Adelaide Crows to trade former club champion Bernie Vince to Melbourne

ADELAIDE has the second-round draft pick coach Brenton Sanderson demanded. But it has cost the Crows a club champion, Bernie Vince.

ADELAIDE has the second-round draft pick coach Brenton Sanderson demanded. But it has cost the Crows a club champion, Bernie Vince.

The 28-year-old midfielder, who is on holidays in the US, last night accepted a long-term contract with Melbourne.

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In return Adelaide has gained draft pick No. 23, the second-round draft call assigned by the AFL to Melbourne for losing free agent Colin Sylvia to Fremantle.

After being stripped of first and second-round draft picks as sanctions for the Kurt Tippett contract saga last year, Adelaide has repositioned itself with picks 23, 46 and 64.

The last two draft picks are being assigned to promoting Crows rookies Rory Laird and Kyle Hartigan.

Adelaide could open up another draft pick if ruckman-forward Shaun McKernan finds a Victorian-based club - with a go-home trade - next week. But this has looked unlikely through the first two weeks of the trade period.

Adelaide list manager David Noble last night reaffirmed the Crows' recruiting strategy is currently fixed on having one pick in the national draft and promoting the impressive Laird and Hartigan.

"One certainly and we'll see how next week pans out before deciding if we should have a second," said Noble. "If clubs keep saying they will not draft beyond the second round, it may be worthwhile having a second pick."

Sanderson last night paid tribute to Vince while agreeing to his exit from West Lakes.

"Bernie has been a great player for Adelaide and will always be remembered here as a club champion and 100-gamer," said Sanderson.

"We didn't want to lose him but I understand his decision to seek some long-term security and we wish him all the best at Melbourne."

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