Track watch: Izak Rankine’s high praise for new Crows draftee Sid Draper
Izak Rankine has massive raps on the Crows’ newest top draftee after Adelaide completed its toughest training session of the year. See the full notes from the track.
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Sid Draper’s impressive start as a Crow has continued in Adelaide’s gruelling last session before its Christmas break, earning high praise from teammate Izak Rankine.
Asked who had been setting the pace in the running, Rankine nominated the club’s top draftee as one of three standouts.
“Lachlan Sholl is always up there, Sid Draper is a fit boy and up they front a bit, dragging us along and putting a couple to the sword,” Rankine said.
“(SANFL signing Blake) Drury has slotted in pretty well, running well and using the ball well as well.”
Adelaide high-performance boss Darren Burgess always makes the final training of the year one of the most taxing of the pre-season.
Twelve months ago, Crows players ran for two hours at Richmond Oval, completing about 25 repetitions of 100m sprints on three different occasions, interspersed with two separate 1km dashes around the oval.
The squad ran 8km over an hour at Westminster School on Wednesday, stopping only for a pair of two-minute breaks.
Staying true to tradition, Burgess kept his plans for the session secret.
“He loves throwing in curveballs,” Rankine said.
“He definitely makes it hard for us. But he’s doing it for our benefit, to get us mentally strong. Whatever he gives us, we’ll take it on. Today was nothing we haven’t enjoyed before, and last year was just as bad.
“Everyone was well prepared and it’s always good to finish off the year like that.”
Players were split into small groups for various drills during the first hour on Wednesday, before the squad ran together under Burgess’s watch for the second time.
They would complete 250m up and 250m back, then jog to another area to do 150m both ways, then repeating the dose.
Veteran Taylor Walker (hamstring), key defender Jordon Butts (foot) and GWS recruit Isaac Cumming (hamstring) did not take part.
Midfielder Zac Taylor, set to enter his fourth season, was regularly at the back of the pack for a second straight year.
Along with Sholl, Draper, and Drury, defender Hugh Bond and midfielder Billy Dowling were also towards the front of most runs.
Draper sat out each of the 150m dashes during the second half of the running but would be up the front when he rejoined the group for the 250ms.
It was not just the 18-year-old’s fitness that was catching Rankine’s eye.
“You obviously hear talk leading into the draft but to actually see it and how he gets to work, it’s pretty special,” the former Gold Coast speedster said.
“He’s a special kid and the last couple of weeks he’s actually dominated training. He’s come in, used the ball well, he’s evasive and explosive at the contest. He’s fit and ready to go, and we’re really excited.”
The Crows commended Draper’s leadership potential after they selected him at pick 4 last month.
A small example of his leadership was on show on Wednesday.
After every run, the South Adelaide product gave every teammate near him a high five or pat on the back, a tap on the leg or words of encouragement.
It was not forced or over the top or awkward, just a sign of maturity and the Crows’ ethos of prioritising others from this year’s South Australian under-18 captain.
“Having the confidence to do that shows the environment we’ve built in the last few years,” Rankine said.
“We’re all very close and get along.”
The session was senior coach Matthew Nicks’s first since returning from a professional development trip to US college Harvard.
Once training ended, the team went into a function room for a meeting and Nicks talked briefly with the players about what he learnt from the trip.
CROWS REWARD DEFENDER AFTER BREAKOUT SEASON
Adelaide has rewarded defender Luke Nankervis for a breakout season, re-signing him for another two years.
The 21-year-old was also contracted for 12 more months but was now tied to the club until the end of 2027.
Nankervis played 20 games last season after finishing with four in 2023.
Crows list boss Justin Reid said Nankervis, a 2021 pre-season draftee, had worked hard for his opportunity.
“Luke is a great example that it doesn’t matter where or when you are drafted, but that you work hard and make the most of every opportunity,” Reid said.
“We like his versatility and his attacking flair, and he brings a number of strengths to our team including his athleticism and his ability to defend different types.
“We are really pleased that he has re-signed for a further two years.”
🔠Luke Nankervis | Round 13 • 2024
— JΛDelaide (@JADelaideX) June 10, 2024
🌟 Rising star nomination?
28 Disposals, 11 Marks, 10 Int.Pos, 10 Con.Pos, 7 GBG#AFLCrowsTigers#WeFlyAsOnepic.twitter.com/UoOgNcUC05
Nankervis said he was thankful for the opportunity to continue developing at the club.
“There was a time in 2021 when it didn’t look like I was going to be drafted and Adelaide backed me in and continues to do that now, so I really want to pay that back,” he said.
“I came in as a raw teenager with a lot to learn about footy and professionalism and I’ve been able to progress enough to play 20 games last season.
“Hopefully I can have another strong year and put in the work.
“I really love the group and the environment, and every day I go to training I enjoy it.”
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