Adelaide defender Kyle Hartigan says teammate Alex Keath’s transformation from a forward to a defender has been “unbelievable”.
During his junior years, Keath played as a forward and often came up against Hartigan when the duo were at the Australian Institue of Sport together.
But now, the former cricketer is one of the most in-form defenders in the AFL.
Hartigan has had a unique view of Keath’s development, having played with him since they were kids.
“I’ve known Keathy for a long time,” he told SEN SA Breakfast.
“We were in the Australian Institute of Sport together 10 years ago and he was probably the best forward I’d played on in junior footy.”
Since he arrived at Adelaide, Hartigan says Keath has managed to take his attacking game to the back line.
“Twelve months ago, he was probably learning his craft as a forward,” he said.
“When we got him, he started playing forward for us and he was doing an amazing job up there but then probably our back stocks thinned out a little bit over the last couple of years so yeah we flipped him back and he’s been going from strength to strength.
“He backs himself in to take his marks and take off and play on with the footy and really go hard for his kicks.
“I’ve seen it coming a little bit but I think he’s just rose out of sight. He’s been unbelievable for us this year.”
The fifth-placed Crows return after the bye to face Geelong, who are coming off a loss against Port Adelaide, on Friday night at GMHBA Stadium.
Hear Kyle Hartigan on SEN SA Breakfast in the player below.