Opinion: Time for Crows to make a recruiting stand, writes Andrew Capel

After being pushed around by arch rival Port Adelaide on and off the field, the Crows hierarchy needs to strike back and land homeward bound Swan Jordan Dawson, writes Andrew Capel.

It is statement time for the Adelaide Football Club.

After being pushed around by arch rival Port Adelaide on and off the field in recent years, the Crows hierarchy needs to strike back and land homeward bound Swan Jordan Dawson.

The kid can play.

And he would be a terrific fit for coach Matthew Nicks’ rebuilding project.

Adelaide lost bidding wars with Port for Croweaters Jared Polec from Brisbane and Orazio Fantasia from Essendon when they wanted to come home.

It must make it a case of third time lucky this time.

Sturt product Dawson is 24, a tall 192cm wingman who is a strong mark and an elite left-foot kick.

He can run and carry the ball and kick goals, nailing a game-high three in the Swans’ upset round 17 win against grand finalist the Western Bulldogs.

Dawson finished third in finalist Sydney’s best and fairest award behind established stars Luke Parker and Jake Lloyd.

He played all 23 games and averaged a career-high 22.3 disposals and 5.5 marks.

Drafted at pick 56 at the 2015 national draft, Dawson, who has played 64 games, was one of the AFL’s most improved players this season and his best football is clearly ahead of him.

Jordan Dawson (L) of the Swans marks against Josh Kelly of the Giants during the 2021 AFL Second Elimination Final match between the Sydney Swans and the GWS Giants at University of Tasmania Stadium. Picture: Rob Blakers/Getty Images

He would provide a big injection of class for Nicks’ largely blue collar team.

But Port also wants him, particularly after its shock preliminary final capitulation against the Bulldogs.

And what the Power wants in the trade market it usually gets.

As well as winning the hometown battle for small forward Fantasia, so influential in Port’s qualifying final win against Geelong with four goals, it pulled off the recruiting coup of the year when it traded a future second-round pick to the Swans for key defender Aliir Aliir and turned him into an All-Australian in one season.

There have been reports that Dawson, who last week officially asked the Swans for a trade to a South Australian club for family reasons despite being offered what the club called “an attractive long-term deal’’ to stay, has an early preference to join the Power.

It is understood he was a Crows fan growing up but knows Aliir and believes Port is still in the premiership window, despite its preliminary final horror show.

But the Crows must offer him greater financial security – possibly a five-year deal worth $500,000 a season – to ensure he lobs at West Lakes rather than Alberton.

Adelaide has publicly stated that it wants to continue to build its list through the draft this year, where it holds the fourth selection with its first pick, and splash the cash next year when key South Australian targets Jack Lukosius, Izak Rankine and Brandon Parfitt fall out of contract.

But – as it builds a financial war chest after controversially cutting long-time stars Daniel Talia and Tom Lynch and letting Brad Crouch walk to St Kilda last year – it cannot afford to let such a golden opportunity slip through its fingers.

Former Crows assistant and midfield coach Scott Camporeale said Dawson would be an ideal fit at Adelaide.

“He fits Adelaide’s DNA in terms of recruitment, age bracket, what they need,’’ Camporeale told SA Grandstand.

“They are 17th for kick (rating) and if he comes in he automatically adds another level of kicking, helping them keep possession of the ball and the chains going.

“He has had a superb year, has all the attributes you need and is a nice size.’’

Ex-Adelaide and Collingwood recruiter Matt Rendell said the Crows should be “super keen to get him’’.

“(Jake) Kelly is going back to Victoria with Essendon (as a free agent), so he (Dawson) is a perfect replacement in defence,’’ Rendell told SEN.

“He is a great kick, he has a great mark, he can also play on the wing and through the midfield.

“If you’re a key forward, you’re going to love him being in front of you because he doesn’t miss with his kicking.’’

The Crows, under the guidance of list manager Justin Reid, will not give up their prized pick four selection for Dawson and they shouldn’t.

That needs to be used wisely on one of Australia’s top teenage prospects.

Rising South Adelaide star Jason Horne-Francis would be a sensational pick up but he is almost certain to be drafted by wooden spooner North Melbourne with the first “live’’ selection after Collingwood and the Bulldogs take Nick Daicos and Sam Darcy respectively under the father-son rule.

But Adelaide’s second round pick (currently No. 23) should be on offer and there will likely need to be another sweetener (such as a future pick) to satisfy Sydney’s demands, given the expectation that Port will put its first-round selection (currently No. 16) on the table for Dawson.

The Crows, who saved more salary cap space by not offering popular teammate Kelly a bigger deal, must do everything in their power to wrap Dawson, who they could theoretically try to lure through the pre-season draft, in their tricolours next season.

They have been beaten to the punch by their hometown rival, which proudly proclaims to have an “aggressive’ approach to recruiting – “if we need to get a player then we go hard for them,’’ says football boss Chris Davies – far too often.

Over to you, Reidy!

FOOTY’S A NUMBERS GAME

23

More contested possessions the Bulldogs had in the first quarter of the preliminary final against Port – the biggest differential in any first term this year.

6

Geelong marks in the first quarter of the preliminary final against Melbourne – the fewest in a quarter this season.

QUOTES OF THE WEEK

“We have no excuses. We had great preparation time and no reasons that were outside of our control. We failed when we needed not to fail.’’

- PORT ADELAIDE COACH KEN HINKLEY

“Our players were just superb. The collision footy our players were prepared to play was outrageously good.’’

- WESTERN BULLDOGS COACH LUKE BEVERIDGE

Originally published as Opinion: Time for Crows to make a recruiting stand, writes Andrew Capel