Track Watch: The latest Adelaide Crows pre-season scouting notes
The Crows look set to unveil four big recruits in their pre-season “Showdown” with Port, with Wednesday’s match sim providing some key intel on who will make way for new stars.
Adelaide looks set to unveil four of its new recruits in its first pre-season game on Friday.
Melbourne premiership player Alex Neal-Bullen, ex-GWS duo Isaac Cumming and James Peatling, and the club’s top draftee, Sid Draper, all featured for the Crows’ A side in the club’s last match simulation before taking on Port Adelaide in Mount Barker.
Neal-Bullen and Peatling were chosen at half-forward, while Cumming and Draper came off the bench before getting opportunities around the ball.
The arrival of Neal-Bullen looks to have pushed long-time small forward Lachlan Murphy (17 games in 2024) out of the top side and Peatling has done the same for Sam Berry (18).
Murphy was in the Bs’ attack and Berry in their midfield.
Played in several positions this pre-season, second-year utility Dan Curtin was named on a wing for the A team, having been used mostly in attack during last Friday’s internal trial in Port Pirie.
The Crows’ match simulation was only about 20 minutes long but gave an indication as to the potential line-up against the Power.
Taylor Walker was the deepest forward for the As, while Riley Thilthorpe, Darcy Fogarty, Ben Keays, Peatling and Neal-Bullen were the others chosen in attack.
Reilly O’Brien, Jake Soligo, Matt Crouch and captain Jordan Dawson were the starting on-ballers with Chayce Jones and Curtin on the wings.
Mark Keane, Nick Murray, Josh Worrell, Wayne Milera, Rory Laird and Hugh Bond were the starting defenders.
Josh Rachele, Cumming and Draper began the match simulation on the interchange.
Bond, who made his AFL debut last season and lined up in seven games, had switched between the A and B sides on several occasions this pre-season.
Mitch Hinge again was in the secondary team, albeit the As only had 21 players and the Bs had 19.
Defender Max Michalanney (thumb) and wingman Lachie Sholl (hamstring) jogged laps and did not play.
Speedster Izak Rankine was absent due to illness.
Neal-Bullen again showed some of the credentials that had him in line to immediately join the leadership group, speaking to the squad before the match simulation.
The 29-year-old provided instructions about pressing up, but also urged the players to show “high energy and have fun”.
Soligo said Neal-Bullen had brought terrific experience and was a genuinely nice person.
“In six weeks, he feels like everyone’s best mate,” Soligo said.
“His ability to make relationships with the group and stay connected is massive props to him.”
Ricciuto: The word Crows are right not to mention
It’s shaping as a crunch season for Matthew Nicks and the Crows. Former skipper Mark Ricciuto says the club has already made one right move by avoiding one of the pitfalls of their 2024 campaign.
Tiger Tracker: When will Richmond’s draftees be unleashed?
Richmond’s prized draft crop is set to shape the club’s next era. But as CHRIS CAVANAGH writes, Tiger fans will have to be patient. See where every player is at in our Tiger Tracker.