Second-year Crow Harrison Wigg hopes a move into the midfield will help him break into the senior team this season.
The teenager played 15 games with Adelaide’s SANFL side last year in what was his first season of League football. Wigg played across half-back, where his booming left boot and ability to read the play could be exploited.
But the former North Adelaide junior was also released on a wing at times as part of his development. Wigg slotted two goals against the Roosters in Round 14, and collected a season-high 24 possessions the following week against eventual premiers West Adelaide as proof of just how damaging he can be.
The 19-year-old said he’s targeting more midfield minutes in 2016.
“I’ve been training with the mids this year and I think that’s probably my best-suited position in that wing role,” Wigg said.
“I see myself playing more in that role and as a bit of an outside midfielder as well. But also (with the ability) to go play back if need be.
“My goals will be this year to play all three NAB (Challenge) games and then hopefully break into the AFL side either at the start or at some point during the year and play a couple of AFL games.”
The 179cm, 75kg Crow has added considerable muscle to his frame to help him compete at the contest. In addition to being a regular in the gym over the offseason break, Wigg’s also committed extra time to improving his endurance this summer.
“Being a small frame that I am, I need as much strength as I can get,” he said.
“I’ve been working with Luke Brown mainly over the offseason. I did a lot with him. He’s an Adelaide boy and didn’t really go anywhere (over the break) so I was just with him over the whole offseason, doing weights with him four times a week.
“My first full pre-season this year has been pretty tough. I’ve been staying out there longer and doing more running at the end.
“Playing on the wing, you’ve got to run a lot. Doing that throughout a whole game is probably the main thing I’ve been working on this pre-season.
“It’s been good and I’m loving it.”
Adelaide blooded four debutants last year in Jake Kelly, Jake Lever, Rory Atkins and Riley Knight.
Twice named as an AFL emergency in 2015, Wigg has sought the guidance of several senior Crows as he looks to follow his young teammates’ footsteps.
“My mentor’s Rory Sloane, so I’ve been working with him a fair bit,” he said.
“Also David Mackay, who also plays that wing role. Scott Thompson, Richard Douglas and a few of the older blokes in the midfield have all been able to help me a lot just on things like body positioning and running patterns.
“Overall they’ve been a very good help.”
