Former Port Adelaide defender Hamish Hartlett has named his top five (potential) improvers at Adelaide for the 2022 season.
The Crows started brightly in 2021 before fading out to finish 15th, but their young list has them in a good position for an assault on the top eight in the coming years.
With plenty of names to choose from, Hartlett highlighted five Crows he believes can take the next step in their careers over the next 12 months.
However, he prefaced the list by saying: “I can only speculate on what I see externally from these players as pure footballers, I don’t know much about their characters or who they are away from the footy oval.”
Read Hartlett’s list and comments below
5. Chayce Jones
Hartlett: “(This is) one person that I’m sure over the last two or three years, being a high draft pick, that has frustrated Crows supporters or got them asking the question, ‘Why hasn’t be become the player we thought he might become?’," Hartlett told SEN SA Breakfast.
“(Adelaide) changed up his role a bit last year, in the back half of the year he went down back, and the man I speak of is Chayce Jones.
“I believe in the last three or four games of last season he came on in leaps and bounds as a high half-back defender, I thought he defended really well which is the most important aspect of that role … but he also provided a lot of drive and overlap run from that half-back position.
“He’s a great athlete, he possesses fantastic speed, he can run well, he’s a good size, quite solid.
“He’s probably likely to find himself on smaller high half-forwards, so he fits that mould really nicely as an athlete.
“He’s got good skills, a good penetrating quick, he breaks lines … and I just feel like he's found his position, and the Crows would be more than comfortable developing him in that role.”
4. Harry Schoenberg
Hartlett: “Natural running ability is paramount in the modern-day game … Harry Schoenberg is a very good runner, he’s a natural footballer, (even though) he doesn’t look like a footballer on face value.
“But he finds the ball, he’s durable, he played all 22 games last year, and as the year went on he got better.
“His ability to go forward and hurt you on the scoreboard is a major weapon for him too, and I just love the way he’s progressing in the early stages of his career.
“I thought he became a really, really influential player for the Crows by the last handful of games, and I feel like his trajectory is going to continue in the right fashion in 2022.”
3. Wayne Milera
Hartlett: “A guy that the Crows have missed significantly for the last couple of years … absolute class this guy, Wayne Milera.
“(He) has the ability to play multiple roles, across half-back is where he plied his trade early on and he was found to be a fantastic ball user across that half-back line, really highly skilled and composed in traffic.
“He can also get higher up the ground and be a really dangerous forward I believe as well, and (he also) has the ability to go inside and chop out in the midfield.
“Incredibly flexible in terms of the roles he can play at the Crows, super talented and just adds that little bit of class they probably need through the midfield.”
2. Tom Doedee
Hartlett: “We know of his talent, some little injury concerns which are part and parcel of the game, he has been in and out of the mix, but clearly probably the first picked every week.
“Not only does he bring outstanding leadership qualities, but he’s highly skilled, a great decision maker down back, very composed down back, which is almost the first trait you look for in a defender.
“Incredibly courageous (too), almost to the extent where it’s silly some of the things that he does.
“He’s got a lot of Jake Lever (about him) … Lever is probably the best intercept marker in the competition playing that second or third tall role, and Doedee will be breathing down his neck in season 2022 for that similar title, he’s got all those attributes.”
1. Billy Frampton
Hartlett: “My old mate, I really hope this is his year, Billy Frampton, my old housemate.
“He has recently made the transition down back, they’ve got a lot of very good, young key defenders the Crows (and) I think Bill, he brings something different.
“Not only is he almost 200cm - so he can play a key position role - but he can play higher up the ground because he’s got a pretty good running capacity, his skill level is just about as good as it gets for a big man and his kick is vastly underrated for mine.
“He can take the kick-ins if you need, and he’s got that intercept marking capability as well.
“I hope he can keep developing his craft as a key defender.”