Adelaide Crows see a bright future with their 2019 AFL Draft crop

Adelaide’s National Recruiting Manager says the Crows are content with their 2019 draft crop – and didn’t let Dylan Stephens slip through their fingers.

• Schoenberg to live his dream as Crows address key needs in draft
• How to get the most out of your Advertiser digital subscription

Adelaide National Recruiting Manager Hamish Ogilvie is content with the Crows’ 2019 draft crop.

Despite some concerns from fans after highly-rated Norwood youngster Dylan Stephens ended up being selected by Sydney following a pick swap that saw the Crows draft position drop from four to six, Ogilvie said landing key position Victorian Fischer McAsey with its first pick was exactly what they wanted.

“No, he (Stephens) didn’t slip through the cracks,’’ Ogilvie said on SEN SA Breakfast.

“When we did that trade we were very comfortable with what we were going to get.

“We pretty much always knew it was going to be Fischer and to get a player like that, with his talent, what he can do, it was a no-brainer in the end and we always thought he was probably going to be our man,’’ he said.

Ogilvie said they were also delighted to be able to select Woodville-West Torrens youngster Harry Schoenberg, who was the MVP at the AFL under-18 championships.

Adelaide Crows recruit Harry Schoenberg. Picture: Tricia Watkinson

He will live out a childhood dream by playing for the club he has supported growing up.

“We had to get Harry in, we loved him as a midfield with his ability to explode, he was a massive plus for us,’’ Ogilvie said.

“He’s a lot of what we needed and a lot of what we liked.

“He played through a bit of pain and adversity in the finals with the Eagles so that was another pleasing aspect.”

The Crows also added Sandringham Dragons utility Josh Worrell to its list – a player they expected to be taken a lot earlier.

“He was probably the most versatile player in the draft, really well performed at a high level.

“He was probably the slider that was really highly rated by everyone and to get him was a big bonus.

“He’s a real natural player, he was over the moon, his brother-in-law actually works for us in recruiting so we knew a lot about Josh.”

He said Ronin O’Connor could develop into a big-bodied midfielder which would give the Crows some much-needed size in the middle of the ground.

“It was really important to try and get some size in the midfield.

“He’s an outstanding kid with some real leadership.”

Lachlan Gollant, a wingman from the Calder Cannons, was the fifth player the Crows selected and one Ogilvie said could have developed into a real draft target had he not been selected in 2019.

“He was the one who we just thought, if he stays and plays as a 19-year-old next year he could rocket up the ranks.

“He’s a really intelligent kid.”

Originally published as Adelaide Crows see a bright future with their 2019 AFL Draft crop