Klaosen and former US College basketballer Jack Osborn both joined Adelaide as ‘Category B’ rookies on Thursday.
Klaosen, 22, played junior football with Goodwood, but gave the game away to focus on basketball in his teenage years. The 196cm guard established himself as a regular in Sturt Sabres Central ABL team, but started thinking seriously about a return to football late last year.
“I’ve played basketball my whole life, but always thought I could play footy,” Klaosen told afc.com.au.
“Last year, I went out and did a couple of weeks of Sturt’s SANFL pre-season just to see if I enjoyed it. I did, so I decided to give myself one more year of basketball to see if I could crack into the NBL and if I didn’t I would pursue footy.”
Unsuccessful in his bid to secure a spot on an NBL roster, Klaosen got in touch with local basketball identity and player agent Paul Bell. Bell was involved in the recruitment of US College basketballer Ben Dowdell to Adelaide last year.
“Paul told me he shows basketball players to AFL clubs on occasion,” Klaosen said.
“He asked if I’d be interested and I said, ‘of course’. I met up with a couple of the Crows coaches on SANFL Grand Final day and had a kick.
“I had four or five more workouts over the next three weeks and was lucky enough to get picked up. I’m a mad Crows supporter, so it’s a little bit surreal.”
Klaosen impressed Adelaide’s coaching and fitness staff with his speed and agility, and showed enough with the Sherrin to suggest he could adapt to football at the elite level.
“The vision and hand-eye coordination involved in basketball transfers well to footy,” Klaosen said.
“I think the Club sees me as a defender because of the level of awareness and ability to read the play I’ve developed through basketball.”
Although pre-season training doesn’t officially begin until November 19, the former Unley High student has already acquainted himself with the gym at West Lakes.
“I’m pretty scrawny in football terms, so I’ve been in at the Club doing weights,” he said.
“It was a little bit awkward when I was in the gym with Angus Graham the other day. He was lifting like 150kg and I’m there with pretty much holding just the bar. It’s going to be tough and a lot different to basketball, but I’m up for it. I’m excited, pumped and a bit nervous.”
Klaosen, who will finish up in his job at Blackfriars After-School Care on Tuesday, has already met half of his new teammates, but says his new career change is still sinking in.
“Patrick Dangerfield sent me a message on the first day and that was a bit surreal because he’s my favourite player … now, I guess he’s a colleague,” he said.
“I think everyone is in shock. My family and friends don’t believe it. I haven’t seen my aunty, Janet, yet but she’s going to lose her mind. She hasn’t missed a Crows game in 15 years I don’t think.”
Klaosen and Osborn were eligible to be listed as rookies - without going through the draft system - as they have not been registered with, or played in an Australian Football competition in the past three years.
The Category B rookie list is separate to the Category A, or ‘traditional’ rookie list, and is designed to foster the development of players outside the conventional draft system, including International, alternate talent and NSW Scholarship players.
Clubs are allowed a maximum of three ‘Category B’ rookies, in addition to their ‘Category A’ rookie list. Dowdell rounds out Adelaide’s Category B selections.
The Crows have a good recent record of recruiting players from basketball backgrounds, with Ricky Henderson and Josh Jenkins two of the Club’s round-ball success stories. Dowdell is yet to make his AFL debut, but played senior football with SANFL club South Adelaide in his first year on Adelaide’s list.
Klaosen said he would use Henderson, Jenkins, Dowdell and fellow recruit Osborn as sounding boards during the transition.
“It’ll definitely help starting at the same time as Jack, and having someone who is in pretty much the same situation as me. We might have to get the Club to install a basketball ring out the back,” he said.
“I’ll try to learn as much from guys like Ben, Josh and Ricky, who travelled a similar path.”
