Recruiting Manager Hamish Ogilvie says the National Draft went exactly to plan for Adelaide.
The Crows made the decision to slide from pick 10 to 14 and move up 12 spots in the second round from No.47 to No.35 as part of a deal with Geelong on the last day of the AFL Trade Period.
Ogilvie and his recruiting team were confident Adelaide would get the player they wanted at No.14, and on Thursday night were quick to call the name of competitive key defender Jake Lever with the Club’s first selection. Lever, 18, was touted as a potential top-three pick before rupturing the ACL in his left knee at AIS-AFL training last December.
“Our plan was set in place a long time ago and it worked really well. We would’ve picked Jake Lever at No.10 – we probably would’ve picked him at No.8 if we’d had pick No.8. We’ve rated him highly for a long time,” Ogilvie said.
“It was a great to get a quality player and the fact that Jake’s a defender is a bonus. He’s already captained Victoria Metro as a 17-year-old, so he’s got some leadership skills. The doctor is really happy with how he’s progressed with his knee and he’s showed resilience in his rehab. Then he goes and does the Noosa triathlon just as a personal goal at the end of the year.
“It says a lot about him.”
At 193cm, 84kg, Lever is a competitive and versatile defender. The Calder Cannons product can shut down an opponent, or intercept mark and link-up on the rebound.
“Jake probably ends up being a key defender at AFL level because he’s smart enough to play on just about all the tall forwards,” Ogilvie said.
“The good thing is that he gives us flexibility. He can play either as a key on the big blokes or as a rebounding third-tall defender. He’s always gets a lot of the footy and sets up the play.
“He’s really competitive and just hates getting beaten.”
Adelaide’s upgrade of second round picks allowed the Club to snare South Australian Under-18 MVP Harrison Wigg at No.35. Wigg, 18, is a small and attacking defender with a lethal left-foot kick.
“Harry Wigg is a great story. He’s a local kid and a left footer – the coach likes left footers!” Ogilvie said.
“That’s worked out really well and his mum will be ecstatic.”
The Club’s third selection was West Australian forward Mitch McGovern.
The brother of West Coast’s Jeremy, 20-year-old McGovern is a mature-age recruit from WAFL club Claremont.
“Our recruiting boys in WA are a massive wrap for Mitch McGovern. They had him pegged a long way out and really liked him, so we’ll back them in,” Ogilvie said.
“He’s a bit older and has played senior footy, so he might come to hand a little bit quicker than some of the kids.”
The Crows rounded out the 2015 National Draft by selecting developing forward/ruckman Harry Dear. The 197cm, 98kg, teenager the son of Hawthorn 1991 premiership star Paul Dear and nephew of three-time Hawthorn premiership ruckman Greg Dear.
“Harry Dear is an elite big player at 197cm … you just don’t see those players very often,” Ogilvie said.
“He’s had some injury issues, but he’s a good kid and a hard worker. At that size, we were happy to go that way. It’s not bad breeding when you have a dad and uncle who both play in premierships, and dad wins a Norm Smith. It’s pretty handy.”
Although it wasn’t Adelaide’s primary focus, the Club has addressed some areas of need in the even-natured draft.
“We were lucky in that respect. We were going to go talent, talent, talent and talent, and if it had have been three midfielders at those picks, we would’ve gone that way but we leant heavily towards talls in the end.”
