Crows young gun Harry Schoenberg hopes Adelaide can draft promising left-footer Caleb Poulter

Harry Schoenberg is part of Adelaide’s next generation taking the club into the future. And there’s one draftee he hopes can be added to the Crows’ list.

Harry Schoenberg in the Crows new guernsey for 2021 with former club champion Mark Bickley, both of whom wear No. 26 on their back. Picture: Sarah Reed

Exciting young Adelaide midfielder Harry Schoenberg says he is confident the Crows can take their late-season momentum into 2021 and hopes a former junior teammate will join him at West Lakes in next month’s draft.

Schoenberg and the rest of Adelaide’s younger players are set to start pre-season on December 7, but after returning from the COVID-19 imposed shutdown underdone, large groups of Crows players have been training together.

The Parafield cluster and restrictions imposed from that have meant this has had to be scaled back, but Schoenberg said the Crows were putting in some promising work ahead of pre-season.

“Lots of boys have been training together, in the gym and out running in groups,” he said.

“It’s all really positive and we are looking forward to 2021.

“Before the outbreak it was about groups of six, seven or eight, but we are back down to pairs or threes because of the COVID rules.

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Potential Adelaide draft pick Caleb Poulter has had a strong endorsement from former clubmate Harry Schoenberg.

“The way you are going to train is the way you are going to perform on game day, so if you put in the hard work now it will definitely show some results coming into the pre-season.”

After debuting against Melbourne in Round 10, Schoenberg impressed for the Crows after Matthew Nicks’ side waited until Round 15 to taste victory in 2020.

Schoenberg said despite featuring heavily in the side in the run home, he needed to win his place back in the Crows’ best 22.

“Just to keep fit and get myself back into the starting 22 in 2021, that is probably my main goal; just go away and get a bit stronger,” he said.

“Go to the gym and put on a bit more muscle and weight on.”

And after being in their position last year, the 19-year-old has been talking with former Woodville-West Torrens young guns ahead of next month’s draft.

“Obviously Lachie Jones is a really highly-rated prospect but he is tied to Port Adelaide so there will be a bit of a rivalry there, but he had a really good year in the league,” he said.

“And Caleb Poulter had a really good under 18s, so he hopefully put his name forward to get drafted.”

Poulter, who is 192cm and boasts a booming left foot, has particular interest from Adelaide, Hawthorn and North Melbourne and Schoenberg said he would love for him to come to the Crows.

“He would be a good SA pick-up and he is a good bloke as well, so a good option for the Crows,” he said.

NEW GUERNSEY HONOURS CROWS’ LEGACY

Adelaide’s new guernsey will contain a special nod to the players past and present who will literally be a part of the fabric of the club in 2021.

As part of the Crows’ guernsey for next year, the first with new apparel partner O’Neills, the names of every player who has worn the Adelaide jumper over the past 30-seasons will be printed in the fabric.

From the club’s inaugural captain Chris McDermott to the most recent player to debut Jordon Butts, 238 current and former Crows are listed in chronological order on the tricolour home jumper and the alternate gold clash strip.

The names of every Crows player to have played in the AFL on the new jumper. Picture: Sarah Reed

One of the recent additions to the list is exciting young midfielder Harry Schoenberg, who impressed for the Crows after making his debut against Melbourne in Round 10.

Schoenberg, who wears the No.26 jumper that Mark Bickley lifted two premierships wearing, said the initiative was a great way to recognise the history of the club,

“I’m personally really proud to have my name on the guernsey and I think all the other players and past players would agree,” he said.

“It’s a great way to show what people have done for the club.”

Crows chief executive Andrew Fagan said it would further strengthen the importance of the guernsey for Adelaide fans.

“Not only does it honour the guys who have pulled on the jumper in years passed but it helps forge a bond with our current generation,” Fagan said.

Traditionally linked to Gaelic football, the Crows are O’Neills’ first foray into the AFL.

The Crows home guernsey will continue to be only worn in matches for premiership points and finals with Adelaide’s alternative strip to be worn in all other pre-season and trial games.

It and the rest of the O’Neills’ range for Crows supporters are available online now.

Originally published as Crows young gun Harry Schoenberg hopes Adelaide can draft promising left-footer Caleb Poulter