Adelaide adds to its Carlton connection with drafting of Lachlan Sholl and Will Hamill

Adelaide’s remarkable Carlton connection has continued with the recruitment of Lachlan Sholl and Will Hamill.

Crows Lachlan Sholl and Will Hamill. Picture: Dean Martin

Adelaide’s remarkable Carlton connection has continued with the recruitment of Lachlan Sholl and Will Hamill.

With former Blues Sam Jacobs, Eddie Betts and Bryce Gibbs already on the Crows’ list, they have drafted two speedy, playmaking defenders with ties to Carlton.

Left-footer Will Hamill, who AFL talent ambassador Kevin Sheehan says plays like star Blues backman Kade Simpson, is a distant relative of former Carlton and then St Kilda forward Aaron Hamill.

Right-footer Lachlan Sholl is the son of former Blue Brett Sholl, who played 35 games for the club from 1992-94, and nephew of Craig and Brad Sholl, who played 406 games between them for North Melbourne and Geelong.

Sholl was not able to join Carlton under the father-son rule because his dad did not play 100 games for the club but he said the Sholl clan had been a massive influence on his career.

“I’m able to draw on that experience,’’ said Lachlan, 18, who was selected at pick 64 from TAC Cup club side Calder Cannons at last Thursday’s AFL national draft.

Crows draftees Lachlan Sholl and Will Hamill. Picture: Dean Martin

“Dad has been my coach or main guidance in footy ever since I started and is definitely a big reason why I’m the footballer I am.

“Brad and Craig live in country Victoria now so I don’t see them that often but they also have been very supportive of everything I’ve done.’’

Sholl is renowned for having a long, penetrating kick while Hamill, also 18, is the smooth mover who Sheehan says reminds him of 307-game star Simpson.

Hamill is lightning quick, finishing third in the 20m sprint at the AFL Draft Combine in 2.914 seconds — ahead of renowned speed merchant and No. 3 draft pick Izak Rankine, who was fourth.

Drafted at pick 30, Hamill was rated as the 21st-best prospect on Adelaide’s draft board.

“I’m pretty pacy and like to run and break the lines, I get a lot of handball receives and like to break open teams,’’ he said of his exciting style.

Hamill, who this year played in the Dandenong Stingrays’ first TAC Cup premiership team, is lightly-framed 185cm and 72kg and will need to add some muscle before he is thrust into AFL games.

While renowned as half-back flankers, Hamill and Sholl have the ability to push up onto a wing.

Hamill and Sholl’s selections with the Crows’ third and fourth draft picks followed the club’s round one selections of midfielder Chayce Jones (No. 9 overall) and small forward/midfielder Ned McHenry (16).

While there are plenty of former Carlton players at Adelaide it is not a one-way street.

Former Crows Sam Kerridge and Mitch McGovern have gone the other way while the clubs swapped 2019 first-round draft picks at the draft.

Adelaide also owns the Blues’ second-round selection next year courtesy of a trade with GWS.

Originally published as Adelaide adds to its Carlton connection with drafting of Lachlan Sholl and Will Hamill