“If a deal looks favourable to us we will explore it,’’ says Crows chief executive Andrew Fagan
ADELAIDE says it is “ecstatic’’ with its AFL draft position but will continue to explore opportunities to move up the order to claim star Croweaters Jack Lukosius or Izak Rankine.
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ADELAIDE says it is “ecstatic’’ with its AFL draft position but will continue to explore opportunities to move up the order to claim star Croweaters Jack Lukosius or Izak Rankine.
Chief executive Andrew Fagan said the Crows were content to take four quality players inside the first 21 picks but would also look at “rolling the dice’’ to get a player “at another level’’.
“We are in a really good spot with where we currently sit,’’ Fagan said.
“We’ve got (picks) 8, 13, 16 and 21, which is the best hand we’ve ever held.
“If we take four players with those picks in what is considered to be a really strong draft then I am ecstatic.
“But we know that in the next couple of weeks — or on the (draft) night itself — opportunities might emerge to move up.
“If there is a deal that looks favourable to us then obviously our list management guys will explore it.
“I think all clubs would be looking at whether those type of transactions are possible and it will be interesting to see whether a lot of action takes place.’’
Clubs for the first time can trade draft selections until November 16 or at the Melbourne-based draft on November 22 and 23.
Fagan admitted the Crows had spoken to rival clubs Gold Coast and St Kilda about the possibility of moving up the draft board.
The Suns have selections 2, 3 and 6 and the Saints 4.
Adelaide’s hometown rival Port Adelaide has pick 5 and also is believed to be exploring moving further up the order.
Apart from key forward Lukosius and electrifying small forward/midfielder Rankine, athletic SA utility Connor Rozee is a chance to be taken with a top-five pick.
“We engage with all clubs, everyone speaks to each other all the time, trying to work out what people are looking to do and what they might be open to doing,’’ Fagan said.
“That’s the due diligence that I expect from my list management team but we’ll have to wait to see how the next few weeks pan out.’’
Fagan said there had to be a willing seller for the Crows to move up the order and then his club had to decide on the merits of packaging multiple picks for one.
“There is an argument for taking four players that you think are going to be really strong — it is probably a safer bet because not everyone turns out (to be a good AFL player) — and there is another argument for rolling the dice and trying to package some up to get another player at another level,’’ he said.
“But the good thing is that we start from a really strong position and if we do nothing else but take four players with those picks then we’ll end up with four really good players at this footy club.’’