Adelaide Crows land draft slider Archie Ludowyke – but he missed his moment

After 90 minutes on Thursday night, Archie Ludowyke couldn’t take it, heading to his bedroom and breaking down. Then it was Adelaide’s turn to pick in the draft.

Archie Ludowyke was so nervous he missed his big moment.

As the picks went by during the national draft’s second night on Thursday and his name still had not been called 90 minutes in, Ludowyke headed upstairs at home to be alone.

It just so happened that was the time Adelaide selected the 18-year-old Victorian at pick 50.

“I missed it, I was up in my room,” the 197cm key forward told Fox Footy.

“I didn’t know if I was going so I headed upstairs and started to cry, then I heard all the boys downstairs so I raced down.”

Archie Ludowyke is now an Adelaide Crow. Picture: Michael Klein

Ludowyke was touted as one of the top prospects heading into the season and booted five goals in round 2 of the Coates Talent League for Sandringham Dragons.

But he became a slider on the back of a quiet first two matches at the under-18 national championships for Vic Metro and missing the second half of the campaign, including the draft combine, with a knee injury.

In picking him, the Crows continued to replenish their tall forward stocks after choosing fellow left-footer West Adelaide’s Mitch Marsh at pick 22 on Wednesday night.

As the Crows were picking, Ludowyke left his seat vacant on the couch.

When his name was called, his family and friends couldn’t believe it.

The young forward then returned for an emotional interview.

It was the moment of night two

An emotional Ludowyke did not care that he did not see his own name read, saying getting drafted meant everything to him.

“It’s what I’ve worked for 18 years so to have it finally come true is the best feeling,” he said.

“I’ll work as hard as I can to prove everyone wrong.

“And work as hard as I can to try to get into the team.”

Ludowyke was excited to learn from Adelaide’s mainstay key forwards who spearheaded the club’s semi-final charge in 2025, Taylor Walker, Riley Thilthorpe and Darcy Fogarty.

AFL draft guru Kevin Sheehan said Ludowyke had shades of GWS left-foot forward Aaron Cadman in the way he played.

“His aerial ability is pretty special,” Sheehan told Fox Footy.

“When you see him mark the ball at its highest point, he’s very, very hard to match up on.

“There’s massive upside to this young fellow.”

Ludowyke was the only player the Crows chose on night two as the club opted not to use its next selections.

Crows national recruiting manager Hamish Ogilvie said his team had to take Ludowyke when he was available, the club rated him so highly.

“We just couldn’t not take him,” Ogilvie said.

Ogilvie said Ludowyke showed natural forward craft and had a great, wide-shouldered frame to develop.

“He’s got proven experience against VFL opposition earlier this year, he’s played for Vic Metro’s under-16 side, under-18 side, has been named in the under-16s All-Australian side… the list goes on.

“He’s a really good kid and his teammates are going to love him.”

Adelaide plans to take Brisbane premiership forward Callum Ah Chee in Friday’s pre-season pool.

Port Adelaide did not pick at all during the national draft, passing at No. 58.

The rookie draft will also be held on Friday.

Originally published as Adelaide Crows land draft slider Archie Ludowyke – but he missed his moment