Former Lion, Magpie join Crows nest as Adelaide builds depth in rookie draft
Former Lion Ben Keays and ex-Magpie Ben Crocker join new coach Matthew Nicks’ Crows’ revolution.
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Rebuilding Adelaide has shored up its depth at the AFL rookie draft, taking two 22-year-old, ready-made players who could step straight into its line-up.
After picking five teenagers in the national draft, the Crows pounced on former Lion Ben Keays (pick 7) and ex-Magpie Ben Crocker (21) after losing a host of senior players in the off-season.
Midfielder Keays was delisted by Brisbane at the end of the season after playing 30 games in four years.
He was the No. 24 selection at the 2015 national draft.
Versatile lead-up forward Crocker played 26 games in four years for Collingwood after being selected at pick 65 at the same draft.
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Keays, a nice size at 185cm and 89kg, is not quick but as a junior he was an elite ball-winning on-baller who was a Lions’ academy graduate.
Handed the prized No. 1 jumper at Brisbane, he spent last pre-season training with the club’s forward group but managed just two AFL games for the year.
But he starred in the NEAFL, averaging 20 disposals and 2.7 goals playing as a forward.
He booted 43 goals in 16 games.
In the Lions’ resounding, 76-point grand final win against Southport, Keays was dominant with 24 possessions and four goals.
He adds some more height to the Crows’ on-ball brigade while also having the ability to be stationed inside 50.
Crocker played just three AFL games for the Magpies this year after managing 10 last year.
He has kicked 21 goals in his 26 matches with a career-best three in his second game against Brisbane in 2016.
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Crocker, 188cm and 84kg, found it tough to break into a strong Collingwood attack, finding himself behind Jordan De Goey, Jaidyn Stephenson, Jamie Elliott, Will Hoskin-Elliott and Josh Thomas in the lead-up forward pecking order.
He spent much of the Magpies’ 2019 VFL campaign on the wing as he looked to add another string to his bow.
The heavily-tattooed Crocker had been training at Collingwood’s Holden Centre in the lead-up to the drafts in the hope of being thrown an AFL lifeline and adds another attacking option for the Crows.
The only issue for Crocker being drafted to a club outside of Melbourne is that his dad Paul has suffered from early onset Alzheimer’s disease since 2014.
Originally published as Former Lion, Magpie join Crows nest as Adelaide builds depth in rookie draft
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