Crows coach Brenton Sanderson is optimistic the rapid rise of rookies Rory Laird and Kyle Hartigan will help soften the blow of the Club’s draft sanctions.

Adelaide was stripped of its first and second-round draft picks in 2012-13 for its role in the Kurt Tippett contract saga. However, the Club is permitted to trade back into the early rounds.

Laird, 19, and Hartigan, 21, both started the season on the Crows’ rookie list, but earned promotions to the senior squad on the back of good form and untimely long-term injuries to teammates.

Recruited with Adelaide’s first pick (No.5 overall) in the 2012 Rookie Draft, Laird has played 15 games this season, cementing his spot in defence. The small backman has averaged 21 possessions and five marks since the mid-season bye, showing courage and composure in an inexperienced back six. On Sunday, Laird was one of five Crows with less than 20 games of experience, while defender Luke Brown was playing his 21st match.

The Club’s first pick (No.14 overall) in last year’s rookie draft, Hartigan impressed on debut against Fremantle in Round 18. The mature-age key defender is yet to add another game to his AFL tally, but has maintained excellent form with SANFL club, South Adelaide.

Coach Brenton Sanderson said Laird and Hartigan were likely to earn spots on the senior list next season.

“If Laird was in the draft this year, he probably goes in the top 15 … so he effectively becomes our first pick,” Sanderson said.

“I reckon Kyle Hartigan would probably go in the 20s, so there’s our first two picks there – Laird and Hartigan. Yes, we don’t have first and second-round picks this year, but we’re going to bring some really good young players onto our list anyway.

“Thankfully, we’ve seen some great development from those guys.”

Talented players Brad Crouch and Luke Brown were also recruited outside the draft system, joining Adelaide via the GWS trade incentive in October, 2011.

The Round 14 Rising Star nominee, Crouch has averaged 24 possessions, five marks and four tackles in 11 games this season and is the Crows’ highest-ranked midfielder in the past seven rounds. The skilful midfielder finished runner-up in the Showdown Medal a fortnight ago.

Sanderson admitted he’d given Crouch some ‘tough love’ in his debut AFL season.

“I’ve really made him earn it this year. I didn’t want to gift him games. He’s young and he’s brilliant, but he still had to learn how to play AFL,” Sanderson said.

“It’s important from my point of view that I keep teaching him what it takes to be a midfielder in the AFL. To his credit … he’s probably been our best midfielder over the last seven weeks. Across the competition too, he’s right up there.

“Crouchy lives and breathes footy. He’s a student of the game, and is always in my office and the other assistant coaches’ offices constantly asking how he can get better. I’m really proud of him and love how he’s playing.

“We know we’ve got a really important midfielder here for a really long time.”

Brown, 20, has played more games (18) than any of Adelaide’s young brigade this season. The neat-kicking defender has also held down one of the toughest positions, assigned with the task of shutting down the opposition’s most dangerous small forward each week.

He performed that role well again on Sunday, limiting in-form North Melbourne livewire Lindsay Thomas to two goals, including one from a handball receive in the goal square.

“Thomas kicked two, but I thought Brown had the better of the match-up,” Sanderson said.

“Thomas was third in the Coleman Medal, so he’s had a fantastic season. He kicked five against us last time, so it was a really important match up for us. Once again, a young kid just got it done for us.

“When we got Crouchy and Browny we obviously didn’t know what was going to happen (with draft sanctions), but it’s turned out to be a really smart call.”

Another of Adelaide’s young defenders, 2012 Rising Star Daniel Talia also shone brightly on Sunday.

Talia held Kangaroos tall Drew Petrie goalless and also hauled in a career-high nine marks.

“I loved Talia’s game. Petrie is their real target inside 50m and Talz kept him goalless,” Sanderson said.

“He’s starting to get a bit more of the ball now too. I reckon he’s seen his brother (Michael) play at the Western Bulldogs – he’s been getting a bit of the ball … brothers get a bit competitive.

“I’m really happy for Talz. He works his backside off every week and he was fantastic on Sunday.”