Adelaide excited by young guns biding their time in the SANFL
The state league is showcasing the Adelaide Football Club’s future with the Crows crop of draftees and rookies creating a huge impression at the club as they prepare for the next step.
Crows
Don't miss out on the headlines from Crows. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Ask Adelaide’s head development coach Heath Younie for his thoughts on the young draftees at the Crows and he jumps all over the topic with genuine enthusiasm.
Younie pushes the message to the Crows fans, get to SANFL games and see the future of the club in action. It’s like spruiking a money-back guarantee offer if disappointed, because he knows the fans will be impressed with what they see.
He definitely is, and he has no doubt there are some young Crows learning their craft in the state league who are going to make a massive impression on the national stage.
To understand Young is to know a former highly determined, tough North Adelaide footballer who is measured with his words. He does not waste compliments and very much believes in what the Crows are selling for the future.
Last year, the Crows drafted Chayce Jones, Ned McHenry, Will Hamill and Lachlan Sholl, picked up Kieran Strachan and Jordon Butts in the rookie draft and retained Paul Hunter on rookie status. They also traded for Tyson Stengle and Shane McAdam.
Jones has already made six AFL appearances and joined the exclusive club of players who nailed a goal with their first kick. The rest have been working with Younie in the SANFL, having key roles in taking the club to the top of the ladder midway through the season.
“We are excited by the players we have,” Younie said. “We know what sort of player Chayce Jones is going to be, we are excited by what Ned McHenry can do, Tyson Stengle is a high class player, we know what Shane McAdam has done at SANFL level, Will Hamill is an exciting player, great speed and power, Lachie Sholl sees the game as good as most, Jordon Butts is developing beautifully and Kieran Strachan has put games together for the first time in a long time.
“This year’s crop are high talents, of great character and are passionate about footy and wanting to be at this club. They are diligent, professional and exciting to watch.
“Their agenda is to play AFL football, but they also have to be reminded it is a process and every single player has a different journey. So don’t judge yourself against others.
“They need to focus on their own journey and path and how they are going to go about their business. When they get clarity around that is when they will get rapid improvement. If they focus on their job and have a clear path they will get their opportunity when ready.
“Some are ready before others and that is a challenge because they all have the agenda to play AFL. We want them to be impatient and in a hurry, but to also be patient. That is the trick.”
Understanding the state league is among the early tasks for the draftees, according to Younie, with most having their first experience playing against men week-in, week-out.
The initial pre-season in an AFL system can take its toll on the body, then there is adapting to new game styles as well as being able to compete at an elite level for 120 minutes. Younie describes the transition of last year’s draftees from under 18s into the Crows environment as outstanding.
Development coaches Paul Thomas, Brent Reilly and Matt Wright will do individual reviews with the draftees, while there are times senior players such as Andy Otten and Bryce Gibbs watch vision of the young players. Younie refers to it as ‘coaching from player for player’.
“The guys who progress quickly are self reflective and have a clear picture on what makes them play well,” Younie said.
“A lot of work during the week is around development and putting in place clear focuses to give them clarity. We remind them regularly why they are here.
“It is easy to look at what they are not good at and focus on what they need to get better at. But let’s not lose what they are really good at.
“They are here for a reason and were drafted for a reason, we need them to focus on that. It is going to take time and there are going to be ups and downs.
“Our job is to bridge the gap between the good and the bad and make them consistent players.
“We speak about lists and lists win premierships, not just 22 players. I encourage fans to come to SANFL games and watch these guys because they are exciting, they play with flair and enthusiasm and they are real competitors.”
NEXT GENERATION CROWS
Adelaide development coach Heath Younie’s thoughts on:
CHAYCE JONES
He was high draft pick for a reason. First and foremost he is a quality kid, so respectful. He goes about his training as good as I have seen any young player. He is level headed, tough at the contest, has great endurance, sees the game well and kicks well.
WILL HAMILL
He is tough, only slightly built, but tough. He has great speed and endurance and kicks the ball well. He is so humble, has great character.
NED MCHENRY
Is a great personality and brings enthusiasm to the club. He is a great kid and has great respect for others, is humble, tough, great endurance, has great energy and is competitive. He also loves to fish and has bought himself a new boat.
LACHLAN SHOLL
He is a beautiful kick of the footy, left and right, and moves well. He is going to be an exciting player long term. He is a footy nut and we have to spend more time trying to get him away from footy.
(For the record, his father Brett played 35 games for Carlton and his dad’s cousins Craig played 235 games for North Melbourne and Brad played 171 games for North Melbourne and Geelong).
JORDON BUTTS
We have been really impressed by Jordon and have given him some big jobs. He is taller than you think at 195cm and should grow into a key defender. He is really, really quiet and does not say boo. But he is competitive and has an uncanny knack for finding the ball. And he rarely gets beaten.
KIERAN STRACHAN
He is a bit more mature which is good for the group. He has lived life a bit and had some adversity. I think he could develop into more of a ruckman than a forward. For a big man, he kicks the ball beautifully and is good in the air.
SHANE MCADAM
We know his form at SANFL level for Sturt. He had interrupted pre-season with some soft tissue injuries, but we have now been able to get a block of training into him. He is still learning the way to being an AFL player, but he is starting to show why he can be a very good player at that level. He has great talent, speed, is aerial, applies pressure and kicks the ball well.
TYSON STENGLE
Has played some AFL with Richmond and is real exciting. He has just has to bide his time behind Eddie Betts. He has got himself in good nick so is able to play further up the ground. His forward craft is as good as I’ve seen for a small forward and his crumbing ability is first class.
Best 23 locked in? Crows unleash four-headed monster
If what we saw from Adelaide’s forward line on Friday is a sign of things to come, opposition defenders are officially on notice. Get all the intel as the Crows reveal more about their best side.
Is Ricciuto’s future tied to Crows landing footy great?
After multiple attempts to lure one of footy’s most respected minds to the West Lakes, the future of Mark Ricciuto at the Crows could play a factor in discussions.