Adelaide draftee Mitchell Marsh says being able to don the same AFL colours as his father will be a dream come true.
The Crows selected the 191cm South Australian forward with Pick No.22 in the first round of the Telstra AFL Draft on Wednesday night.
Marsh will continue his family's legacy at the Club, with his father, Ben, playing 48 games across six seasons and featuring in the 1998 premiership.
Speaking to the media on Thursday, Marsh said pulling on the tri-colours had been a life-long dream.
“I’ve grown up supporting them (the Crows) my whole life, my Dad played for them, so to be able to wear those same colours is surreal,” Marsh said.
“My Dad has given me plenty of great advice throughout my journey, since I was a kid he always talked to me on the car ride home from games about how I went and where I could improve.
“He’s been really good for my development and I wouldn’t be here without him.”
His father isn’t the only sportsperson to give Marsh inspiration throughout his journey to the AFL.
The 18-year-old shares a name with Australian white-ball cricket Captain Mitch Marsh, who earlier in the year sent a video message of support for the draft hopeful on the AFL’s Gettable program.
He said he enjoyed the fanfare of sharing a name with the popular cricketer.
“It’s been really good, the attention is always nice and he’s always someone I’ve looked up to,” Marsh said.
“Having the same name as me I’ve always supported him and I’ve been a big cricket fan and played a lot of cricket throughout my life.
“To see him (get around me a bit) it’s pretty cool, that video he did with Gettable was great, I had a lot of people send that to me and have a laugh - it’s pretty special he did that.”
Marsh enjoyed a standout 2025 season, booting 12 goals in four games for South Australia in the Marsh AFL National Under-18 Boys Championships and leading West Adelaide to the SANFL under-18 grand final.
Although he starred in attack in his draft season, Marsh said his versatility meant he wasn’t only limited to the forward line.
“I don’t really mind which position I play, I played a lot more forward this year but I can also go on a wing or to half back,” Marsh said.
“There isn’t one specific player I’ve modelled my game on, I’ve tried to take little bits from lots of different players I’ve watched along the journey and become the best player I can be really.
“I can do a bit of everything and am happy to play wherever the team needs me.”
Marsh will begin his first AFL pre-season next Monday, when the Crows’ one-to-four year players return to training.
He said the goal will be to adapt to his new environment as quickly as possible.
“First off I just want to fit in, get to know everyone and just feel comfortable in the AFL environment,” Marsh said.
“Playing an AFL game is the ultimate goal, I’m not sure how long that will take, whether that’s next year or in the next few years, I’m not sure.
“I just want to develop my game and fit in well with the team and the culture.”
