Adelaide selects the draft’s best key position prospect as it looks at life after Daniel Talia and Taylor Walker
Adelaide has boosted its key-position stocks at the AFL draft, taking versatile Victorian big man Fischer McAsey, who models his game on Western Bulldogs star Aaron Naughton.
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Adelaide missed out on Norwood ace Dylan Stephens but has guaranteed there will be life after Daniel Talia by shoring up its key position stocks at last night’s AFL national draft.
After brilliant wingman Stephens went to Sydney at pick five, the Crows jumped on Victorian key defender Fischer McAsey with pick six – their highest ever selection at a national draft.
The 197cm, 91kg McAsey is a contested-marking star who is primarily a defender.
But he can also play in attack and pinch-hit in the ruck.
He was an All-Australian and won Vic Metro’s MVP award at the national under-18 carnival this year, ahead of the draft’s top two picks, Gold Coast-bound midfielders Matt Rowell and Noah Anderson.
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The Crows had long been linked with the athletic McAsey but also liked Stephens, who was taken off the board with the previous pick.
Adelaide originally had selection four but traded it to GWS for No. 6 and the Giants’ first-rounder next year.
Crows national recruiting manager Hamish Ogilvie hinted prior to the draft that McAsey was his club's No. 1 draft target by saying it had to prepare for life after 28-year-old key defender Talia and former captain and key forward Taylor Walker, who turns 30 in April.
The Sandringham Dragons product showed he can be a dangerous marking target up forward by hauling in 10 marks and kicking three goals against the Dandenong Stingrays in round 14 of the NAB League.
Here's a peek at what Fischer will bring to our Club! â #weflyasone pic.twitter.com/Y5Nakc9VBR
— Adelaide Crows (@Adelaide_FC) November 27, 2019
“We have never been a needs focused drafting team but we need to keep an eye on our future and in the back of our mind is that we’d love another tall forward, another tall back,’’ Ogilvie told the The Lowdown AFL Draft Podcast.
“The ‘Texan’ (Walker) and Daniel are closer to 30 than 20, so we need to plan for that in the future.
“There’s not a whole lot of (ace) key position players is the draft and Fisher can play forward and back.
“We thought he was the best key position player in the draft, so we are rapt to get him.
“We went talent and addressed a need at the same time.’’
McAsey, 18, was the No. 1 ranked key position player at the national championships, leading all key defenders for disposals (14.5), marks (6.5), intercept possessions (6.8) and intercept marks (3.8) while averaging 97 ranking points.
He started his career as a forward before moving into defence, illustrating his versatility.
McAsey, whose dad Chris played one league game for St Kilda in 1983, models his game on Western Bulldogs star Aaron Naughton.
National talent football manager Michael Ablett compared him to dual Geelong premiership defender Harry Taylor while he also plays like key Essendon utility Cale Hooker.
“He’s your traditional swingman in that he can play at either end of the ground,’’ draft expert Ablett said.
Adelaide’s previous highest national draft selection was No. 7 in 2000 when it selected Victorian Laurence Angwin, who failed to play a game for it.
McAsey – a Bulldogs fan – said he had long known the Crows were keen on him but “wasn’t confident’’ they would take him.
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“I’m just really happy it’s all over now and that I’m at an AFL club,’’ he said.
“It willk be gear experience heading to Adelaide and I’m really looking forward to it.
“Naughton is a player I want to play like – being a Doggies fan I’ve watched him closely – and I’ll keep working towards that goal.’’
Having secured a tall in McAsey, the Crows will look to add at least one midfield runner with their next two picks – currently selections 24 and 25.
They also have picks 39 and 46.
Adelaide has been linked with SA under-18 MVP, big-bodied Woodville-West Torrens on-baller Harry Schoenberg, Victorian midfielder Jay Rantall and WA midfielder/defender Jeremy Sharp.
Talls Will Gould – the SA under-18 skipper and Glenelg league premiership defender – and Victorian key forward Harrison Jones are also understood to be on the Crows radar.
“We can move on to that (midfield) area now but there are still a couple of nice talls on the board, so I wouldn’t dismiss getting another one,’’ Ogilvie said.
“With four picks still to go I think we can look at maybe addressing a need (another tall) and attacking the mids and some running players.
“We like what’s left and there’s not a whole lot of risk with our next two picks, it’s a good position to be in.’’
Originally published as Adelaide selects the draft’s best key position prospect as it looks at life after Daniel Talia and Taylor Walker