Gary Buckenara analyses Adelaide’s needs and potential players to target during off-season
TRADE SPECIAL: AFTER failing to secure a trade for him last year, do Adelaide chase Bryce Gibbs again or is there a solution to midfield issues already on the list? GARY BUCKENARA’S ANALYSIS
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ADELAIDE’s need is obvious — another gun midfielder to help take the pressure and burden off Rory Sloane.
Coach Don Pyke has got his team into a good position and appear set to finish top four but is the depth in the midfield there to take the club all the way to a premiership?
It’s the midfield that requires immediate attention at the end of the season.
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Do the Crows go back down the Bryce Gibbs path? It’s an interesting question.
Adelaide needs to again assess whether it can find a player like Gibbs or who has the potential to be a better player than him via the draft after hanging onto the two first-round picks (2016 and 2017 picks) Carlton wanted in a trade for him last year.
They picked up Jordan Gallucci with their first pick last year but he’s obviously going to take a few years to develop and the Crows would think they’re in the premiership window now.
So that’s the conundrum. Do Adelaide pursue for the now and go for the ready-made player who will help immediately or look to the future?
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When you are contending, that first-round pick is generally used to go for the type of player from a rival club who will top off your list and take you that next step to win a premiership.
I think that will be Adelaide’s mindset.
But if the Crows can’t get a quality, ready-made midfield gun then they will have to look elsewhere for a solution and there might be part of the answer already on the list in the form of Rory Laird.
Laird has made a name for himself as a rebounding defender but has also been used in the midfield. Pyke could switch Laird into a more permanent midfield role and recruit another ready-made halfback.
That could be the next stage of Laird’s development after really nailing down the shutdown halfback role and setting up play from behind the footy. I think he’d be suited to ball-winning role in the middle.
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If they go down that path then there’s a ready-made and potentially available halfback who’s right on Adelaide’s door step. But more on that later.
The forward line is in very good shape — arguably the most potent in the competition — with Charlie Cameron really developing well and on his way to being the next Eddie Betts, while Tom Lynch is underrated as a lead-up half forward.
I also like their defence with Daniel Talia and Kyle Hartigan developing, while Jake Kelly has been a wildcard and Jake Lever is a priority to keep at the club.
Overall, it’s a well-balanced list that is just lacking one or two more gun midfielders, who can play inside and outside, to help Sloane and take this side to the next level.
WHO THE CROWS SHOULD TARGET
It’s needless to say the Crows should have another crack at Gibbs — and his value might have gone up given the season he is having.
Remember that halfback I wrote about earlier who is on Adelaide’s doorstep? His name is Jasper Pittard and he plays for Port Adelaide but is a free agent at season’s end. Could he do the unthinkable and cross to the arch-rival? He would be a great addition and provide more zip out of defence and through the middle and would fit in well with his beautiful kicking ability. He could also play on the wing.
Lion Tom Rockliff could be the other option if the Crows can’t get Gibbs. He’s a free agent, is a strong body who can win his own ball and kick goals. He would create a nice midfield duo with Sloane, the only issue is are Matt and Brad Crouch similar players?
BUCKY’S UNTOUCHABLES
Rory Sloane, Taylor Walker, Daniel Talia, Eddie Betts, Jake Lever, Charlie Cameron, Rory Laird, Kyle Hartigan, Mitch McGovern, Matt Crouch.
Please note: AFL clubs have a list of a number of players they are targeting at the end of the season and this is the list Gary Buckenara would have in the hope of luring at least one to the club.
Gary Buckenara was Hawthorn’s sole full-time recruiting staff member from 2004 before the Hawks brought in Chris Pelchen and then Graham Wright as recruiting and list manager and expanded the recruiting department.
Originally published as Gary Buckenara analyses Adelaide’s needs and potential players to target during off-season
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