Preparations are ramping up for Adelaide’s State League development squad with a final training roster to be decided in the coming weeks.
From a list of almost 300 applicants, a group of 60 players from clubs across the state have trained with the Club from early November.
That number has since been reduced to 30 players hoping to represent Adelaide’s SANFL side in 2015.
Several players with SANFL league experience are among the group, including former North Adelaide midfielder Dale Armstrong, ex-Central District onballer Charlie Molyneux, fellow Bulldog Matthew Stent and Port Magpies forward Luke Carey.
Matthew Johncock, who is the cousin of Crows legend Graham, and Kynan Betts, the cousin of Adelaide’s 2014 leading goalkicker Eddie, both remain in the squad.
Former Fremantle left-footer Justin Bollenhagen, and SANFL reserves premiership pair Josh Wittwer and Brock Castree are other notable names in the mix.
Myles Warmington, Justin Smart, Sam Pfeiffer and Addison Burns have been retained from last year’s crop.
Crows SANFL coach Heath Younie said a final training squad of 25 players would be selected ahead of Adelaide’s first SANFL trial against Port Magpies on March 21.
The side will then play a second trial against West Adelaide under lights on April 4.
“It’s an important phase at the moment for the development guys,” Younie said.
“We’ll be incorporating more match simulation in the coming weeks and training will go to another level as we look to finalise that list.
“It’s going to be tough – we’ve got a great group of quality young footballers and they all deserve a chance.”
A Crows squad, comprising only development players, played a short practice match against an amateur side on Wednesday night.
Younie said the hit out was a good opportunity for the players to show their wares.
“As a coaching group, we were really impressed,” he said.
“We were able to see how they would handle a game-like situation and we threw a few players around in different roles.
“There were some promising signs.”
With many players traveling from country leagues all over the state, Younie said the attitude of all the players could not be questioned.
“The commitment of the players has been outstanding,” he said.
“We’ve got a guy driving from Berri in the Riverland about three hours each way to train with us every week. A lot of the guys make a big effort just to get here.
“To have that kind of desire and passion to play footy is what we’re all about. We want to help these boys pursue that dream.
“They’ve all got their own story.”
Charlie Molyneux evades a tackle during Wednesday night's scratch match
