Adelaide has beaten West Coast and won the race for the Giants’ prized first draft pick, securing a blockbuster trade to move up the order and ultimately select top WA prospect Daniel Curtin.
With the Giants on the clock at Pick 8 during Monday night’s draft, they secured a trade with the Crows after receiving an array of offers from other rival clubs, including the Eagles.
The Crows gave the Giants Picks 11, 15 and a future second-rounder, while giving the Crows Picks 8 and 17.
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The trade allowed the Crows to pounce on Curtin, who slid past North Melbourne, Hawthorn, the Western Bulldogs and Melbourne’s selections, triggering the Crows’ offer at the trade table.
The Giants weren’t expected to select Curtin and the Crows were keen to turn their three first-round picks into two, with the view of moving up the order.
“They’ve had to give up a future second rounder as well as sliding back a little bit in the draft, but they’ve targeted someone and they’ve got their man, so they’ll be pumped,” St Kilda champion Leigh Montagna told Fox Footy.
“They’ve filled a need, the Adelaide Crows. We know they’re stacked in their front half and they’re building in their midfield, but they needed to continue to address their defence. With Nick Murray, their best key defender, out with an ACL for a period of time, Josh Worrell had to play undersized at times and they’ve got Jordon Butts – but I think this continues to build what they’ve got in their backline.
“I think he almost plays straight away. He’s played senior football (in the WAFL) already, so I think it’s a really nice selection by Adelaide and the reason why they’ve moved up.”
It was a hot race for the Giants’ top pick, which the club had been open to moving.
West Coast on the weekend emerged as a strong suitor for the Giants’ selection, with the Eagles prepared to part with their future first-round selection to secure Curtin. Northern Knights forward Nate Caddy, who ultimately landed at Essendon a few picks later, had also been linked to West Coast on Monday.
Sydney, Essendon and Melbourne also showed some interest in moving up to the Giants’ pick, while Hawthorn came late as well. The Hawks were prepared to offer their future first-round selection to the Giants to try and get a second top-10 pick before
Asked if he had any inkling Adelaide would take him, Curtin told Fox Footy: “No not at all. It was a big surprise, but it would’ve been with anyone else as well.”
Curtin is the ultimate professional who oozes class and leadership. He showed great versatility across his four carnival games to win WA’s MVP award, averaging 24 disposals, nine contested possessions and five tackles while going at 82 per cent by foot.
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He played across all three lines for his state — including two full games as a tall on-baller where he covered the ground with a Marcus Bontempelli-like presence — but most clubs see him developing into a composed intercept defender at AFL level. That’s where he played in his six WAFL league games for Claremont in the back-end of the season.
Fox Footy draft guru Mick Ablett said Curtin reminded him of Fremantle champion Matthew Pavlich in terms of his versatility.
“He’s a remarkable type that can play back, mid, forward,” Ablett told Fox Footy.
“He’s very composed in his ability to switch his decision.
“He’s a beast. It might sound ridiculous to say at Pick 8 that he’s a steal, but he is a steal in this draft.”
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