AFL Draft 2023: Crows nab Daniel Curtin after bold move, miss out on Taylor Goad
The Crows worked the phones, and managed to get the exact player they were looking for, nabbing the best prospect in Western Australian football for years at the draft.
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New Adelaide draftee Daniel Curtin says he believes he can have an early impact as a defender for the Crows after they traded up to get the gun West Australian utility.
The Crows made a big live trade on the first night of the 2023 AFL Draft to get GWS’ No. 8 pick to jump ahead of rivals and select Curtin - claimed to be the best talent out of WA in some years.
The trade saw the Crows trade two of its first round picks and a future second round selection to the Giants to jump ahead of Geelong and Essendon to select Curtin.
As the clock ticked closer to the number one pick being selected rival clubs believed the Crows had trumped West Coast, Melbourne and Essendon for GWS’ first selection of the draft.
The Crows did more work on Curtin over the weekend as their bid to secure the Giants pick gathered momentum.
West Coast were offering its future first round pick to secure the pick from the Giants for the Eagles to pick the gun key defender themselves.
But it was the Crows who won out in the race to secure the pick and the player considered as the best defender in this year’s draft.
Curtin said it was only really on Monday that he found out of the Crows interest in him.
“It has been a bit hectic, it has been a bit all over the place too. I’ve tried to stay away from it,” he said.
“Today I had a lot of clubs contacting me and my manager but I’m absolutely stoked to join the Crows and can’t wait to get started.
“That they were obviously keen, that’s all what was said really.
“At the end of the day I just wanted to play AFL footy so it’s a dream come true.”
The Crows traded picks 11 and 15 of the 2023 draft and a second-round pick of the 2024 for picks 8 and 17 from the Giants.
At 197cm Curtin projects to give the Crows some much needed height in their backline, but his versatility is also considered to be one of his big strengths.
While he was an All-Australian centre half-back he has been likened to Fremantle legend Matthew Pavlich when he plays forward.
He also impressed as a midfielder this year, and could fill the Crows need of a taller midfielder.
He is agile for his size, boasts a nice sidestep in traffic, a neat kick, composure with the ball and his intercept marking is a strength.
Curtin said he was hopeful of making an early impact as a defender at AFL level.
“I’m definitely keen to get to the backline and see what the coaches view of it all, but I’m happy to do whatever for the team,” he said.
“I definitely think I’m ready but a pre-season will do me good, I’ll put my best foot forward for Round 1 and we will see how things go.”
While the Crows were able to trade up and snare Curtin, they missed out on promising South Australian ruck Taylor Goad after North Melbourne swooped in and selected the 206cm big man with bags of potential with Pick No. 20, just one pick ahead of Adelaide.
After missing out on Goad, the Crows took tall midfielder Charlie Edwards.
The Sandringham Dragons midfielder, who stands at 191cm, looms as another player who could help the Crows height issue in their midfield.
Will McCabe was the first South Australian to get drafted after Hawthorn matched a bid on the son of 138-gamer Luke.
North Melbourne launched a bid on the key defender at pick No. 19, which was quickly matched by the Hawks.
With their final pick of the first night the Crows first lodged a bid on Gold Coast-tied defender Will Graham at pick No. 26 and then took Murray Bushrangers’ defender Oscar Ryan in a surprise selection.
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Originally published as AFL Draft 2023: Crows nab Daniel Curtin after bold move, miss out on Taylor Goad
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