Adelaide Crows delist defender Kyle Cheney, ruckman Paul Hunter ahead of list lodgement deadline

ADELAIDE has delisted experienced defender Kyle Cheney and untried ruckman Paul Hunter ahead of Wednesday’s AFL list lodgement deadline.

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ADELAIDE has delisted experienced key defender Kyle Cheney as it settles its pre-draft list ahead of Wednesday’s AFL list lodgement deadline.

The 29-year-old was one of two Crows still out of contract after the trade period along with untried rookie ruckman Paul Hunter who has also been informed he will be delisted.

Kyle Cheney in action for the Crows against West Coast this year. Picture Sarah Reed

Crows list manager Justin Reid thanked both for their contribution to the club and said the Crows would consider re-drafting them after next month’s AFL draft.

“At this time of year we have to make difficult decisions regarding our playing list and we wish Kyle and Paul all the best for the future,” Reid said.

“We have told both players that we will consider re-drafting them depending on how things unfold over the draft period.”

Cheney is a popular defender at West Lakes who has been let down by his body — mainly hamstring injuries — in the past two seasons.

His problems started in 2016 when he had groin soreness and he missed the entire 2017 AFL season with a hamstring strain but was handed a one-year contract in November.

Like several of his teammates, his 2018 season was again dogged by hamstring injury but he played eight games after Round 13 in a strong finish to the year.

Cheney has played 85 games, including 44 at Adelaide since being traded from Hawthorn in 2014 and after 14 games in two seasons with Melbourne in 2009-2010.

His chances of staying on the list for next year were made tougher after Adelaide retained fellow 29-year-old key defender Andy Otten on a one-year contract for 2019.

The pair join delisted trio Jackson Edwards, Ben Jarman and Matt Signorello while Sam Gibson and Curtly Hampton have retired and Mitch McGovern traded to Carlton.

The Crows welcomed Shane McAdam from Sturt and Tyson Stengle from Richmond during the AFL trade period.

The club holds hold selections 8, 13, 16, 21, 73 and 83 in next month’s draft.

“We head into the national draft in a strong position to bring more top young talent into the club,” Reid said.

“We have great faith in our playing list and the elite learning environment we have created in recent years.”

Originally published as Adelaide Crows delist defender Kyle Cheney, ruckman Paul Hunter ahead of list lodgement deadline