacobs, key forward Josh Jenkins, who has booted 107 goals in the past two seasons, and Paul Seedsman were recruited from rival AFL clubs.
Gun onballer Brad Crouch and lockdown small defender Luke Brown were obtained by a clever trade with GWS as teenagers.
All-Australian midfielder and vice-captain Rory Sloane was a steal at pick 44 at the national draft while classy wingman Rory Atkins was selected at No. 81 in 2012 when the Crows lost their top two draft selections as punishment for the Kurt Tippett salary cap scandal.
Adelaide traded away favourite son Bernie Vince to Melbourne in 2013 to secure pick 23 to land midfield ball magnet Matt Crouch, who this season made his first All-Australian team.
Former national recruiting manager Matt Rendell, who is now at Collingwood, started the recruiting ball rolling for the Crows with the selection of midfielder Richard Douglas at No. 16 in 2005.
He famously punted on now Geelong superstar and Brownlow Medallist Patrick Dangerfield at No. 10 in 2007 and zeroed in on Sloane at No. 44 in 2008 when most rivals overlooked him.
When Rendell was forced out of Adelaide in 2012 over a racism row, his right-hand man Hamish Ogilvie took over as Crows national recruiting manager and hasn’t missed a beat.
He has proved to be one of the most astute recruiters in the business, compiling a list which is flag favourite.
Adelaide did not make Ogilvie available for interview this week, wanting its players to be the focus of attention.
But Jacobs, who couldn't get a regular game at Carlton before being traded to the Crows and becoming a triple All-Australian nominee, hailed his eye for talent.
“Hamish and his recruiting department have found some great players deep in the draft, which says a lot about them,’’ said Jacobs.
“They’ve been a real key to our success, for their ability to identify the talent and character in players that other clubs might have passed on.
“But it isn't just purely about talent identification.
“The success of our players — most of who haven’t been taken with high draft picks — is a tick for our culture and the fact that we have never accepted bottoming out.
“We have always been driven to be the best we can be and have created an environment where players are able to learn and get the very best out of themselves.’’
In an era of equalisation, it has proved to be a winning chemistry.
HOW THE CROWS BUILT A GRAND FINAL TEAM
2005
Richard Douglas
No. 16 national draft from Calder Cannons U18s
2006
David Mackay
No 48 national draft from Oakleigh U18s
2007
Andy Otten
No. 27 national draft from Oakleigh U18s
Taylor Walker
No. 75 national draft from NSW-ACT U18s
(NSW scholarship player)
2008
Rory Sloane
No. 44 national draft from Eastern U18s
2009
Daniel Talia
No. 13 national draft from Calder U18s
2010
Sam Jacobs
Traded by Carlton for picks 34 and 67
2011
Luke Brown
Traded by GWS, along with zone incentive selection No. 2 (Brad Crouch), for draft pick 10 and round one compensation selection for Phil Davis
Josh Jenkins
Traded by Essendon for draft pick 31
Tom Lynch
Traded by St Kilda for draft pick 37
Brad Crouch
Recruited with zone incentive selection No. 2, along with Luke Brown, for draft pick 10 and round one compensation selection for Phil Davis
2012
Rory Atkins
No. 81 national draft from Calder U18s
2013
Matt Crouch
No. 23 national draft from North Ballarat U18s
Riley Knight
No. 46 national draft from Woodville-West Torrens
Kyle Hartigan
No. 76 national draft from Werribee as a promoted rookie. (First selected at No 14 at 2013 rookie draft).
Rory Laird
No. 86 national draft from West Adelaide as a promoted rookie. (First selected at No. 5 at
2012 rookie draft).
Eddie Betts
Restricted free agent from Carlton
2014
Jake Lever
No. 14 national draft from Calder U18s
Charlie Cameron
Rookie elevation from Swan Districts. (First selected at No. 7 at 2014 rookie draft).
2015
Jake Kelly
Rookie elevation from Oakleigh U18s. (First selected at No. 40 2014 rookie draft).
Paul Seedsman
Traded from Collingwood for draft pick 37
2016
Hugh Greenwood
No. 48 rookie draft from Lauderdale, Tas. (Still on rookie list).