Adelaide defender Patrick Parnell played many different sports while growing up in Albury, a regional town in NSW.

And Parnell, who the Crows selected at the 2021 AFL Mid-Season Rookie Draft, had to make the tough decision to give one up so footy could become his sole focus.

“Growing up, I tried my hand at a lot of things - athletics, tennis, cricket - I loved my cricket and I played up until I was about 16 or 17,” Parnell said.

“I had to pick between footy and cricket and wanted to play footy.

“I bowled medium-paces and batted a little bit, so I was a bit of an all-rounder.”

Parnell, who has played seven games since making his AFL debut for the Crows in Round 12 against West Coast, spoke on the latest episode of The Crows Radio Show.

The 20-year-old defender revealed he had never been to South Australia before being picked by the Crows but was grateful for the opportunity the Club had given him.

“I’d never been to Adelaide before I was picked up and I was drafted on a Wednesday night and I was here (at the Club) on Thursday,” Parnell said.

“It’s nice to get my crack at the AFL and to string seven (games) together.

“Obviously I missed out in the draft when I was 18 and then was working an office job for the first six months of 2021, before I got my chance last year.

“I had dreamed of playing footy since I can remember, so for the Crows to give me a chance mid-year, it was pretty exciting.”

Parnell, who is studying a Bachelor of Sports Media, said he hoped to get into sports journalism after his footy career ended.

Tune in to Triple M Adelaide this Sunday at 9am for the next instalment of Sauce and Thomo.