Adelaide will nominate Next Generation Academy duo Tariek Newchurch, James Borlase but won’t guarantee drafting either

They’re the buzz names out of Adelaide’s academy and the club can match any draft bids for Tariek Newchurch and James Borlase — but will it?

Adelaide is giving no guarantees to academy prospects James Borlase and Tariek Newchurch despite taking another step towards securing the duo ahead of next month’s drafts.

The Crows will nominate Sturt defender Borlase and North Adelaide speedster Newchurch before Wednesday’s deadline, which ensures they can match rival clubs’ bids on them.

It also means that if no teams call their names in the December 9 national draft, Adelaide will be able to secure the Next Generation Academy pair as rookies the following day.

But the Crows have told Borlase and Newchurch that they will be sticking to their national draft order and are not certainties to match other teams’ bids if they come.

On Saturday, Adelaide informed academy prospect Luke Edwards – son of club great Tyson Edwards – it would not be nominating him, allowing him to go into the open draft pool.

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The Crows can match draft night bids for North Adelaide’s Tariek Newchurch. Picture: Tom Huntley

James Borlase (right) has been nominated by the Crows as a potential Next Generation Academy draftee. Picture: Mark Brake

The Crows have selections one, nine 22 and 23 – the latter two of which they will be looking to package together to move up the order either before the draft or on the night – as well as 40, 56 and 66.

Adelaide is expected to use only four picks, so it will be hoping other clubs overlook Borlase and Newchurch so it can land them as rookies.

Two Melbourne-based clubs have shown particular interest in Borlase – the Egypt-born son of Port Adelaide premiership captain Darryl Borlase and Australian netball world champion Jenny Borlase – but have not committed to bidding on him.

Newchurch, a small forward, has been viewed as potentially going anywhere from in the 30s to a rookie spot.

Glenelg midfielder/halfback Edwards said not following in his dad’s footsteps was a bit disappointing and his preference was to go to Adelaide, but he was hopeful he would fulfil his AFL dream at another club.

“I just want to get drafted, I don’t really care where I go,” Edwards told SEN SA on Tuesday.

Glenelg’s Luke Edwards is heading to the open draft. Picture: Dean Martin

Port Adelaide will nominate its father-son midfielder Taj Schofield, whose dad is Power premiership wingman turned assistant coach Jarrad Schofield, but, like the Crows, will be hoping he slides through to the rookie draft.

The Power has banked draft points to match an NGA bid for its highly-touted Woodville-West Torrens defender Lachie Jones, whose name is expected to be called between seven and 15.

“He’s obviously had an outstanding year … but we’re really well positioned to match a bid if it came early,” Port Adelaide football manager Chris Davies told SEN SA.

League-wide trimming of list sizes will lead to fewer players than usual being taken on draft night.

Footy insiders The Advertiser have spoken to think there may be as few as 40-odd and no more than mid-50s.

Last year there were 65 selections and there were 78 the previous season.

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Originally published as Adelaide will nominate Next Generation Academy duo Tariek Newchurch, James Borlase but won’t guarantee drafting either