Crows key forward Darcy Fogarty spending time as a midfielder as he pushes his case for a recall

A ‘bits and pieces key forward’? Big bodied midfielder? Another club? Here’s an in-depth look at where Darcy Fogarty is at - and where he could end up.

Darcy Fogarty is out of the side, while Taylor Walker is back in superb form. Picture: Daniel Kalisz/Getty Images

Darcy Fogarty’s pre-season began with a shirtless Instagram photo that suggested the proverbial penny had dropped, but it ended with him wearing an Adelaide reserves guernsey.

The former Glenelg junior sported a ripped physique in a November picture posted by Taylor Walker, in an early sign he was heeding the challenge set by the club.

Fogarty’s coaches expected him to improve his fitness.

Crows great turned club football director Mark Ricciuto — a sounding board for Fogarty — said the 21-year-old needed to decide if he wanted to be a serious footballer or a “bits and pieces key forward”.

Fogarty, the No. 12 pick in the 2017 national draft, is 24 games into his career and is without a contract beyond this season.

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Fogarty played for the Crows’ SANFL team last weekend.

“I reckon he’s got the biggest summer of his lifetime coming up,” Ricciuto said on Fox Footy during Adelaide’s season-ending loss to Richmond in September.

“I think the penny’s got to drop for Darcy now.

“And I think he’ll take the opportunity, take the feedback on and be a much better player in 2021.”

Fogarty told reporters in January he had lost 2kg, shed a seconds off his personal-best 2km time and improved a fitness base he believed had led to an inconsistent start to his career.

But two rounds into the new season, he cannot break into the AFL side.

Adelaide is set to pick Walker and Billy Frampton as its sole talls in a forward line replete with smalls for its first two games.

Taylor Walker’s Instagram photo of Fogarty. Picture: supplied.

Fogarty played for the Crows’ SANFL team last Saturday, trying to push his case for a recall.

It is understood the Lucindale product is not disgruntled at being left out of the side or concerned about where it leaves his contract talks.

There is no rush over a new deal and getting back into the team is his priority.

The belief around him is that if he keeps working hard and plays well in the second tier, an AFL opportunity will present, whether that is in a forward line with two or three talls.

“At the moment, Darcy’s not in but if he can continue to apply himself the way that he has been he’ll find himself back in the team,” Crows football manager Adam Kelly told ABC.

The Crows hope Fogarty’s improved running can help him have more influence on games.

Fogarty competes with Aliir Aliir during a practice match against Port Adelaide.

Adelaide gave him a midfield stint in the state-league trial match on Saturday as part of a plan to boost his work ethic and find more of the football.

Elliott Himmelberg and the Crows’ highest ever draft pick, Riley Thilthorpe, are also playing reserves, contending for spots in Adelaide’s attack.

“Fog continues to work on his game and he’s never that far away,” coach Matthew Nicks said on Thursday.

Fogarty marks at Crows training in December. Picture: Kelly Barnes

“It’s hard when you compare and see where Tex Walker’s at … he’s playing some really good footy and Fog’s fighting for one of those spots.

“We feel like he can play through the midfield and has added another string to his bow from a fitness side of things.

“His ability to be around the footy for a little bit longer is something we’re getting the chance to look at from a SANFL level.

“He’s showing the ability to go for longer, it’s now a bit of education about the game and how to find the footy more.”

Fogarty lined up in 10 AFL matches last year, kicked eight goals and missed six games with a shoulder injury.

In 2019, he was trialled down back at SANFL level, before switching forward and playing the final four rounds in the top tier.

He kicked nine majors from those games, including a career-best five against West Coast.

Fogarty’s form during that period highlighted why he was rated so highly when he was drafted and it was considered a steal that the Crows nabbed him outside the top 10.

Ranking AFL hopefuls ahead of the 2017 national draft, former Hawthorn recruiting manager Gary Buckenara labelled the ex-Rostrevor College student the best footballer in the pool.

“I don’t think he’ll go No. 1 but I would put him there because I think he’s a class player and will be a star,” Buckenara said.

Adelaide also rated him highly, handing Fogarty one of its most famous guernseys, No. 32, worn by champions Patrick Dangerfield and Ricciuto.

Fogarty still has time to become a star and appears to have taken a significant step forward.

But the next few months are crucial and will reveal plenty about his future.

Originally published as Crows key forward Darcy Fogarty spending time as a midfielder as he pushes his case for a recall