Young Adelaide Crow Darcy Fogarty shows an early likeness to AFL Brownlow Medallist Patrick Dangerfield

DARCY Fogarty is the fifth player to wear the number 32 for the Adelaide Crows and he is very good — and it’s hard not to draw comparisons to former number 32s, one in particular, writes Kane Cornes.

Adelaide’s Darcy Fogarty is tackled by Richmond’s Brandon Ellis during the Round 2 AFL match at Adelaide Oval. Picture: AAP

IF you wear the number 32 at Adelaide you’d want to be good.

Darcy Fogarty is the fifth player to wear the number for the club and he is very good.

It’s hard not to draw comparisons to former number 32s, especially Patrick Dangerfield.

Dangerfield is now an elite midfielder which makes it easy to forget that he started his career in the same manner as Fogarty.

In his first three seasons at Adelaide, Dangerfield played as a permanent forward, averaging only 13 disposals and just over a goal a game. Coach Neil Craig did not unleash Dangerfield into the midfield until 2011 when he had established himself as a 50-game player.

Fogarty is destined to follow Dangerfield into the middle.

Dangerfield is clearly impressed with the new number 32.

“He’s far bigger and more solid than me when I first started. I’d give him early exposure in the midfield to fast track his development. Playing forward can be a pretty tough place to play as a young player,” Dangerfield said.

Like former number 32 representatives, Mark Ricciuto and Dangerfield, Fogarty is tough. He’s already rag dolling opponents in marking contests and laying tackles that are designed to hurt.

At 18, Fogarty thrives on the big stage. He’s calm in front of goal and can convert from long range. He also shows fight under pressure. His Richmond opponents took exception to one clumsy spoil on Thursday night, but Fogarty managed the increased attention.

With the sometimes timid big men Taylor Walker and Josh Jenkins in Adelaide’s forward six, Fogarty is exactly what the Crows need and were lacking in last year’s Grand Final.

Incredulously eight clubs overlooked Fogarty in the 2017 AFL Draft, slipping through to the Crows at pick 12. Adelaide officials couldn’t hide their excitement as they read out his name and no doubt questions are being asked of the rival recruiters who ignored the teenager from Glenelg Football Club.

Ricciuto sent a tweet to Dangerfield during Thursday night’s game “@dangerfield you happy with the new 32?”

A rhetorical question I think Roo.

WINNERS

True Grit

It was a typical Rory Sloane performance on Thursday night.

The Adelaide vice-captain injured his ankle early in the second term and headed down stairs accompanied by the Crows doctor.

He emerged soon after, with the ankle obviously numbed by a painkilling injection.

His gut-busting run inside 50 that resulted in a freakish snap goal was the highlight of his night. 15 contested possessions, two goals and seven tackles is further evidence that he is Adelaide’s most influential on-field leader.

port

Flat track bullies no more

Port Adelaide had a record of two wins and eight losses against top eight sides last season and were rightly labelled flat track bullies.

After talking tough in the pre-season and recruiting to challenge the best sides, they have passed their first test. After only generating 14 inside 50s in the first half, coach Ken Hinkley shifted forward Charlie Dixon into the ruck and went small in his forward line.

The Power lifted in the contest and their young defence were brave and aggressive.

The 23-point win is their best victory in three seasons

Big bags of sausage rolls

It’s only round two of the season and already we have seen four players bag six goals or more, including Gold Coast skipper Tom Lynch with a career best eight against Carlton on Saturday.

AFL legend Malcolm Blight is confident we will soon see another individual 100 goal season, perhaps even this year. Blighty, I hope you’re right.

Stat stuffer

26 contested possessions, 14 clearances, 10 inside 50s and nine score involvements for former Crow Jarrod Lyons in Gold Coast’s win over Carlton.

Captain’s burst

After a flat first half that saw Port Adelaide trail Sydney by 14 points at half time, captain Travis Boak came out firing after the long break and single-handedly lifted his side back into the contest.

Boak’s work rate was at its maximum and resulted in nine disposals (five contested), two goals and an assist for the inspirational Power skipper in the third term against the Swans at the SCG.

LOSERS

I was wrong

When Alex Rance lined up shoulder to shoulder with Josh Jenkins before the opening bounce on Thursday night most would’ve predicted a long night for the out-of-form Adelaide forward.

However, Jenkins produced the best performance of his 116 game career, dominating from the opening bounce while restricting Rance to two disposals and three free kicks against in the first half. I was premature in suggesting they should move Jenkins to defence to reinvigorate his career, well played JJ.

Where’s Eddie?

For the first time in his 95-game career at Adelaide, Eddie Betts has been kept goalless for two weeks in a row.

When he marked 40m out in the first quarter he chose to handball off to Bryce Gibbs who fortunately kicked truly. Late in the game Betts also chose to short pass rather than shoot for goal. His kick to handball ratio on Thursday night perhaps points to an underlying injury concern. With just 10 goals from his last eight games, Betts is in a drought.

Pathetic Saints

Allan Richardson is into his fifth year as coach of St Kilda and they were meant to make their mark in 2018.

What they served up on Good Friday against North Melbourne left Richardson furious and forced him to call an unscheduled player meeting on Saturday morning to address the insipid performance.

Bad Break

Two sickening injuries to Collingwood’s Tim Broomhead and GWS Giants midfielder Tom Scully marred Saturday’s game at the MCG.

A reminder of how courageous the modern player is and the risks they take when they run onto the field each week.

Logging back on

Taylor Walker has been uncharacteristically quiet on social media since his woeful performance in Adelaide’s loss in last year’s grand final.

After kicking four goals in his comeback game on Thursday night, Tex’s confidence has returned. He went on Twitter to question an English newspaper’s take on the ball tampering saga, and sent a predictable barb my way.

It’s good to have you back Taylor, I was getting worried about you.