Adelaide Crows leave utility Ricky Henderson on free agents’ table to score draft picks

ADELAIDE is ready to let utility Ricky Henderson walk as an AFL free agent to score a valued compensation draft pick — far more than the Crows could ever manage in a sweetheart trade.

Ricky Henderson looks for options. Picture: Sarah Reed.

ADELAIDE is ready to let utility Ricky Henderson walk as an AFL free agent to score a valued compensation draft pick — far more than the Crows could ever manage in a sweetheart trade.

Henderson, 28, is out of contract at West Lakes after failing to play enough games to trigger an automatic contract extension at Adelaide. And the Crows have told the switch-hitter it is “not in a position” to put a new deal to the Victorian.

This leaves 90-game Henderson to measure free agency — a market that opens Friday/tomorrow.

Henderson will not take up that path this week as he concentrates on his wedding at the weekend.

Player agent Ned Guy told The Advertiser Wednesday Henderson will “assess all options” next week.

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“And there are quite a few (from rival AFL clubs),” said Guy.

This path works not only for Henderson to find long-term security as a player, but also to Adelaide’s list-management strategy.

Henderson is an unrestricted free agent — and seemingly excess to Adelaide’s needs after he was surprisingly overlooked in the final series, despite being high in the Crows’ best in the Round 23 disaster against West Coast.

He can simply walk to an AFL rival before the free-agency market closes on Sunday week. And that works perfectly for the Crows’ chase for top-40 draft picks.

Adelaide is in no position to craft a major trade with Henderson, particularly when his suitors know he walks at no cost as an unrestricted free agent.

And if there is a significant multi-season offer — say from Carlton — to Henderson, the Crows could collect an end-of-second-round compensation draft pick. This would be more than Adelaide could engineer in any trade.

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AFL trade movement will take on greater impetus Thursday as the 18 league clubs have their recruiting men and list managers gather at Etihad Stadium in Melbourne for the four-day draft combine that puts 80 of the best draft prospects on show.

Henderson celebrates a goal. Picture: Colleen Petch.

The trade market opens on Friday/tomorrow with free agency. Trade talks — with the 18 AFL clubs meeting each other at Etihad Stadium — start Monday morning.

Adelaide will enter those talks without a football chief — after David Noble’s move to Brisbane last week- and list manager Justin Reid charged with leading the Crows’ delegation.

The Advertiser understands Adelaide’s search list for a new football supremo will no longer include West Coast football chief Craig Vozzo, a South Australian who has declared his preference to stay with the Eagles.

Adelaide will have contracted midfielder Cam Ellis-Yolmen and out-of-contract midfielder Jarryd Lyons again draw interest.

Ellis-Yolmen’s management Wednesday declared the 23-year-old is torn between chasing more opportunity at another AFL club — and walking away from a strong apprenticeship at Adelaide after being a third-round draftee (No. 64) in 2011.

“You’d probably think he’ll be at the Crows,” manager Ben Williams told AFL Trade Radio Wednesday. “We’re transparent. Cam is a guy who has to be playing regular footy.

“There has been some interest in Cam, but he’s done the hard yards at the Crows too.”

Adelaide is still seen as the destination club for Brisbane captain Tom Rockliff if the 2014 All-Australian midfielder becomes trade bait as the Lions seek a “cultural change” under new coach Chris Fagan.

Rockliff’s manager Tom Petroro maintains the 26-year-old — who can no longer command an $800,000-a-season salary demand — will remain at Brisbane “unless something drastic happens in the next couple of weeks”.

The AFL trade period ends at 1.30pm Thursday, October 20.

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Originally published as Adelaide Crows leave utility Ricky Henderson on free agents’ table to score draft picks