Glenelg’s Luke Edwards is using Crows’ father-son snub as motivation ahead of the AFL Draft

Luke Edwards was disappointed when the Crows told him they wouldn’t be nominating him as a father-son. But now he’s using it as motivation ahead of the AFL Draft.

Son of a gun Luke Edwards is using the Crows overlooking him as motivation to try to prove them wrong as he bids to land on an AFL list.

The Glenelg half-back/midfielder has been training hard and has sought advice from three former Adelaide players – his dad Tyson Edwards, his manager Michael Doughty and uncle, three-time premiership star Darren Jarman – since the Crows knocked back the chance to nominate him as a father-son prospect ahead of the December 9 national draft.

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Crows father-son prospect Luke Edwards

Adelaide officials informed the 18-year-old of their decision on Saturday morning and he was initially disappointed he would not be following in his father’s footsteps.

But Edwards told The Advertiser he now saw it as a blessing in disguise because he could create his own name under less pressure if he was drafted to another club, rather than where Tyson won two flags and played 321 games, and older brother Jackson spent 2018 as a rookie.

“The Crows were pretty open and honest with me, and just told me straight up they weren’t going to elect me as a father-son,” Edwards said.

“(Tyson and Doughty) told me to use it as fuel to try to prove them wrong and that’s what I’ve done.

“I met with my uncle Darren a couple of days ago and he told me to focus on pre-season, stay fit and the rest will take care of itself.

“I think it’s best for me if I do go somewhere interstate just to create my own name because Adelaide’s a pretty small bubble sometimes with footy and only two teams.

“I’m not too fussed where I go … I just want to get drafted.”

On Thursday, AFL talent guru Kevin Sheehan rated Edwards among the top 40 prospects in the draft.

Sheehan highlighted the 188cm former Henley High student as having elite vision, clean hands, a penetrating kick and good decision-making.

Luke Edwards in action for South Australia at the 2019 Under 18 AFL Championships. Picture Mark Brake/AFL Photos

Edwards – a Gold Coast supporter due to ex-Henley schoolmates Jack Lukosius and Izak Rankine playing there – said clubs were yet to come calling since the Crows’ announcement.

He conceded he had an up-and-down 2020 campaign, in which he played seniors at the Tigers with Jackson and under-18s alongside younger sibling Brodie.

Edwards, who worked at Boost Juice this year and delayed university studies to concentrate on football, was concussed in his sole league game but impressed in last month’s SA All-Stars clash.

“Fingers crossed clubs have watched me enough over the years and I’ve proven my case,” he said.

Edwards planned to watch the draft at home with family and a few close friends.

In the meantime, he is working out with Tyson, Brodie and Jackson, who is a personal trainer, to make sure he is in peak shape if he is selected.

“I’ve been working so hard for this and it’s been my dream ever since I can remember to play AFL footy like my dad and uncle did,” he said.

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CROWS PASS ON FATHER-SON PROSPECT

Adelaide is set to overlook Luke Edwards – the son of Crows great Tyson Edwards – in

next month’s AFL national draft.

The Crows informed the Glenelg player’s camp on Saturday that they would not be nominating him as a father-son selection.

It is understood Adelaide is likely to use only four picks in the December 9 national draft and does not rate the 18-year-old in the top 23.

The Crows have selections 1, 9, 22 and 23 – the latter two of which they will be looking to package together to move up the order – as well as 40, 56 and 66.

Tyson sits second on the Crows’ all-time games list with 321 matches and is a two-time premiership player at the club.

Edwards’ manager Michael Doughty told The Advertiser going into the open draft would be the best thing for the midfielder/half-back’s development.

“We’re disappointed but it also opens up the draft for him and gives clubs time to do a bit more work on Luke,” said Doughty, from TLA.

“I’d rather them be honest now than drag it out and then they don’t pick him.”

Luke Edwards is still hoping to be picked up in the draft. Picture: Dean Martin

If another club calls Edwards’ name in the national draft, the Crows cannot match the bid and secure him.

But Adelaide has not ruled out rookie-listing Edwards if he is not taken in the main pool.

Doughty said Edwards, who played one league game for Glenelg this year, would be comfortable with either going to the Crows or a rival club.

“He’s desperate to play AFL and he’s high-end talent, hopefully he can prove them wrong,” he said.

“He’s had a bit of an up-and-down year but his SA All-Stars game (last month) was pretty good, particularly his second half.”

Doughty said Edwards had some interest from other clubs and he hoped that would now build.

“We’ll gauge that over the next two weeks,” he said.

Crows national recruiting manager Hamish Ogilvie said the club’s strong draft hand was a major factor in its decision.

“Luke is a quality young man and the club obviously has a long and valued relationship with the Edwards family,” Ogilvie said.

“We want to be fair to him and ensure he has every opportunity to enter the AFL system and the open draft looms as the best option.

“We will stay true to our talent order, which Luke remains part of, but we are not in a position to give a guarantee.”

Edwards’ older brother, Jackson, was a Crows rookie in 2018 but was delisted after one year without playing a game.

Adelaide has until Wednesday to nominate its Next Generation Academy prospects Tariek Newchurch and James Borlase for the draft.

If they do, the Crows will be able to match other clubs’ bids on the duo.

Newchurch is a speedster from North Adelaide, while Borlase – the son of Port Adelaide premiership captain Darryl Borlase and ex-Australian netball star Jenny Borlase – is a key defender at Sturt.

Originally published as Glenelg’s Luke Edwards is using Crows’ father-son snub as motivation ahead of the AFL Draft