Adelaide extends decades-long tradition of drafting Calder Cannons talent
Adelaide has consistently drafted Calder Cannons talent, with Zac Taylor the latest addition, Crows recruiting manager Hamish Ogilvie reveals why.
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It’s a love affair that dates back to 1995.
“Footy factory” Calder Cannons has long been a happy hunting ground for Adelaide, especially in the past two decades.
It started with Ash Fernee, pick No. 70 in 1995, but has intensified since 2001 with 13 Calder graduates snapped up by the Crows.
The latest addition is sweet-kicking midfielder and Cannons best-and-fairest winner Zac Taylor, selected with pick No. 44 in November’s draft.
Adelaide recruiting boss Hamish Ogilvie said it wasn’t a deliberate draft strategy but one that had benefited his club immensely.
“I don’t really care where they come from as long as they can play but it’s funny how it’s worked out,” Ogilvie said.
“It’s a great region, it’s produced plenty of AFL players and always has, maybe the results team wise – they haven’t won as many flags as they used to – but they still produce good players.
“The Essendon District league is a good league and you’ve got huge population growth out around Lancefield, so you’re going to see more and more kids come from that area.
“It’s a professionally run program, you go back to Kytey (Ian Kyte) and Tom Lonergan, so you know the boys you get are going to be ready for AFL footy.
“It’s not a focus, we don’t say let’s take Calder kids specifically, but it gives you confidence knowing they’re well prepared.”
Fernee played two games for Adelaide before a six-year gap to Brent Reilly – drafted 12th overall in 2001.
Ivan Maric (2004), Richard Douglas (2005), Tony Armstrong and Aaron Kite (2007), Shaun McKernan (2008), Daniel Talia (2009), Rory Atkins (2012), Jake Lever and Reilly O’Brien (2014), Lachie Sholl (2018), Lachlan Gollant (2019) and Taylor (2021) followed over next 20 years.
Reilly, Douglas and Talia all played more than 200 games for the Crows, while Douglas, Talia and Reilly O’Brien have won club best-and-fairests.
It’s not just drafted players either.
Former Cannons James Byrne (via Sydney), Eddie Betts (Carlton) and Angus Graham (Richmond) were recruited from rival clubs, Betts producing a legendary 132-game, 310-goal stint.
All four of Adelaide’s 2021 draft picks hail from Victoria; Josh Rachele from Shepparton, Jake Soligo from Lysterfield, Taylor from Oak Park and Luke Nankervis from Bentleigh.
Adelaide was “very surprised but certainly happy” to find Taylor still on the draft board in the third round.
Taylor made his senior football debut for Essendon District club Oak Park, earning Team of the Year honours from just four games, and his VFL debut for Essendon this season.
He was also selected in the NAB League Team of the Year, averaging 26 disposals.
Ogilvie said while he still had a lot of work to do, the 18-year-old was capable of making his debut in 2022.
“No limitations, no expectations,” he said.
“He’ll be believing his can play but when that happens I’m not too sure. That’s one thing we know about Zac is he won’t die wondering.
“I love the fact he got to play some senior footy, it’s not Div 1 in the Essendon District league, but you’ve got to earn your kicks as a mid-forward and he’s made Team of the Year in two comps.
“He played well for Essendon in the VFL as well, he controlled his position and looked really comfortable, so that gave us confidence as well.”
The damaging midfield has moved in with reigning Malcolm Blight Medallist and Calder alum Reilly O’Brien while getting his first taste of an AFL pre-season.
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“Zac’s going to stay with Riley until Christmas and then he’ll probably go into host family after that,” Ogilvie said.
“Riley is looking after him, showing him the ropes, teaching him how to eat and train, sleep and be prepared because he’s a pro.
“I don’t think Zac will be able to eat as much as Riley though, no human alive can eat as much as Riley.”
While nothing is a guarantee come the AFL Draft, the 2022 batch of Calder Cannons should start thinking about Adelaide as a possible destination.
Originally published as Adelaide extends decades-long tradition of drafting Calder Cannons talent
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