Former GWS Giant Curtly Hampton deserves his AFL opportunity, says Adelaide Crows coach Don Pyke

AN end-of-season player-coach meeting paved the way for Curtly Hampton to make his Crows debut against his former club Greater Western Sydney at Adelaide Oval on Sunday.

AN end-of-season player-coach meeting paved the way for Curtly Hampton to make his Crows debut against his former club Greater Western Sydney at Adelaide Oval on Sunday.

Coach Don Pyke says Hampton, who played 51 games in four years for the Giants before being traded to Adelaide, asked him at the end of a tough first season in the club’s tricolours if he could be shifted from defence into the midfield.

“We brought him over last year with a view to adding some speed to our group and we played him off half-back,’’ Pyke said after guaranteeing the powerhouse utility his first Crows game on Sunday.

“He missed the first half of the season (through injury) and talking to him at the end of the year he saw himself as wanting to play in the midfield.

“So the challenge was set to improve in a few areas to do that and he’s taken that on board.

“We’ve seen through some of his (pre-season) form that he’s got some capacity to do that, so it will be good to see what he can produce on Sunday.’’

Hampton, who did not play an AFL game last year, was one of Adelaide’s star pre-season performers in their three JLT Series games and Pyke said he had deserved a round one start.

“It’s a credit to him because he’s really worked hard through the off-season and the pre-season,” Pyke said.

Curtly Hampton of the Crows tackles Dylan Grimes of the Tigers.

“His form through the JLT (Community Series) has been really pleasing ... he’s basically built week on week.

“I thought his game against Brisbane two weeks ago was another level up from even what we saw against Richmond and Geelong.

“It’s fantastic for him. His first game for the footy club happens to be against his former club. I know he’s really excited and looking forward to the opportunity.”

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