AFL 2024: Why Jack Lukosius is a big addition for Power, but a bigger loss for Crows

After a poor 2024, the Crows are under pressure and their “aggressive off-season” could not have started any worse after missing out on Jack Lukosius, writes Simeon Thomas-Wilson.

Jack Lukosius requesting a trade to Port Adelaide is a big boost for the Power.

It is an even bigger loss for Adelaide.

It is easy to pit the two clubs against each other when a South Australian is looking at returning home.

But in this case there is a clear winner and a clear loser.

For Adelaide, it is a disaster.

With pressure from fans mounting the Crows need to have a big off-season after their poor 2024.

Alex Neal-Bullen will come from Melbourne, maybe Isaac Cumming from GWS but Port could win the race for him too and potentially Malcolm Rosas Jr from the Suns.

But while Neal-Bullen will be a good addition to the Crows, it hardly screams the “aggressive off-season” Adelaide promised.

The South Australian picked the Power over the Crows. Picture: Matt Roberts/AFL Photos/via Getty Images

And Lukosius who was the number one target at West Lakes.

Adelaide viewed him as a Tom Lynch connector type player in the Crows forward line, and with Riley Thilthorpe and Darcy Fogarty there it looks like a better fit.

It’s understood that the Crows offered Lukosius a more lucrative deal to come to West Lakes.

But while it was 50/50 as recently as last weekend, Lukosius’ close relationship with Power captain Connor Rozee meant he was willing to turn down the more lucrative offer and nominate Alberton.

For the Power, who will love getting one over the fierce rivals, Lukosius might not have been the priority when it emerged that he would be able to be lured back to Adelaide after falling out of favour at Gold Coast.

But in recent weeks he has become a lot more important for the Power.

While it hasn’t fully translated to AFL level, Lukosius does possess elite talent especially when it comes to kicking and athleticism.

And as we saw in the Power’s preliminary final loss to Sydney, Port needs to improve its composure by foot.

But Lukosius now looms as an important piece for a Port Adelaide forward line that needs serious improvement if the Power are to actually get over the preliminary final hump.

While he is not a pack-crashing type of a key forward, something the Power does have a glut of, Lukosius did kick 39 goals when he was in his favoured position in 2023.

Rozee and Lukosius are great mates. Picture: AAP/Russell Millard

And with some doubts over the future of Todd Marshall after his fifth concussion in three years, Lukosius will be a welcome addition at Alberton.

It does mean the Power will be short of a hulking, dominant key forward with Charlie Dixon unlikely to get a contract for 2025.

Ollie Lord only played six times in 2024 and when he was in the SANFL he hardly tore the competition apart.

Esava Ratugolea was swung forward and while he consistently provided a contest, he did little more than that.

Ratugolea is contracted until 2028 and Marshall until 2029 and for different reasons their contracts now become all the more interesting.

While he hasn’t lived up to being the No. 2 pick in the 2018 superdraft, losing out on Lukosius is going to be a hard sell for the Crows to the disillusioned fans expecting a big off-season at West Lakes.

Now attention turns to who Cumming will pick with both clubs offering the Giant a four-year deal.

Port could further twist the knife and while Dan Houston has requested a trade, an off-season of Lukosius, Cumming, his teammate Harry Perryman and Collingwood small forward Joe Richards would be a big one for the Power although it is looking more likely that Perryman will go to the Magpies.

The Crows now will be looking to get one back.

Originally published as AFL 2024: Why Jack Lukosius is a big addition for Power, but a bigger loss for Crows