While Adelaide’s new draftees have been establishing close bonds in their first few weeks at the Club, many of them arrived at West Lakes having already formed strong friendships.
AFC Media has looked into the mateship amongst those draftees and the connections they had already established.
The Lachies
Crows draftee Lachlan Gollant believes his friendship with second-year player Lachlan Sholl helped him get drafted at the Club.
Gollant and Sholl started their football journeys together in Under 9’s at St Bernard’s College in Melbourne.
Despite Sholl going on to play Calder Cannons football while Gollant continued at local level, they remained great friends along with their families.
“I’m really excited to be here with ‘Sholly’ and I can’t wait to get stuck into it with him,” Gollant said.
“All the boys have been really welcoming here, but to have Sholly as well is very helpful for me.
“I think it actually helped me get drafted in the end – I think the AFL recruiters value having a mate to come here with or one that is already here.”
The Bens
When Adelaide’s two recruits from the rookie draft, Ben Keays and Ben Crocker, pull on the tricolours, it won’t be the first time they’ve played alongside each other.
The two Bens were in the AFL Academy together when they were in Under 18’s and instantly clicked.
Crocker said he was really pleased the two of them got a fresh start at West Lakes.
“I saw that Adelaide picked him up, so when I got picked up I was just happy that I had someone that I knew,” Crocker said.
“I also knew how much it meant for him to be picked up again.
“I feel like we are both boys that deserve to be playing on an AFL list, so I am happy we both got the opportunity.”
Fischer and Josh
Teenagers Fischer McAsey and Josh Worrell first played football together in juniors at East Brighton.
Together, they went to the next level, making the Sandringham Dragons side.
Now, they are both on the Crows list, launching their AFL journeys together.
McAsey, Adelaide’s first pick in the 2019 draft, said he was thrilled when his mate was also selected by the Crows with pick No. 28.
“I knew there was a chance that he could come in, so that was what I was hoping for at that pick and to hear his name was pretty special,” McAsey said.
“We’ve played a lot of junior footy together and know each other quite well, so to have a familiar face around the club has been really good.”
Although they are mates, McAsey said the two have quite different personalities.
“Josh can be pretty late, he’s a bit disorganised,” McAsey joked.
“Early days I’ll try to get him a bit more organised so he’s not late for any meetings.
“He’d say the opposite about me, I’m too organised, too micromanaged and he would tell me to relax.”
