Darcy Fogarty being trialled in defence as Crows eye spot for first-round draft pick

Darcy Fogarty is looming as Adelaide’s ultimate swingman as the Crows look to use the top draft pick as a defender after giving him a taste of life up forward.

Darcy Fogarty wins this test of strength during Adelaide’s pre-season camp at Normanville. Picture: TAIT SCHMAAL.

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Darcy Fogarty is looming as Adelaide’s ultimate swingman.

Drafted as a key forward by the Crows with their top pick in 2017, No. 12 overall, Fogarty has spent time training down back over summer as the club tries to find a spot for him in its best 22.

With co-captain Taylor Walker, last year’s leading goallkicker Josh Jenkins and key linkman Tom Lynch having a stranglehold on Adelaide’s three tall forward posts, Fogarty is — on paper — the odd man out.

But having played some of his junior football as a big-bodied midfielder and pinch-hitting defender he is trying to add more strings to his bow at the top level.

Adelaide's Darcy Fogarty tries to break the tackle of Richmond's David Astbury last year. He has been earmarked for a defensive role this season. Picture: Michael Klein

“Darcy is a high-end talent, so we’d like to find a way to get him into the team,’’ Crows assistant coach Scott Camporeale said as the club prepares for Saturday’s under-23 trial game against hometown rival Port Adelaide at Thebarton Oval.

“So we’ll have a look at him down back this pre-season.’’

With Adelaide enduring a horror injury run last year, the powerfully-built 19-year-old played 10 of the first 16 games in an encouraging debut season, averaging eight disposals and three marks and kicking nine goals.

He finished the year in defence in the SANFL, winning 17 intercept possessions in his final three games.

“I prefer playing as a forward but I’ve been thrown down back a few times this pre-season, as much to open up opportunities for me as anything else,’’ said Fogarty after visiting Kadina Memorial School on Monday as part of the Crows’ AFL community camp on the Yorke Peninsula.

“When everyone’s fit it’s a pretty hard forward line to crack into but then again the backline is pretty good as well.

“I just have to make myself as well-rounded as possible to give myself the best chance to make the most of any opportunity that comes my way, whether that’s up forward or down back.

“I prefer playing forward, I feel it's more natural for me, but I’m not fazed where I play if it means getting a game because that’s all I’m looking for — some game time and a chance to play a role for the team.

“Having that flexibility to be able to go forward and back will hopefully help me in trying to find a position.’’

The high-flying Mitch McGovern has moved to Carlton but early indications are that Adelaide will station the three talls inside 50 — Walker, Jenkins and Lynch — alongside three smaller players, led by pocket rocket goalsneak Eddie Betts.

An elite kick for goal, Glenelg product Fogarty, 193cm, could play an important role off the bench because of his flexibility.

He has maintained his playing weight from last year (96kg) but improved his skinfolds and 2km time trials and believes he is covering the ground more easily.

Renowned for his competitiveness and strong attack at the ball, Fogarty said playing AFL so early in his rookie season — he debuted in round one against Essendon — had stood him in good stead for his second year.

“I didn’t expect to play that early in the season but we had a few injuries that opened up some spots and I was lucky enough to get one of them,’’ said Fogarty, who inked a two-year contract extension last season tying him to the Crows until the end of 2021,

“It was great to get a taste of what AFL is all about and with that experience and being fitter this year it should help me take the next step in my development.’’

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