Darcy Fogarty has been quick to impose himself in his short time as a Crow.

Adelaide’s first pick in the 2017 National Draft arrived at the Club with a reputation as a competitive beast, with his junior highlight reel punctuated by fend-offs and big tackles.

Fogarty’s physicality has translated to AFL level, and was on show in Saturday’s intra-club.

The 18-year-old crashed into another big body in Hugh Greenwood, with the sound of the collision reverberating around Football Park.

After the match, assistant coach Scott Camporeale described Fogarty as having some ‘old-school mongrel’.

Captain Taylor Walker has also been impressed with the promising South Australian.

“Once ‘Darce’ steps over that line, he’s a super, super competitor,” Walker said.

“He also reads the play really well … and is really balanced on both sides of his body.

“I saw him take a ground ball at training with one hand at full speed, swing onto his opposite side and kick the ball. 

“He’s going to be a big player for us in the next 10 years.”

A goalkicker, midfielder and occasional defender in junior ranks, Fogarty has worked exclusively with Adelaide’s forward group this pre-season.

The Lucindale teenager said he’d benefited from spending time with senior players in attack, including leadership group members Walker and Tom Lynch.

“They’ve all been really helpful to me and to the younger boys as well (while we’ve been) learning structures and leading patterns,” he said.

“This season I’ll hopefully just be a forward. I want to try and learn how to play there as consistently as I can throughout the year and get a grasp of that.”

Fogarty got a chance to pull on his new No.32 jumper against Fremantle in the opening week of the JLT Community Series.

Crows fans were excited to see the AFL Academy graduate embracing the physicality of the game, with his contested mark and accurate set-shot giving them a taste of things to come.

Fogarty was appreciative of the opportunity to play against a strong Dockers outfit at Strathalbyn Oval.

“It was unreal to be able to get out there,” he said.

“I was out there for seven or eight minute-blocks and it goes so quickly.

“I tried to make the most of it and soak it up. 

“It was cool, it was a fun experience.”

At 193cm, 94kg, Fogarty doesn’t have to add bulk like most draftees.

Instead, he’s focused on improving his endurance base, describing the time trials early in the summer as the toughest part of his first AFL pre-season.

“I came in here pretty big, pretty heavy,” he said.

“I’ve been lucky enough to maintain a bit of body weight and just drop skinfolds mainly.

“I’ve been trying to build up (my running) slowly, try and get more of a fitness base.

“I’m trying to do as much running as I can.”