Interstate recruits Tom Doedee and Paul Hunter have arrived in Adelaide and are settling into their new homes.
Doedee, 18, and Hunter, 22, jetted in from Melbourne and Brisbane, respectively, on Sunday.
The Club’s second pick in the National Draft (No.17 overall), Doedee said he was rapt to be in Adelaide for the first time.
“The past few days have been pretty surreal and crazy,” Doedee said.
“I’ve just been catching up with family and friends, saying goodbye to some people. Saying goodbye to everyone wasn’t too bad. I’m pretty easy going with that stuff.”
The excited pair was greeted at the airport by a contingent of Crows, including Rory Sloane, Sam Jacobs, Nathan van Berlo and ‘host’ players Brad Crouch and Kyle Hartigan.
Watch the boys arrive in our ‘Recruits’ video series by clicking the play button above
Doedee will move in with fellow Victorian Hartigan until the Christmas break.
Hartigan, who was in the same position as Doedee and Hunter only a few years ago, said he’d found the experience of living with a teammate when he first arrived invaluable.
“When I first came over, I moved in with Richie Douglas down at the Bay,” Hartigan said.
“He looked after me really well and was a terrific help to me. With ‘Dougy’ being from Victoria as well, he knew what it was like (to move away from home). He made me feel welcome and just showed me the way.”
Hartigan also had a few basic rules for his new house guest.
“Be neat and tidy and, maybe, walk the dog for me!”
Brad and Matt Crouch, who recently moved in together, will open their doors to Hunter.
Hunter said he’d been warned about the ultra-competitive siblings.
“They’ve told me I’ve got to be good at breaking up fights!” Hunter said with a laugh.
Hunter’s house in Queensland has been left vacant following Friday’s Rookie Draft.
His Redland teammate and housemate, Josh Smith, was also picked up, by Collingwood.
Another Redland player, Matthew Uebergang, had his called out by Fremantle. This followed Wylie Buzza (Geelong) and Ben Keays (Brisbane Lions), who hail from the same NEAFL team, being selected in the National Draft last Tuesday.
“It’s been a bit of a rollercoaster few days,” Hunter said.
“It was good to have my housemate, Josh, get drafted as well. I’ve been hanging with him and we’ve both been packing together. We had breakfast together this (Sunday) morning). Matt (Uebergang) flew out to Freo on Saturday morning, so he had even less time.
“It’s a little bit sad to leave mates like that behind, but I’m just really happy to be here.”
Doedee and Hunter watched training from the sidelines on Monday morning, but will join in with their new teammates from Tuesday.
“I’m excited,” Hunter said.
“I think I’m carrying reasonable fitness in, so hopefully I can gain a bit of respect with my work ethic on the track and go from there.”
