The Adelaide Crows have blown up West Coast’s AFL draft plans to snag West Australian talent Daniel Curtin.
The Eagles were hoping to do a live deal for the 197cm key defender/forward and move up the draft board to grab the young star.
The GWS Giants’ Pick 8 was up for grabs but the Adelaide Crows managed secure the prized selection on the night.
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The Crows handed over picks 11, 15 and a future second-rounder while the Giants gave up Pick 8 and 17.
It was devastating blow for the Eagles who had their sights firmly on the young player for a long time.
“I know it might sound ridiculous to say at Pick 8 is a steal, but he’s a steal,” Mick Ablett said on Fox Footy’s draft show.
North Melbourne also had their eye on Curtin and were hoping to get in the market. But North did not select him with their earlier picks and he also slid past Melbourne, Hawthorn, and the Western Bulldogs.
Curtin is highly versatile and has shaped games as a defender, but also played as a forward, and spent time in the midfield this year.
He fills Adelaide’s desperate need for a key defender.
The Eagles were planning to hand over their future first-round selection to get in the top 10. And that could end up being a pick as high as No.1 next year.
But, with their premiership window already open, the Giants were evidently keen on top-20 selections from this year.
Fans believed it was a shrewd play from Adelaide.
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“Absolutely love the Adelaide Crows being proactive and trading up to get pick #8. Love the Daniel Curtin pick,” one fan said on social media.
“Can confirm Daniel Curtin is a gun, great pick from Crows,” another fan said.
And another: “Wow! Curtin to the Crows! Huge win for the Crows!”
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Earlier, West Coast swatted away rival’s offers for the No.1 draft pick, standing firm to take prodigious talent Harley Reid with the top selection.
Coming off five wins across the past two seasons, the Eagles had toyed with the idea of trading the sought-after pick for multiple high-end selections.
North Melbourne, Melbourne and Hawthorn all made bids for the top pick – and access to the highly rated Reid.
But none could tempt West Coast, who flew cult figure Nic Naitanui to Melbourne to present Reid with his new jumper at Marvel Stadium on Monday night.
Naitanui handed over the No.9 West Coast guernsey, which he and fellow Eagles great Ben Cousins wore during their illustrious careers.
“It’s huge,” Reid said.
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“To see the history and what’s behind it and to add to it is something that’s going to motivate me to get to the next level and improve each week.
“It’s something that I’ll remind myself of, what’s on my back. It’s not just a number, it’s got a lot of meaning behind it.”
More to come …
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