This season has seen new opportunities open up for several of the Club’s 2017 draft crop. With the mid-season bye here, AFC Media takes a look at how the rookies and first-year players are tracking.

Darcy Fogarty (Pick No. 12, 2017 National Draft)

Darcy Fogarty has done exactly what you’d hope for a first-round draft pick. He has seven majors from eight games and when he booted his first from just inside 50 on debut, fans loved him. The 193cm, 94kg forward looked a ready-made player when drafted and 2018 has seen him slot nicely into the Crows forward line.

AFL: Eight games, seven goals; 8.5 disposals, 3.4 marks per game
SANFL: Three games, one goal; 12 disposals per game

 

Andrew McPherson (Pick No. 40, 2017 National Draft)

Denied his chance to shine at the U18 Championships in 2017 due to a quad injury, Andrew McPherson brought a touch of the unknown.

This year he also found himself on the sidelines until June due to injury. On debut in the SANFL he picked up 13 touches against West Adelaide. A week later he had 15 disposals against South Adelaide.

SANFL: Two games, one goal; 14 disposals, 5.5 marks, 6.5 rebound 50s per game

Patrick Wilson (Pick No. 17, 2018 Rookie Draft)

Arriving as an experienced Premiership winner with Sturt, 23-year-old Patrick Wilson made his debut against Hawthorn on the weekend.

In a young SANFL side he has consistently been a standout, named in the best six times. He has also been their top possession winner six times with hauls of 33 and 31 against Woodville-West Torrens and North Adelaide, respectively, his best.

AFL: One game; 12 disposals at 75 per cent efficiency
SANFL: Nine games, six goals; 25.3 disposals, 12.6 contested possessions, 6.1 clearances per game
 

Lachlan Murphy (Pick No. 38, 2018 Rookie Draft)

The first player drafted from Adelaide’s SANFL development squad, Murphy did not have to wait long for his AFL debut, playing in Round One.

His success is just a reflection of how adaptive he is, having played as an inside midfielder during his TAC Cup years, before sitting in defence last year in the SANFL and then being drafted as a forward.

Murphy has booted five AFL goals from six games so far, with his forward pressure arguably the strongest part of his game.

AFL: Six games, five goals; 9.5 disposals, 3.7 tackles per game
SANFL: Three games; 18.3 disposals, 11.3 contested possessions, seven tackles per game

 

Jackson Edwards (Pick No. 41, 2018 Rookie Draft)

It has been a season of patience for Jackson Edwards with the rookie-listed midfielder putting together consistent outings in the SANFL.

Against Central District earlier in the season, he had a career best 23 disposals.

SANFL: 10 games; 17.1 disposals per game