As if the competition for spots in the Crows team wasn’t hot enough, the Club now has the option of upgrading a player from its rookie list to be available for selection for the rest of the season.
Under the AFL’s ‘mid-season nominated rookie’ upgrade provision, Clubs are able to elevate one rookie to the senior list without placing another player on the long-term injury list.
There are six rookies at West Lakes not including classy forward Ian Callinan, who started the year on the rookie list but was promoted to the senior squad on the eve of the round one. Callinan is able to play as a ‘nominated’ rookie because Adelaide has only one player, defender Michael Doughty, on its veteran’s list.
The Crows rookies are James Craig, Rory Laird, Sam Martyn, Tim McIntyre and Dylan Orval (knee arthroscopy) and Will Young (shoulder), who are both recovering from surgery.
Recruited under the ‘Alternative Talent’ rule, former US College basketballer Ben Dowdell sits outside the traditional rookie list and is eligible for AFL selection at any stage of the season.
List Manager David Noble said the Club wouldn’t rush into any decision, adding a rookie would have to earn the spot on the senior list.
“All clubs have the option of playing a ‘nominated rookie’ after Round 11," Noble said.
"There are a lot of players on our senior list already pushing for selection through strong SANFL form. We won’t elevate someone for the sake of it, but the door is now open for one of our rookies to break into in the team in the second half of the season if his form warrants it.
"It’s a great tool you can use to continue to grow the depth of your list.”
The rookies
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