AFL Draft 2024: New Adelaide Crows draftees Tyler Welsh and Sid Draper on realising their dreams
Ex-Crow Scott Welsh has revealed the moment when he first thought son Tyler might follow in his footsteps – and the move that caught him off guard on draft night.
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Scott Welsh does not hesitate.
Asked when he first thought his son, Tyler, may be destined for a future in football, the ex-Crow distinctly recalls the exact moment.
“He was playing under-8s or under-9s for Henley and just out of nowhere, he just took this pack mark,” Scott tells this masthead.
“I thought ‘Wow, gee, that’s pretty special’.
“That’s when I thought, ‘OK, we might be able to get something out of him here. He might be able to go the distance’.”
Memories like that one have come flooding back for Scott over the past few days.
The Crows selected Tyler, now 18, with pick 59 in the national draft on Thursday night.
An emotional Scott was with his son and about 50 family and friends at Henley Sharks Football Club when Tyler realised his dream by joining his dad’s former club.
“I don’t get emotional all that often but when you hear your son’s name get called out in the draft, like a lot of other parents with their sons or daughters, it just means a lot,” says Scott, who played 129 games and kicked 270 goals for Adelaide from 2000 to 2007.
“He’s just worked so hard all through his junior footy.
“All the parents driving their kids around to so many training sessions all the time, it makes it all worth it.”
Tyler was born in Adelaide during his dad’s penultimate year at the Crows in 2006. The family moved to Melbourne for Scott’s final two AFL seasons with the Western Bulldogs, before returning home after his retirement at the end of 2009.
Tyler fell in love with footy as a toddler.
“A lot of the time he’d just be kicking a sock around everywhere,” Scott recalls.
“I had a lot of Crows guernseys at home and I wouldn’t even ask him, he’d just go and get it and put all the gear on, and go run around the house.
“He couldn’t get enough of football.
“As soon as he picked it up, you knew that’s what he wanted to do.”
Tyler started in Auskick, then under-8s at Henley, Woodville-West Torrens’ juniors and, eventually, state development squads.
At the Sharks, he wore the number 17 guernsey, which Scott donned at the Crows.
In a something of a full circle moment, Scott presented an Adelaide jumper with that numeral on it to Tyler at his junior club on Thursday night.
“When his name got called out (Crows football boss) Adam Kelly came up to me and said, ‘We’ve got a surprise for Tyler, we want him to wear the number 17’,” Scott says.
“When I found that out, I got emotional. Just the excitement and smile on Tyler’s face, it was a really special moment and something I’ll never forget.”
Scott says he barely slept in the week before the draft, such were his nerves.
“Until his name actually gets called out, you just don’t know if there’s going to be any curveballs or things like that,” he says.
“That’s why I think we were all so happy and elated just to hear his name.
“The fact that he’s playing for the club that I played at makes it even more special.
“To don the number 17 is the icing on the cake.
“It’s something I’ve looked forward to for a long time and now it’s come to fruition.”
Crows players including Josh Rachele and Dan Curtin were among the crowd on Thursday night, along with club staff, including academies manager Jarrod Meers.
“Meersy’s said all along that all he wants Tyler to do is succeed and make it,” Scott says.
“I’ve got to thank him a lot for the part that he’s played.
“I loved getting back to the club when Tyler started with the academy.
“At that age you don’t know if they’ll make it to the big time but you’re always hoping.”
That mark Tyler took as a youngster for Henley gave Scott a glimpse of what was to come.
Recruiters’ heads started turning when the 191cm forward starred for South Australia.
In 2022, he was named in the All-Australian under-16 team.
A five-goal haul in a come-from-behind SA win over Vic Country at Ikon Park last year enhanced his reputation.
Scott sees some aspects of his own game in Tyler’s.
“I was more of an on-the-lead, pace sort of player,” says the four-time Crows leading goalkicker and 1999 North Melbourne premiership forward.
“He plays a bit the same, but he’s a lot stronger than I was at his age and he can take an overhead mark.
“He showed a lot of pace when he was younger.
“The way he sprints and takes off, I knew it was going to be one of his assets.”
Twelve months ago, the Welshs decided that leaving school and Woodville-West Torrens to join the Crows on a traineeship and play for their SANFL team was best for Tyler.
“We were at a point when he wasn’t really enjoying school and was making excuses not to go, so we sort of felt as though he was wasting his time,” Scott says.
“School’s not for everyone and this opportunity came up where he could do a traineeship with the Crows, and get a year under his belt before draft day.
“We felt it was a no-brainer for him.
“Not every player is able to do something like that and sometimes it may go the other way.
“He really embraced it, committed to it and I think it’s done him the world of good to get that experience.”
Tyler booted 10 goals from 10 SANFL matches for the Crows, including five majors against Port Adelaide in round 18.
He averaged six disposals and two goals from four games with SA’s under-18s this year.
Considered a potential top-20 prospect going into the campaign, Welsh’s stocks dropped and other clubs overlooked him during the national draft.
“It was a tough year for him – he’s had to play a lot of footy at different levels, then you throw in the traineeship,” Scott says.
“I think it’s fair to say he didn’t set the world on fire.
“But to play 10 league games at 17, 18, playing against mature-age, rock hard, fit men, you’ve got to take your hat off to him.”
Tyler battled shin soreness during the year and struggled in the 2km time trial at the state combine last month, finishing last.
Getting fitter has been an off-season focus.
He has been running at West Lakes about three days a week and joined the main group for a few sessions at Karen Rolton Oval.
“I just want to be as fit as I can,” Tyler says.
“I’ve got a lot of work to do.”
Scott adds: “He’s put a bit of weight on and he really needs to knuckle down now and really put the effort in, commit to football and learn how to be a professional athlete.
“Training with the senior Crows players has been really good for him.”
Adelaide veteran Taylor Walker looms as a possible mentor for Tyler.
Walker had a similar start at the Crows, joining them on a scholarship from New South Wales via pick 75 in Scott’s final season.
“I was really happy when I found out Tex was playing another year because I just think what Tyler can learn off him is just going to be amazing,” Scott says of the Crows’ all-time leading goalkicker.
“I just told Tyler to be a sponge.
“You’ve got so many professional people around you, you just have to gather as much knowledge as you can.”
Scott is unsure what next year holds for his son.
Tyler may not play a game, but his dad is certain of one thing.
“I know in my heart if he commits to football and gets his body right, there’s so much upside for him,” he says.
The thought of seeing Tyler wearing an Adelaide number 17 guernsey in an AFL game makes Scott emotional again.
“If the day finally comes, it’ll just be another special moment,” he says.
Tyler cannot wait to try to fill his dad’s shoes.
“When I walked into the club and saw my name on number 17, it was unbelievable,” he says.
“I took a photo and sent it to Dad straight away.”
DRAPER OPENS UP ON PRE-DRAFT PHONE CALL
Adelaide draftees Sid Draper and Tyler Welsh still laugh about their first encounter.
“The first time I remember playing against Welshy was a trial match in under-16s,” Draper said.
“There’s a video where I’ve just kicked the ball in the forward 50 and he’s come up behind me and pushed me after it.”
On Friday, they stood alongside one another at West Lakes as new Crows teammates.
Adelaide selected agile midfielder Draper at pick 4 in the national draft on Wednesday night.
Welsh, a father-son prospect and powerful forward, had his name called 24 hours later with the 59th selection.
Both have spent time at the club – Draper training with Adelaide for a week last pre-season and Welsh joining its SANFL team this year.
But they said walking in as Crows AFL players felt extra sweet.
“I’m pinching myself a bit,” Draper said.
“I’ve been thinking about it over the past two days since it’s happened.
“To finally walk through the doors is so special and I can’t wait to get started.
“I’m a Crow and I’m just so happy.”
Draper and Welsh became close after emerging through the state junior programs.
Asked to describe one another, Draper said: “Welshy’s a beast, an absolute freak in the air”.
“He can take a clunk over anyone and his pressure as a tall forward is pretty insane.
“He clearly plays below his size and his speed, and power is something that’ll hold us in good stead.”
Welsh added: “He’s a beast in the midfield, can get out of any tackle, can win the ball”.
Draper lined up in six league matches for South Adelaide this past season, while Welsh featured in 10 for the Crows.
The chance to play with his older brother, Arlo, at the Panthers was something Draper relished.
Arlo was drafted to Collingwood at pick 45 in 2021, but axed two years later without playing a game.
“It’s unfortunate he came back so soon, but a bit selfishly it’s pretty good having him home to pick his brain,” Draper said.
“I love him so much and he’s been an awesome support, so has my elder brother Manny.”
Draper, who was South Australia’s under-18 captain this year, phoned Crows coach Matthew Nicks days out from the draft to tell him how much he wanted to play for the club.
The bold move impressed Adelaide.
“I don’t really want to leave any stone unturned while I’m here,” Draper said.
“It was a good stepping point calling on Nicksy to let him know what I want and how grateful I would be to be here.”
Welsh, the son of four-time Crows leading goalkicker Scott Welsh, was with family and friends when he was drafted.
Fellow key forwards Taylor Walker, Darcy Fogarty and Riley Thilthorpe were among those who congratulated him.
“They just said get as fit as you can, work hard and it will all come,” he said.
The Crows finalised their squad on Friday by re-selecting on-baller Harry Schoenberg and key forward Chris Burgess as rookies.
Defender Mark Keane was elevated to the primary list.
Originally published as AFL Draft 2024: New Adelaide Crows draftees Tyler Welsh and Sid Draper on realising their dreams
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