ADELAIDE took out this year’s minor premiership but was bundled out of finals in straight sets, presenting the opportunity to stock back up and go again during the off-season. The Crows went tall during trade and draft period, while finally landing a two-time premiership forward from Brisbane.

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DRAFT HAUL

NATIONAL DRAFT:
Pick 22. Mitchell Marsh
Pick 50. Archie Ludowyke

PRE-SEASON DRAFT:
Callum Ah-Chee (Brisbane)

ROOKIE DRAFT:
Tyler Welsh (re-listed)

>> CLICK each player’s names for full profiles & highlights

Adelaide went into night one with a late-first round pick in tow and had to wait its turn to officially get on the board. Although, that could have been much different if a mooted pick swap with Essendon went through.

Targeting South Australian skipper and star midfielder Dyson Sharp, the Crows tabled their first round picks from this year and next to obtain the Bombers’ pick 13. With no agreement able to be made after several tries, Adelaide instead carried on with what ended up being pick 22.

That was used on another local prospect in Mitchell Marsh, a tall forward and likely successor of goalkicking champion Tex Walker. Marsh now lands at the club where his father Ben played 48 games, although not via father-son eligibility.

Marsh had long been linked to Adelaide, while there were also murmurs around Archie Ludowyke at the back-end of round one. He ended up sliding to pick 50, a range which meant the Crows simply couldn’t overlook him with their second and final live selection.

Ludowyke, a National Academy member this year, was highly regarded but had his season cut short by a PCL injury. He’s another athletic, developing key forward to add to the Crows’ mix, having also gone tall with the trade for Finnbar Maley and Category B coup of basketball convert Indy Cotton.

Adelaide went on to make the only Pre-Season Draft selection, finally landing Callum Ah-Chee from Brisbane. With three senior list spots filled, the Crows’ only other point of call was to re-list Tyler Welsh via the Rookie Draft.

GRADE: C+

The Crows’ haul feels a little sameish, particularly after their trade efforts. If they had managed to prise pick 13 off Essendon to nab Sharp it would likely have been a worldy of a draft haul, particularly with Ludowyke sliding all the way down to pick 50. But being in the premiership window, they backed their draft board and added to their exciting tall forward stocks with a pair of mobile types who will suit where the game is headed. Although, could they have done that with some midfield depth instead?