Adelaide small forward James Rowe will make his AFL debut in Saturday’s season opener against Geelong at Adelaide Oval.

The mature-age recruit from the SANFL has impressed in his first AFL pre-season at West Lakes and will run out against the Cats wearing the No.31 guernsey - which was also worn by his father Stephen at Adelaide in 1991.

Senior Coach Matthew Nicks announced the news of Rowe’s debut after training at Adelaide Oval on Thursday which was met by great excitement from his teammates.

Rowe, 21, was overlooked in three national drafts before the Crows took him with Pick No.38 last year.

In 2020 he won the SANFL’s Ken Farmer Medal and was part of Woodville-West Torrens’ premiership in their grand final win over North Adelaide.

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