Adelaide has added to its SANFL team for next season by announcing three recruits have signed on for 2023.

North Adelaide defender Blayne O’Loughlin will join the Crows as part of the SANFL Rookie Program which means he will spend a year at West Lakes before returning to North Adelaide if not selected by an AFL club.

The 19-year-old was a member of the Crows’ Next Generation Academy as a junior and trained with Adelaide’s AFL side in 2020 and 2021 while playing with the Roosters.

O’Loughlin is a highly-skilled defender who can also play on the wing and was named as an emergency for North Adelaide’s SANFL grand final team this year.

The nephew of former Sydney 300-gamer and AFL Indigenous Team of the Century star Michael O’Loughlin, he was a state under-18 representative and judged best afield in the SA v WA curtain-raiser before the AFL Grand Final in 2021.

Under arrangements in the SANFL Rookie Program, O’Loughlin will train with Adelaide’s SANFL team during the week, and if not selected in the league team, will return to play with North Adelaide’s reserves.

Adelaide’s Football Operations Manager Tom Hurley said O’Loughlin would be an exciting addition to the Crows’ SANFL squad.

“We obviously know Blayne well from his involvement in our NGA Academy and are thrilled that he’s agreed to play for us next season,” Hurley said.

“Throughout the process we have worked closely with both Blayne and North Adelaide on an arrangement that we believe will best support Blayne’s ambition of playing regular league football.

“We appreciate the dialogue and cooperation between all parties, particularly North Adelaide, and look forward to Blayne joining us for pre-season training.”

Adelaide has also signed experienced pair Hugh Haysman and Stephen Tahana who are both former SA under-18 representatives and now aged 25.

Haysman is a midfielder who played in West Adelaide’s 2015 SANFL premiership before joining Essendon’s VFL side, and spent the majority of last season with amateur league club St Peters Old Collegians.

Tahana is a strong-bodied utility who has played 15 league games for North Adelaide and has VFL experience with Collingwood and Sandringham. He played with amateur league club Gaza for the past two years.

“We’re very pleased both Hugh and Stephen have committed to our squad for next season,” Hurley said.

“Both are excited to have another crack at playing league football and at their age and experience we believe they will be valuable additions as we look to build on a successful season in 2022.”