“They need to go after him“: The young GWS midfielder Adelaide should target in the trade period
Former AFL recruiter Matt Rendell believes Adelaide must target young blue-chip midfielders in the upcoming trade period.
The Crows were belted by GWS on the weekend and Rendell went through the midfield units of both teams, with an enormous difference in their average draft position.
“Seven mids for the Crows, seven mids for GWS. The average draft number for the seven GWS mids is pick six. That’s unbelievable. Ridiculously high. Their game average was 126 between those seven players,” he told SEN SA’s The Run Home.
“The Crows’ seven mids’ average draft number was 37. Obviously Rory Laird was a rookie, Ben Keays was actually quite high in the draft. Their average games was 63.
“I just said to myself – what have GWS been doing this season? This midfield should never lose a game.
“They’re a Ferrari and a Lamborghini rolled into one, you’re never going to see that again where your seven mids average as pick six in the draft.
“They’ve been so poor. I don’t know why.”
Looking at Adelaide’s list, Rendell doesn’t believe they have enough young stars coming through, saying they should aim to address it in the trade period.
“When I say the Crows’ midfielders’ average draft position was 37, they haven’t got those top-liners,” the former Collingwood recruiter added.
“Laird is 30-odd, I’m talking about the 23, 24-year-olds. Wayne Milera should be one. Chayce Jones might be one. Josh Rachele, you want him in the forward line.
“Jackson Hately, possibly not, I’m worried about him. Harry Schoenberg could be.”
Rendell named GWS midfielder Conor Stone as someone perfect for the Crows to target.
Stone, who was selected with pick 15 in the 2020 National Draft, has re-signed with the Giants through to the end of 2024, and has played four career games.
“What I wrote down last year is how desperately they need a 190cm big-bodied inside midfielder who can play forward – and I’ve found one that they need to go after,” Rendell said.
“They need to go after him, he’s a second-year player now, he’s 190cm, I really liked him in the draft, played a few games at the end of last year for GWS, he’s not going to get into this midfield and they played him as a forward – Conor Stone. Remember the name.
“He’s from Melbourne, he’s 20 this year, if I was the Crows, I’m going after him. He’s got pace, strength and he marks the ball.”
Stone made his return from a pre-season hamstring injury in the VFL on the weekend, picking up 19 disposals and kicking a goal against the Northern Bullants.