ADELAIDE shook up night one of the 2023 National AFL Draft with a live trade to secure West Australian prospect Daniel Curtin, among three bold selections in the first round. The Crows’ work was done within 27 picks, so let’s recap what the South Australian club was able to do in such a short space of time.

>> UPDATED: Every Pick in the 2023 AFL Draft

NATIONAL DRAFT

8. Daniel Curtin
21. Charlie Edwards
27. Oscar Ryan

ROOKIE DRAFT

9. Will Hamill (re-listed)
20. James Borlase (re-listed)

Having considered Curtin a top five prospect since he burst onto the scene with a best afield performance in last year’s Under 17 Futures match, Adelaide was thrilled to be able to secure his services along with two other opening round picks.

The Crows manufactured a deal with Greater Western Sydney to skip the cue for Curtin, landing the eighth selection of the draft after hearing murmurs that the utility would slip past the first five picks. It was a proposition that was flagged pre-draft, and eventuated perfectly.

CURTIN CALL:

IN: Pick 8 (Curtin), 17 (Edwards)
OUT: Pick 11, 15, Future R2

With Tom Doedee leaving for Brisbane via free agency and Nick Murray set to miss much of 2024 through injury, Curtin looms as readymade key defensive cover. Though, having spent much of the year rotating across all three lines, there is no limit on what he could offer to the Crows’ side.

With the second selection obtained in the pick swap with GWS, another player over 190cm was called out – Charlie Edwards. The late-season bolter started his top-age season as a defender but ended up thriving in Sandringham’s stacked midfield en route to premiership glory.

He offers a nice point of difference to Adelaide’s engine room with his size, and given his rate of development, there is no reason why he cannot impact quickly. There’s surprising elements to his game too, with a handy turn of speed and ability to break lines through the corridor.

Rounding out the Crows’ National Draft exploits was another bolter in Oscar Ryan. Coach Matthew Nicks could be seen on the telecast delivering the news to the Victorian defender, who was in attendance on night one to support his Murray Bushrangers teammates.

Ryan has a terrific athletic profile and translates it to his on-field actions. He carries the ball at speed on the rebound and rises for brave intercept marks, making for a two-way threat across half-back. The Murray region has been a happy hunting ground for Adelaide recently, too.

With no selections left to make on night two of the National Draft, the only remaining bit of business for Adelaide to attend to was the re-listing of Will Hamill and James Borlase. They were taken with picks nine and 20 in the Rookie Draft respectively.