When the time came for second-year Crow Dan Curtin to make a decision on his football future, he says there was no hesitation to commit to the Adelaide Football Club. 

Curtin put pen to paper on a three-year-extension on Thursday, which will tie him to the Club until the end of 2029. 

Speaking to AFC Media, Curtin revealed the defining factors behind his decision to re-sign and why Adelaide is the perfect home for him.

“I didn’t hesitate to get it (the contract extension) done, because I really want to be a part of it and help build something special,” Curtin said.

“I love all the boys here, the coaching staff, the high performance staff, everybody here has been absolutely phenomenal, so it was a no-brainer for me to stay and keep building with this group.

“Over the past few months I’ve definitely got closer with the group, and playing a few more AFL games has been huge for me, so that (staying with the group) was probably the defining factor for me.

“Living in Adelaide has been awesome and another big factor behind the decision, the lifestyle is very similar to how I grew up, I’m living close to the beach which is really nice and it’s just a great city to live in.”

Selected with Pick No.8 in the 2023 National Draft, it hasn’t been all smooth sailing for the 197cm West Australian.

Drafted as a key defender, Curtin began his journey in the back six, where he developed in the SANFL side.

Although he only featured in six AFL matches in his debut campaign, it was during this period where the coaching staff identified his versatility, and shifted him to a forward/midfield role where he began to show great promise.

He explained how much he’d grown in his time at West Lakes, and how early lessons learned had helped him become a much more rounded footballer. 

“I’ve done a lot of maturing since I joined the Club, if I look back from when I first got drafted to know, I have grown so much,” Curtin said. 

“On-field, I’ve added a lot of things to my game, and gained a lot of knowledge just from being out there and experiencing AFL footy.

“In the gym, having access to such elite facilities and coaching staff, it’s really helped me build my body and be able to physically impact at AFL level.

“Having gone through a few early struggles, it has really helped define my journey and get to where I’m now where I’ve been able to have a bit of consistency at AFL level.” 

Curtin has become a regular contributor at AFL level in 2025, having featured in all 14 of the Crows’ matches so far.

Through that period, he has gone from strength-to-strength, having solidified a position on the wing and earning a rising star nomination in Round 13.

“To have had a bit of an extended run in the AFL team this year has been huge for me and my confidence,” Curtin said.

“The past four-to-five weeks in particular have been super important, and probably the best stretch of my career, as I’m now starting to know that I belong at the level.

“The boys backing me in has really helped as well, them kicking it to me, telling me where to go, it’s been huge for me.”

The growth in Curtin’s game has been evident for everybody to see, including Adelaide Senior Coach Matthew Nicks.

He said it had been pleasing to see the 20-year-old embrace the challenge of AFL football, and cast his mind forward to where his game could get to.

“The most pleasing part for us is that he’s embraced every challenge we’ve put to him so far and he just wants to keep learning and be a better footballer.

“He has a competitive part to him that we love, so everywhere we’ve put him he’s had a crack at it.

“Everyone has seen the growth and the potential of where he might get to. He’s a big-bodied, hard working professional who in time maybe ends up in the midfield - he’s in there at the moment as a wingman - but maybe as an on-baller.”

The Crows return to the field following their bye with a clash against Richmond at the MCG this Sunday, with the first bounce at 2.45pm (ACST).

Adelaide will name a 26-man squad on Thursday night, before a final team on Friday afternoon.