Adelaide will take pick No.13 into this year’s National Draft for the third time in Club history.
While Adelaide’s picks could change on draft night under the new bidding system for Father-Son and Academy players, the Crows will still hold the 9th and 13th selections in the main Draft pool.
The Crows struck gold with their last selection at No.13 back in 2009, using its first-round pick to welcome Daniel Talia to West Lakes.
The Calder Cannons youngster from Assumption College proved to be an inspired choice. He made his AFL debut as a 19-year-old in 2011 in just his second season at the Club and, remarkably, has missed only four games since.
Now an All Australian defender and a Crows Club Champion, Talia has played 98 games for the Club and remains one of Adelaide’s brightest draft stories.
St Kilda also initially drafted current Crow Tom Lynch with pick No.13 in the 2008 National Draft. Lynch was traded to the Crows in 2011 for a second-round draft selection and has become one of Adelaide’s most dynamic forwards.
The Crows’ maiden No.13 pick was used on Dandenong Stingrays tall Tom Gilligan at the 1996 draft. He played just three games and kicked one goal under premiership coach Malcolm Blight the following season.
The Club has had great success with picks either side of pick No.13 in past drafts, particularly with defenders.
Crows Life Member Brent Reilly was selection No.12 at the 2001 National Draft. The neat-kicking backman played 203 games across 13 seasons and was an All-Australian nominee in 2012.
Fellow backman Brodie Smith was secured on the other side of pick No.13, heading to the Crows at No.14 at the 2010 draft meet. Like Talia, Smith received his first All Australian blazer in 2014 and has developed into one of Adelaide’s most important playmakers.
Emerging defender Jake Lever (2014), utility James Sellar (2006) and forward Fergus Watts (2003) were others taken by the Crows at pick No.14.
Hawthorn premiership player and Brownlow Medallist Shane Crawford remains the most decorated player secured at No.13. Drafted in 1991, the former Hawks skipper played over 300 AFL games and was a four-time All Australian and best-and-fairest winner.
Richmond forward Jack Riewoldt (2006), Saint-turned-Kangaroo Nick Dal Santo (2001) and Western Bulldogs captain Robert Murphy (1999) were other notable pick 13s.
South Australians Shannon Hurn from West Coast (2005), Byron Schammer from Fremantle (2002) Gold Coast’s Seb Tape (2010) were also taken with selection No.13.
Fremantle secured Lachie Weller with pick No.13 last year.