Draftee Harrison Wigg says he is “over the moon” to stay in his home state and join the Adelaide Football Club.
Wigg, 18, was Adelaide’s only local selection at this year’s AFL National Draft, as the Crows also secured Victorian duo Jake Lever and Harry Dear along with Claremont forward Mitch McGovern.
The left-footer caught recruiters’ attention with an outstanding campaign for SA in this year’s Under 18 National Championships.
Wigg was one of only four Croweaters to be named All Australian – despite South Australia claiming the U18 Division One title for the second year running – and was also named the side’s Most Valuable Player.
The versatile small, who has played as a defender, wingman and an inside midfielder, averaged 19 disposals at 80 per cent efficiency across six games at the championships.
Wigg said he was ecstatic to be heading to West Lakes to begin his AFL career.
“I’m very happy and just over the moon at the moment,” Wigg told afc.com.au.
“I’m pumped to be an Adelaide Crow. I can’t wait to meet all the players and get stuck into training.
“It’s a dream come true.”
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Standing 179cm and weighing 74kg, Wigg was by far the smallest Crow selected at Thursday’s night National Draft meet.
But Wigg said his smaller stature had helped mould him into the type of player that he is today.
“A lot of people say that I play taller than what I look like,” Wigg said.
“I’ve had to be smart and use my body positioning to help me play against bigger opponents.
“But it’s also meant I’ve had to work hard on other areas. My kick and decision-making skills are probably my strongest points.
“That helps me have a bit of composure with my possession out of the back half.”
A Hawthorn supporter growing up, Wigg’s 2014 campaign was cut short when he suffered a stress reaction in his right foot late in the year.
The injury meant Wigg missed October’s AFL Draft Combine, but the North Adelaide product said he hoped he had done enough to find his way onto an AFL list.
“I didn’t have any real expectations going in, but the Crows gave a really good indication that if I was still around that I’d be on their radar.
“But that was about it, and you never really know how it’s going to play out once they start calling the names out.”
Crows National Recruiting Manager Hamish Ogilvie was just as excited to lock in Wigg with Adelaide’s second-round pick.
“Harry Wigg is a great story,” Ogilvie said.
“He’s a local kid and a left-footer – the coach likes left footers!
“That’s worked out really well and his mum will be ecstatic.”
