Adelaide will enter new territory when it picks at No.35 in the upcoming AFL National Draft.
The Club currently holds (live) pick Nos.14, 35, 43 and 59 in National Draft, which will be held on the Gold Coast on Thursday night, November 27. Another selection will be used to finalise rookie Charlie Cameron’s promotion to the senior list.
Read the history of pick No.14
The Crows have never previously held No.35, which falls in the second round of this year’s draft, in a national meet.
The closest Adelaide has come was pick No.36 in 1999 when the Club selected ruckman and 100-game player Rhett Biglands. Biglands was part of a purple patch in the ‘99’ draft, which also produced Western Bulldogs forward Mitch Hahn (37), Geelong premiership captain Cameron Ling (38) and Essendon big man David Hille (40).
Most recently, the Swans selected Tasmanian ruckman Toby Nankervis with No.35 in 2013. Sturt product Peter Reid, who was drafted by Essendon, was the first-ever pick No.35 in 1986.
The 30s are littered with excellent players since the inaugural ‘86’ draft.
Richmond pair Chris Bond (1989) and Mark Chaffey (1996) played in excess of 150 AFL games after being recruited with pick No.35. Hawthorn defender Jonathan Hay (157 games) and Port Adelaide premiership player Adam Kingsley, who started his 170 game career at Essendon, were taken with the two selections after Chaffey in ’96’. The Tigers held pick No.35 again in 2009, selecting utility David Astbury.
The Brisbane Lions overlooked three-time Hawks premiership star Sam Mitchell in favour of Woodville-West Torrens product Jarrad Wright at pick No.35 in the 2001. Mitchell was snapped up with the next pick (No.36), while St Kilda star Leigh Montagna went at No.37.
Port Adelaide took ruckman Fabian Deluca with pick No.35 in 2004. West Coast forward Mark LeCras was selected at pick No.37. In the same draft, the Crows recruited Ivan Maric at 40. The Power had No.35 again in 2010, opting for midfielder Ben Newton. Onballers George Horlin-Smith (No.37) and Luke Parker (No.40) were among the steals in the 2010 National Draft.
The 30s also produced the goods in 2007. Kangaroos defender Scott Thompson was pick No.37 ahead of Fremantle forward Chris Mayne (No.40) and Saints star Jack Steven (No.42). The Roos also hit the jackpot with No.37 in 2006, snaring ruckman Todd Goldstein.
In 2008, Melbourne took Jamie Bennell with No.35, while Fremantle tall Zac Clarke (37), Geelong star Steven Motlop (38) and new Lions recruit Mitch Robinson (39) were taken with consecutive picks shortly after. A year later, the Swans selected Sam Reid at No.38, while the Cats took Allen Christensen at No.40.
