Adelaide Crows nominate Tyler Welsh as father-son selection for National Draft

The Crows have confirmed they’re nominating a father-son prospect for November’s national draft in what could prove to be a boon to an already-stacked forward line.

Tyler Welsh is a step closer to following in his dad’s footsteps after the Crows nominated him as a father-son prospect.

The move allows Adelaide to match rival clubs’ bids on the 18-year-old forward in November’s national draft.

Welsh, the son of four-time Crows leading goalkicker Scott Welsh, played 10 SANFL games for Adelaide this past season and represented South Australia’s under-18s during the national championships.

The Woodville-West Torrens product was touted as a possible top-20 pick after booting five goals as an underager Vic Country last year, but was now expected to be a late selection.

Tyler Welsh in action for the Crows at SANFL level. Picture: Peter Argent

Welsh would become the Crows’ fourth father-son draftee, joining Ben Jarman (son of Darren), Jackson Edwards (Tyson) and Max Michalanney (Jim).

“It’d mean the world to me,” Welsh said earlier this month of being selected by Adelaide.

“That’s my dream.”

Welsh joined the Crows’ SANFL squad from Woodville-West Torrens last November as part of the state league’s rookie program.

He kicked 10 goals from 10 games for Adelaide while averaging 8.4 disposals, 3.7 marks and 3.1 inside 50s.

Welsh booted eight majors in his sole under-18 match for the Eagles this year.

Recruiters consider marking and kicking to be among his best attributes.

During the South Australian state combine three weeks ago, Welsh impressed in the 20m sprint and vertical jump, placing third with a 60cm leap.

Tyler Welsh playing for South Australia. Picture: Sarah Reed/AFL Photos via Getty Images.

It would have been a shock if Adelaide had not nominated the 191cm prospect, given the talent he had shown and time the club had invested in him.

Scott Welsh played 129 games and booted 270 goals for Adelaide from 2000-07, leading the club’s goalkicking in 2000, 2004, 2005 and 2007.

The sharpshooter featured 36 times for the Kangaroos, where he won a premiership in 1999, and in 40 matches for the Bulldogs – not enough games to ensure father-son qualification.

Asked at the combine about his dad’s advice, Welsh said: “He just says whenever you run out, grit your teeth, crash packs, go up for marks, lay tackles.”

Adelaide holds picks 4, 64 and 82 in the national draft, which will be held on November 20 and 21.

The rookie draft is on November 22.