ADELAIDE list manager David Noble says 17-year-old midfielder Brad Crouch, who the Crows are certain to select in Monday's mini-draft, will spend next season playing in the SANFL.
A star in the TAC Cup this year while running around with the North Ballarat Rebels, Crouch is not eligible to take to the field in the AFL until 2013.
But Adelaide's recruiting staff were delighted to gain access to him when they traded pick 10 in this year's draft, along with the compensation pick they gained for losing Phil Davis to Greater Western Sydney.
Crouch will be assigned to a state league team when the annual draft of Crows and Port Adelaide players is held later this year.
"[Brad will] spend 12 months with an SANFL club, but under our guidance and also under the watchful eyes of our development and assistant coaching group," Noble said after the deal was completed on Thursday afternoon.
Adelaide also secured 19-year-old South Australian Luke Brown as part of the Crouch trade.
"We think those two young men not only bring a great football pedigree to our football club, but we think they also bring great character to our footy club," Noble said.
"Luke came onto the scene late last year and this year he's been able to elevate his game to a new level with the Norwood footy club."
A 175cm, 70kg running defender, Brown played 20 senior games, including three finals, for Norwood in the SANFL this year.
He also stood out at last weekend's NAB AFL Draft Combine at Etihad Stadium, finishing sixth in the 3km time trial and ninth in the 30m repeat sprint test.
"I think Luke brings a lot of poise, he brings some composure," Noble said.
"He's a competitive young man and we believe he's got some elite skill-sets that we really like with his kicking, his decision-making under pressure.
"His athletic base that was put on display at the draft camp was right up there.
"We're extremely excited to have Luke. He's a local, home-grown product that we think is going to be a very successful player at our football club for a long period of time."
