KICKING off our AFLW Draft club-by-club preview series is reigning preliminary finalists Adelaide coming off another great season. The Crows brought in a young gun from crosstown rivals Port Adelaide and now can attack the draft with a higher first round selection than at the start of the Trade Period.

>> FREE: View the 2024 AFLW Draft Guide

2024 RECORD: 4th, 8-3, 173.3% | Eliminated: Preliminary Final
2024 PICKS: 12, 43, 70, 88, 106, 124, 142

LIST CHANGES:
IN: Grace Kelly (St Kilda), Hannah Ewings (Port Adelaide), Kayleigh Cronin (Ireland), Picks 12, 43
OUT: Najwa Allen (Hawthorn), Taylah Levy (GWS), Deni Varnhagen (retired), Picks 16, 34, Pick 52

FIRST PICK:
Pick 12

The Crows have smartly positioned themselves ahead of crosstown rivals Port Adelaide, enabling the crew from West Lakes to potentially snatch up a top South Australian prospect. While top five talent India Rasheed will certainly be off the board by then, could the Crows play the role of party pooper and pick up Glenelg utility Poppy Scholz and provide a nice Showdown battle within the household between Poppy and sister Matilda (Port Adelaide).

Looking from their own region, it would be incredibly difficult to overlook Central District utility Charlotte Riggs who can play in all three key position roles, adding great versatility for Matthew Clarke‘s side. The SANFLW premiership player would likely start in defence however, and provide great height and athleticism.

Outside the home state, the Crows could turn to the natural leadership and composure of Sienna Tallariti out of defence.

REMAINING CROP:
Picks 43, 70, 88

The big gap between the Crows’ first and second selections makes it difficult, but the tri-colours also do not need to pick up too much with Ewings coming in for Pick 39 akin to daylight robbery. A big watch will be on fellow Central District talent Georgia McKee who would love to get to the Crows, and the question mark is whether or not Adelaide opts to pick her up early to guarantee it, or run the gauntlet of her potentially being there at the Crows’ next selection.

A sister-of in Ruby Ballard would be given some thought to join Abbie at the Crows with one of the later selections, while being in the premiership window, Adelaide might opt for some readymade defensive assurance in Tiffany King. They could also pull a surprise move and look locally in the SANFLW such as competition leading goalkicker Emily Brockhurst or versatile utility Kiana Lee as a couple of options.

However the Crows only have the one list spot at present, so will need to move at least one more player on to make a second mandatory selection. It is expected they would only take the two selections in the draft.

KEY QUESTIONS:

– Is the recruitment of Hannah Ewings the difference between a preliminary final exit and a premiership?
– Will the Crows nab a local talent with their first pick or go best available?
– Could the Crows go “all-in” and recruit readymade talent to target a flag in 2025?