Adelaide Crows made a cheeky play for Port’s Dougal Howard before Saints move Justin Reid reveals
They were able to lure promising tall Billy Frampton from fierce rival Port, but Crows list manager Justin Reid has revealed Adelaide made a cheeky play for another Power player.
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They were able to lure one player from fierce rivals Port Adelaide, promising tall Billy Frampton, but Crows list manager Justin Reid has revealed Adelaide made a play for another Power player — Dougal Howard.
Despite three years on his contract at Alberton, Howard was traded to St Kilda along with Paddy Ryder and Port’s No. 10 pick at the upcoming draft for picks 12 and 18.
This came after Howard, who captained Port in Round 9 but ended the year in the SANFL, was encouraged by the Power to explore interest from other clubs.
Howard then indicated he would like to go to the Saints if a deal could be made. While Port maintained he was a “required player” a trade was eventually done.
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The Power have come under fierce criticism from fans for letting the 23-year-old key swingman leave Alberton.
Club great Kane Cornes said Port had “absolutely botched this and been stitched up” in letting go of Howard, who he said was in his “absolute prime” and could be a future All-Australian, prompting Port Adelaide list manager Jason Cripps to hit out at the “external’’ criticism on Wednesday.
But after the trade period finished Reid revealed the Crows enquired about Howard once it became clear he could leave Alberton.
“Absolutely, he is a quality individual and a quality player so we certainly asked the question,” he said on SEN.
“But not a lot of people cross the road (between the two clubs).”
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Only five players have played an AFL game for both the Power and Crows and Frampton will become the sixth when he makes his debut for Adelaide after his departure from Port.
Frampton played most of the SANFL season as a key forward for the Port Magpies, but Reid said with Sam Jacobs going to GWS the 22-year-old, developing forward Elliott Himmelberg and rookie Kieran Strachan could provide enough cover for the Crows now undisputed No. 1 big man Reilly O’Brien.
“We are really comfortable where that (the ruck cover) sits, it may look exposed,” Reid said.
“(But) we think we have enough height on the list.”
The Crows were one of the busiest teams on the final day of trade period, sealing deals to offload Alex Keath and Josh Jenkins.
The negotiations with the Western Bulldogs over Keath had been slowgoing for much of the period, at one point there was a danger the former Category B rookie would go to the pre-season draft to leave the Crows but Reid said once he and the Dogs got in a room together “it actually moved quite quickly”.
Jenkins went to Geelong, after struggling to get any concrete interest for much of the period.
Reid said with about 15 minutes to go of the trade period “it all fell into place”.