New Crow Jackson Hately did not hesitate when asked what his top priority was for Season 2021: help improve the Adelaide Football Club.

For a 20-year-old embarking on his first season in the tricolours after two years at Greater Western Sydney, Hately’s response shows why he was such a highly coveted off-season recruit.

“If I can come in here and get better each day, and help make someone else better each day, then that’s going to help the Club,” Hately told AFC Media.

With the ongoing focus at West Lakes of ‘prioritising others’, Hately has slotted in seamlessly with the mantras of Adelaide senior coach Matthew Nicks. 

“It’s big. Just doing little things to help others be better, that’s the basis of it,” Hately said. 

“If you can do something that’s going to help your teammate, that’s going to help the Club.” 

He said reigning Club Champion Reilly O’Brien was one of the first to demonstrate these values, while emerging leaders Tom Doedee and Wayne Milera have also been incredibly welcoming. 

“Pre-training some boys will come up and do touch. For me, I was a new bloke coming in and didn’t know anyone too well,” Hately said.

“Reilly O’Brien grabbed me, so for him to prioritise me like that and get me involved there early certainly has given me some extra confidence.

“Any questions you have, I know I can go to these guys. It’s a good group.

“Guys like Lachie Sholl, Harry Schoenberg, Chayce Jones, these young boys are really driving the standards of the club and that’s been something that I’ve been super impressed with.

“To add to that and help those standards is something that I’ve been trying to focus on.”