X-factor looms large for Adelaide with Betts, McAdam and Stengle all primed to boost the Crows forward setup

ADELAIDE has vowed to unleash its new trio of small forward excitement machines against rivals next season, insisting Shane McAdam and Tyson Stengle weren’t simply brought to West Lakes as insurance for veteran goalsneak Eddie Betts.

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ADELAIDE has vowed to unleash its new trio of small forward excitement machines against rivals next season, insisting Shane McAdam and Tyson Stengle weren’t simply brought to West Lakes as insurance for veteran goalsneak Eddie Betts.

“Absolutely they can play in the same team together,’’ Crows list manager Justin Reid said.

“They are different enough and bring enough qualities to the table to play together and we look forward to seeing what they can do.’’

The Crows addressed their need for speed and forward line creativity in the AFL exchange period by trading for SANFL star McAdam (from Sturt) and underused Richmond livewire Tyson Stengle, a South Australian from Woodville-West Torrens.

McAdam, 23, was a part of the trade that sent wantaway Mitch McGovern to Carlton while Stengle was picked up for draft selection 68.

Clearly the Crows needed some long-term insurance for 563-goal star Betts, who turns 32 next month.

But Reid believes the classy pair are ready to step straight into their AFL side next season to give the club some more attacking flair and X-factor.

Adelaide this year missed the speed and playmaking ability of Charlie Cameron, who was traded to Brisbane at the end of 2017.

“Obviously players will be rewarded for form but we think Shane and Tyson can complement what we've got in our forward line,’’ Reid said.

The Crows also have speedy small Lachlan Murphy, who kicked 12 goals in 11 games as a rookie this year, and 2015 first-round draft pick Jordan Gallucci, who was recruited as a midfielder but played well in a forward role at the end of the season.

McAdam had a standout first year for Sturt, kicking 31 goals in 19 games and showing he is just as good in the air as he is at ground level.

The Crows rated him in the top 20 draft prospects on offer this year and were delighted to be able to secure him — and pick 13 — for McGovern, who wanted out with two years left on his contract.

The Blues were able to gain access to McAdam as a mature-age talent and trade him to Adelaide as part of their special assistance from the AFL.

McAdam, who hails from the small town of Halls Creek in Western Australia, had previously emerged as a draft prospect as a 20-year-old in 2015 while playing for WAFL club Claremont.

He shone at the WA Draft Combine, equalling star West Coast ruckman Nic Naitanui’s running vertical jump record (102cm) and finishing first in the 20m sprint (2.89 seconds).

But he was overlooked at the draft and went home to Halls Creek.

He moved to SA last year for personal reasons and played with Scotch Old Collegians in division two of the Adelaide Footy League before joining Sturt, where coach Martin Mattner — now an assistant coach at Adelaide — took him under his wing and helped turn him into an AFL player.

“He can pressure, chase, tackle, but also kick goals and take hangers. He’s a very unique player,” Mattner said.

Stengle, 19, played only two games in two years with the Tigers because of their plethora of quality small forwards.

But he enjoyed a standout VFL season, kicking 33 goals in 19 games.

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