Adelaide’s pick swap with GWS could see Crows land talented Norwood draft prospect
After dropping two places in the draft order following a pick swap with GWS, Adelaide has confirmed Norwood’s Dylan Stephens is “certainly in the mix” at its first selection. See all the details of the deal.
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Adelaide has followed the Power’s lead and orchestrated a pick swap of its own ahead of this month’s AFL National Draft.
The Crows handover pick No. 4 to GWS in exchange for its No. 6 selection and a 2020 first-round call.
And list boss Justin Reid confirmed it brings Norwood young gun Dylan Stephens, who models his game on Josh Kelly, right into the frame for recruiting manager Hamish Ogilvie’s first pick.
“He is certainly in the mix,” Reid said on Triple M.
“At pick six we’re going to have three or four names that will be sitting there on the night.
“Depending on how the cards fall ahead of us, we’ll still be really happy with the name we call out on the night.”
Stephens has met with the Crows on several occasions this year and, as a classy, skilful midfielder with a touch a pace, appears the perfect fit for Adelaide.
There was a view that No.4 was too early, but it may be easier at six.
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“I spoke to them (Adelaide) three times really early in the year. And then at the combine and they’ve spoken to my parents a little bit as well,” Stephens said.
“I’d loved to stay in SA. I loved it the past four or five years (after moving from Mildura). “I’ve made some great friendships along the way, it would be great to stay close to them.”
A Norwood insider said the damaging left-footer, who can play inside and outside, is the best junior talent to come out of the Parade in more than a decade after he played 13 SANFL league games this year.
After Matt Rowell and Noah Anderson, widely viewed as the top-two prospects in this year’s pool, the rest of the talent in the top-10 is harder to split, with clubs differing on their views - meaning Adelaide’s choice may not even be affected by dropping back two places.
“We’ve put a lot of work into it, and we think it won’t compromise our talent order,” Reid said.
“We saw the opportunity to maintain a top-six pick in a fairly even draft while accumulating more stock in the future as a massive positive for the club.
“Our strategy is focused on rejuvenating our playing list through the draft, and having the ability to secure more elite talent next year with an additional first round pick is an exciting one.”
Adelaide currently holds picks 6, 23, 28, 37, 45 and 49.
The Giants’ eagerness to move up the draft order is on the back of a likely early bid for Academy gun Tom Green.
Now, unless Melbourne call Green’s name out at No. 3, something which appears unlikely, GWS will walk away with two top-10 talents on November 27.