AFL 2024: All the pre-season team news from Port Adelaide and the Crows

The ghosts of top-10 picks past will dictate Adelaide’s plan with boom youngster Dan Curtin, who appears unlikely to feature early in his debut season.

Adelaide looks set to ease top draft pick Dan Curtin into AFL level this year, mindful of lessons learned from Fischer McAsey’s debut season.

Curtin, taken at pick 8 in November’s national draft, has been overlooked for the practice match against West Coast at Richmond on Saturday and is unlikely to play round 1.

The West Australian defender battled knee soreness earlier in the summer, before lining up with the Bs in the internal trial then replacing the concussed Mark Keane during the first half against Port Adelaide last week.

Curtin’s emergence comes four years after ex-Crow McAsey’s tough introduction to life as an AFL defender in round 1, 2020.

Dan Curtin on the track at Adelaide. Picture: James Elsby

Picked ahead of the experienced Kyle Hartigan, McAsey – the No. 6 selection in the 2019 national draft – was rag-dolled on occasion by Isaac Heeney in a three-point loss.

Adelaide has come a long way since – McAsey’s other nine games were losses, by an average of 39.5 points – but the team wants to avoid playing Curtin before he is ready.

The 18-year-old will instead feature for the Crows’ SANFL side versus West Adelaide at West Lakes on Saturday.

That leaves Keane, Jordon Butts, Josh Worrell and James Borlase battling for the Crows’ tall defensive posts.

Elliott Himmelberg appears to be out of the frame to face Gold Coast away in the season-opener after also being named in the SANFL.

Curtin tries on Crows colours for the first time after the draft. Picture: Daniel Pockett/Getty Images

Keane and Worrell would seem assured of spots – the Irishman had been considered Adelaide’s best key defender at training this pre-season.

Butts is returning from a hamstring injury to face the Eagles, while Borlase gets another opportunity to press his case with Keane in concussion protocols.

Borlase, who played the last four games of 2023, impressed in the internal trial and against the Power.

Butts told the Crows’ website the team was confident in its key defensive group despite being without Nick Murray (knee) until mid-year and losing Tom Doedee to Brisbane.

“We’ve got a lot of depth in the backline and players that can play multiple positions and match-ups,” Butts said.

“There’s a lot of young guys putting their hand up to play.”

Butts planned to play a full game against West Coast.

On-baller Jake Soligo (ankle) is also back from injury.

Midfielder Sam Berry has been selected after featuring just four times at AFL level last season.

Defenders Patrick Parnell and Luke Nankervis will join Curtin and Himmelberg in the SANFL trial.

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