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Crows go for local flavour
With four SANFL players added to the Crows rookie list, Adelaide recruiting boss James Fantasia has paid tribute to the depth of talent in the local competition
With four SANFL players added to the Crows rookie list, Adelaide recruiting boss James Fantasia has paid tribute to the depth of talent in the local competition.Adelaide selected Andrew McIntyre and Greg Gallman from North Adelaide along with South Adelaide’s James Turner and Rhys Archard.“We had four selections, and selected four South Australian players, which is a great credit to the SANFL and the quality (players) that they’re producing at the moment speaks volumes,” Fantasia said.“We certainly go in with a very strong bend towards South Australian boys in the rookie situation. We just believe that, with the quality that presents itself (in South Australia), it gives us a little edge over some of the (interstate) clubs. We believe that quality players are coming through a genuine career path. We like to think that it is a bit of an advantage for us really.”Fantasia also believes that for recruits who remain in their home state, settling in to the AFL system becomes easier.“Looking at the environment that they’re going to walk in to, a massive workload; to have your family and friends around you certainly goes a long way,” he said. “But at the same time the boys are being presented with an opportunity, and they’ve got to take it with both hands.”For Fantasia, all four rookies are exciting prospects. McIntyre, Gallman and Turner were all state under-18 representatives and Rhys Archard was South Adelaide’s senior best and fairest winner this year.“One of the needs of our club going in to both drafts were those tall utilities,” Fantasia said. “Turner’s quite unique, in that, he’s got some real genuine athletic qualities. He’s got great pace for his size.“He’s like a lot of those young men, he’s going to have to work at his game and heres an opportunity to hopefully work with some of the quality players around him and we think that, in this environment, he’ll improve.”With both Trent Hentschel and Rhett Biglands recovering from long-term injuries, the new rookies have a significant opportunity force their way onto Adelaide’s senior list.“When we went into this (rookie) draft, we also had in the back of our minds that we have two long-term injuries, which effectively means that two players of the four could walk onto the (senior) list and play senior footy,” Fantasia said. “From our point of view, that certainly played a role in our selections but we feel that for all these guys, (if) no limitations present, they could possibly get an AFL game next year.“The great thing about Neil (Craig) is that he has no limitations on players. If they can come in and set the standard and set the pace, then he has no problems with playing them. I think that’s quite exciting for the whole list.”Fantasia also announced Hamish Ogilvie as the new full-time Victorian recruiting consultant. He spent the past five years as AFL Tasmania Academy football coach and replaces Kinnear Beatson.