Adelaide recruiting boss Hamish Ogilvie addresses Crows’ 2025 draft plans
Adelaide faces an extraordinary draft dilemma as their recruiting boss declares next year’s local talent pool could eclipse this year's record-breaking South Australian group.
Adelaide recruiting boss Hamish Ogilvie says the strength of next year’s crop of South Australians will make it unlikely the Crows use their future first pick to trade up in this week’s draft.
The Crows go into the draft with a hand of picks No. 16, 48, 55 and 61 with that first pick likely to be pushed back considerably once academy and father-son bids are made.
Key Adelaide figures have said the Crows would look at how it could move around the order in the draft.
But with Carlton’s No. 9 and 11 picks expected to go to Essendon and North Melbourne respectively, it is unlikely the Crows will move up the order – especially given how highly Ogilvie rates the 2026 crop of South Australians.
“There’s a little bit and we are open to it but when you finish up the top you have less ammo then you have had in previous years,” he told this masthead.
“We are open to it, whether we do it I’m not sure, it’s a bit harder to do.
“And to be fair I would be reluctant to do a future one because I actually like next year’s South Australian group.”
This year’s group of SA draftees won the national under-18 championships and have been described by state under 18 coach Tony Bamford as a “special group”.
Up to nine could be taken in the first 30 picks, with seven in Wednesday’s first round which could be a state record.
Another dozen are also considered to be strong chances of finding AFL homes in the draft or the rookie one.
But Ogilvie said next year’s group could very well be even better.
“As good as this year’s group was next year’s South Australian group looks really good, maybe better,” he said.
“So there would be some reluctance to use a future one unless it was for a certain player.”
The Crows have the most South Australians on their list out of any AFL club, with the percentage increasing over the past five years.
But Ogilvie said where they were after claiming the minor premiership in 2025 meant they just had to take the best available player.
“Probably where we are in our build now you have to take the best player no matter where they come from,” he said.
“I think where we are at now you take the best player with our first pick no matter and then balancing out with our second pick.”
He said that would apply to the position of players the Crows take, with the addition of Finnbar Maley from North Melbourne meaning they could wait until next year’s draft to look at an emerging ruck.
“A little bit of the rule changes, you would look at having your three rucks or two and two tall forwards who can ruck,” he said.
“You have your wrestler in (Reilly) O’Brien, your long tall bloke in (Lachlan) McAndrew and your jumper is Finnbar or perhaps something out the back.
“I like the ruckman in next year’s pool more … we are not going to obsess with a ruck it is not a massive need.”
The Crows other focus from this week will be to get Brisbane’s dual-premiership forward Callum Ah Chee in the pre-season draft after they couldn’t agree on a trade with the Lions.
Port Adelaide did hint it could try and meet with Ah Chee given the Power would have a pick ahead of the Crows in the pre-season draft.
But the Crows are confident they will get Ah Chee to West Lakes this week.
Originally published as Adelaide recruiting boss Hamish Ogilvie addresses Crows’ 2025 draft plans
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