Adelaide’s ruck dilemma analysed: After Reilly O’Brien and Kieran Strachan, where do Crows turn next?

Adelaide has two 28-year-old ruckmen it isn’t convinced about — and no obvious replacement once they move on. SIMEON THOMAS-WILSON delves into the ruck problem the Crows can’t ignore any longer.

There wasn’t the mass influx of youth that Adelaide fans wanted when the Crows named their side to take on GWS.

But one of the positions to watch for the Crows come the end of the season took another turn.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, leadership group member Reilly O’Brien was recalled by the Crows as they resume their campaign following the mid-season bye.

But the fact O’Brien was out of the side in recent weeks has made the ruck position one to watch when the Crows season finishes and they plan on how they will rebound in 2025 and beyond.

When announcing the team to take on the Giants — and that O’Brien was back in the side —Crows footy boss Adam Kelly said of the 28-year-old:

“Reilly has held the No.1 ruck mantle for the past six seasons and that experience is a welcomed addition this week.

“Reilly, like the team, will be looking to get back to his best and to finish the year strongly.”

O’Brien has held the Crows No. 1 ruck mantle for the past six seasons but it is looking increasingly likely change is coming.

Despite being one of the few Crows players who could hold their head high against Hawthorn, O’Brien was dropped for losses against Richmond and Sydney.

The Crows said highlighted O’Brien’s form, especially when it came to his work around the ground, despite leading the competition for hitouts and hitouts to advantage.

Champion Data has O’Brien ranked as below average for disposals (11.8), average for clearances (4) and above average for score involvements (4.5), while his 12 hitouts to advantage are ranked as elite.

Understudy Kieran Strachan was also in good form in the SANFL.

Reilly O’Brien was sent to the SANFL after a poor run of form. Picture: Tom Huntley

Kieran Strachan played two matches before being dropped. Picture: James Elsby/AFL Photos via Getty Images

Those are fair enough reasons why a club would drop its number one ruckman.

But with both 28-years-old, and Strachan hardly excelling in his two games back at AFL level, it was a decision that has highlighted a glaring hole on the Crows list.

Until Toby Murray joined via the mid-season draft, the Crows had no young ruckman to put pressure on O’Brien and Strachan.

There had been a school of thought that former No. 2 pick Riley Thilthorpe would one day become a ruckman, especially when the Crows were projecting to emerge as a flag threat.

But Thilthorpe, who will play his first game of the year in the SANFL this weekend after injury, looms as the answer to the Crows forward issues rather than their ruck problem.

The Crows have tried to fill the ruck hole without success.

The Crows were interested in Ned Moyle, who has since re-signed at Gold Coast. Picture: Russell Freeman/AFL Photos via Getty Images

They made a play for Gold Coast’s back-up Ned Moyle, but the 22-year-old spurned interest from clubs including the Crows to sign a new four-year deal at the Suns.

At last year’s draft, the Crows were keen on South Adelaide’s Taylor Goad, but he was selected by North Melbourne with pick No. 20 — one pick before Adelaide was next on the board.

The disappointment on the faces of those in the Crows’ draft room was obvious after the Roos swooped on the athletic SA-oorn Goad.

The previous year the Crows had interest in West Adelaide ruckman Harry Barnett, but West Coast selected him with pick No. 23.

Both O’Brien and Strachan are contracted until the end of next season.

While they missed out on Moyle, the Crows are expected to be a player in a dwindling ruck market come the end of the season.

The headline name is still a big one, All-Australian Tim English — who is weighing up a long-term offer to stay at the Western Bulldogs, while West Coast continues to be linked with the WA big man.

The Crows were keen on English in his draft year, only to take speedy midfielder Jordan Gallucci — who was axed after 27 games — at pick 15.

The Crows were interested in Taylor Goad before he was drafted by North Melbourne. Picture: Keryn Stevens

So while it could be fruitless exercise for the Crows, do they sound the alarm in a hail Mary move?

South Australian Sam Draper is out of contract at the end of next year and if the Crows don’t fix their ruck issues by then, expect him to be high on the list of potential targets at West Lakes.

But it is increasingly looking like the Crows will need to act at the end of this year, especially since rival clubs are also tracking seven-gamer Strachan to bolster their ruck depth.

Originally published as Adelaide’s ruck dilemma analysed: After Reilly O’Brien and Kieran Strachan, where do Crows turn next?