Former Adelaide Crows recruiting manager Matt Rendell reveals his regret at overlooking Lachie Neale on draft night
Adelaide took three players in the 2011 draft before Fremantle picked Lachie Neale. Former Crows recruiting manager Matt Rendell reveals why the club missed out on the local boy who turned into an AFL superstar.
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Former Adelaide recruiting manager Matt Rendell says his biggest draft regret was not swooping on now Brownlow Medal favourite Lachie Neale late in 2011.
Neale, who is the hot favourite for the Brownlow Medal having become one of the premier midfielders in the competition since moving to Brisbane, was selected with Pick 58 by Fremantle in that year’s national draft.
The Crows emerged with Brad Crouch in the mini-draft, Sam Kerridge as a priority pick, Mitch Grigg at 41, Nicholas Joyce at 46 and Cam Ellis-Yolmen at 64.
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Rendell said he liked Neale, who had 40 disposals in the under 18 grand final for Glenelg in a loss to Port Adelaide to win the Alan Stewart Medal, but couldn’t get any love for the Kybybolite kid.
“His grand final was outstanding and showed what he was going to do at AFL level,” Rendell said.
“(I) loved his work rate and all that stuff, (and) thought I could get him as a rookie, but clearly couldn’t.
“It didn’t happen, obviously he got picked and so he should have off his grand final anyway.”
Rendell said he should have done more homework on Neale, so the Crows weren’t thwarted by the Dockers.
“I did like him, but I tried to be too smart,” he said.
“Sometimes you think you can get this bloke and this bloke … I should have spoken to him and found out who had spoken to him.
“I would have had to take him in Mitch Grigg’s spot, but I liked Mitch Grigg more than Lachie Neale and I thought I could get him in the rookie draft, but I didn’t.
“So that was a bit of a stuff up.”
Grigg played just the 20 games for the Crows across three years, kicking 15 goals.
In the rookie draft the Crows picked up Rory Laird, a selection Rendell said where lessons were learnt from letting Neale slip.
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