Ahead of the 2026 Continental Tyres AFL Trade Period beginning on Monday, General Manager List Management Jarryd Roughead featured on Trade Radio.
Read what he had to say.
List Strategy
Roughead said the Club had a clear list strategy and would remain targeted in its approach to securing talented players.
He said the Crows were busy in the talent acquisition space, and it was not limited to just the next 10 days.
“My job is to try and make the Adelaide Football Club better, we know we've got gaps in our list, but we've drafted some boys and we need to see what we've got,” Roughead said.
“We'll go about our business in our way, I don't expect us to be too active and I know that that's going to be considered maybe the wrong idea.
“It’s an opinions-based game, and I think what we see is that we've got great depth within our team, and we need to see what we've got within our group.”
On where improvement comes from
Adelaide earned the right to play in the finals series for a second-straight year, and won an Elimination Final, before bowing out of the premiership race in the Semi-Final.
Roughead said he was always looking at ways to strengthen the team and had seen plenty of improvement from the Crows’ current crop, with that only expected to happen again.
“You’re always trying to make improvements on your list, and we all understand that, but A-grade midfielders don't grow on trees, we have to be patient there too,” Roughead said.
“We didn't get to see Sid Draper unfortunately this year, Dan Curtin came back in the mid part of the year, so I think there's some great upside within our group.
“It's just a matter of giving them some exposure and some belief to be able to feel like they're at the level and contribute.
“We saw the emergence of Sam Berry, who had a great season this year, and of course Izak has moved in as that pure midfielder now, who can obviously go forward as well.”
The looming departure of Jordon Butts
Defender Jordon Butts informed the Club he intends to sign with the Western Bulldogs via Free Agency this off-season.
Butts is an unrestricted free agent having spent eight seasons at West Lakes after joining the Crows through Pick 39 in the 2019 Rookie Draft.
Roughead said it was disappointing to be losing Butts but the Club understood his reasons for seeking a trade.
“Buttsy's been a big part of the defence over the past eight years,” Roughead said.
“Unfortunately, we weren't able to see him there out on the park due to some injuries the second half of the year.
“But players, as we know these days, have the right to exercise their free agent status, and, it's sad to see him go, but that’s the lay of the land these days.
“After speaking with (Michael) Regan (Bulldogs Player Acquisition and Strategy Manager), we understand they'll likely lodge your paperwork tomorrow, and we'll see what compensation we get.”
Securing a fair trade for Luke Pedlar
Luke Pedlar has also requested a trade, with the forward/midfielder looking to go to Port Adelaide.
Pedlar is out of contract but not a free agent and Roughead said the Club would work with the Power in the coming days to secure a fair and reasonable trade.
“I heard Crippa’s (Port Adelaide list boss Jason Cripps) comments yesterday… Respectfully to Crippa, he just said ‘let's pick this up after he gets through next week’,” Roughead said.
“Understanding that we respect Peds and we want to do what's best for him, but we also want to do what's best for the Adelaide Footy Club.
“We'll pick up those conversations with Crippa in due course.”
Draft Strategy
The 2026 Telstra AFL Draft will be held across two nights on Thursday, November 19, and Friday, November 20.
At this stage, the Crows hold picks No.13 (Round One), 31 (Round Two), 37, 49 (both Round Three) and 85 (Round Five).
Roughead said the Club would remain flexible throughout the draft.
“We’re open to everything this year,” Roughead said.
“To be honest, I think there's going to be a lot of picks flying around with some of these major deals going on, and teams will be entertaining, bringing other sides into it.
“We're open to all deals that could possibly happen this year, (and we're going to go to the draft to hopefully try and get some really highly talented kids at the pointy end of the draft.”
The 2026 Continental Tyres AFL Trade Period starts on Monday, October 5 and ends on Wednesday, October 14.
