ADELAIDE'S dramatic list refurbishment has seen the Crows recruit two discards from rival clubs in the NAB AFL Rookie Draft who fit their new youth movement.
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Former Lions midfielder Ben Keays and ex-Magpies forward Ben Crocker, who both turn 23 in February, were Adelaide's only two rookie selections on Friday morning.
Keays was the No.24 selection in the 2015 draft as an Academy selection but scattered only 30 games across his four years at Brisbane, while Crocker made 26 appearances for Collingwood.
However, national recruiting manager Hamish Ogilvie has already foreshadowed the Crows inviting prospective prospects to train with them this summer to win the last list spot.
RETIREMENTS, DELISTINGS AND TRADES Your club's list changes
They flushed out veteran talent in trades, free agency, retirement and delistings, including Eddie Betts, Richard Douglas, Cam Ellis-Yolmen, Hugh Greenwood, Sam Jacobs, Josh Jenkins, Alex Keath and Andy Otten.
Rounding out the rookie draft's recycled trio was Mitch Hibberd, who returns to AFL ranks with Essendon after an impressive season for VFL powerhouse Williamstown.
Hibberd played four games for North Melbourne in 2017 but was delisted last year before reinventing himself as a hard-running inside midfielder this year – averaging almost 25 disposals.
A message from Mitch ❤️ pic.twitter.com/TczcnJqCxj
— Essendon FC (@essendonfc) November 29, 2019
He was always among the Roos' best pre-season runners but struggled for senior playing opportunities in his time at Arden Street.
Williamstown, under Hawthorn's triple premiership defender Andy Collins, has produced five AFL draftees in two years, after Ben Cavarra, Lachie Schultz, Brett Bewley and Mick Gibbons in 2018.
There were 14 AFL newcomers selected in the rookie draft overall, with Glenelg premiership forward-wingman Brad Close (Geelong) and Peel Thunder small defender Jarvis Pina (Fremantle) among them.
Nineteen-year-old Pina had some admirers at NAB AFL Mid-Season Rookie Draft time but ultimately had to wait six more months for his chance to arise.
Close's emergence was more sudden, with his workrate, athleticism and defensive pressure among his best traits.
Western Jets and Vic Metro midfielder Josh Honey (Carlton) was the first fresh face chosen at No.2, after Gold Coast re-drafted endurance king Josh Schoenfeld with the top pick.
Port Adelaide nabbed father-son prospect Trent Burgoyne – son of Peter and nephew of Shaun – at No.22, while Tasmania had its first draftee this year when West Coast selected dual under-18 All-Australian Mitch O'Neill.
Okay, here we go. Focus. Speed. I am speed. One winner, forty-two losers. I eat losers for breakfast. Breakfast? Maybe I should have had breakfast? Brekkie could be good for me. No, no, no, focus. Speed. Faster than fast, quicker than quick. I am Lightning ️ pic.twitter.com/OUPzL14gZL
— Port Adelaide FC (@PAFC) November 29, 2019
O'Neill wasn't the only draftee from Tasmania, with North Melbourne recruiting 192cm utility Matt McGuinness as a Category B rookie after he was overlooked last year.
Lachie Henderson will also extend his AFL career into a 13th season, with Geelong offering him a rookie reprieve despite him being delisted.
Ruckman Ryan Abbott's decision to depart the Cats for St Kilda as a delisted free agent opened an unexpected list vacancy for 171-gamer Henderson's lifeline.
There were a series of others re-drafted as promised, including Lions ruckman Archie Smith, West Coast's Hamish Brayshaw – brother of Angus and Andrew – and Port Adelaide's Riley Grundy, the younger sibling of Brodie.
Overlooked players such as Glenelg's Luke Partington, Sandringham's Angus Hanrahan, ex-Pie Sam Murray and Subiaco's Ben Sokol could still get their chance in the pre-season supplemental selection period.
Harley Bennell and Mitch Brown are already set to join Melbourne that way after accepting invitations to train with the Demons from next Tuesday.
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