Should Port Adelaide consider picking up delisted Adelaide forward James Rowe?
That was the question asked by Kym Dillon to his SEN SA The Run Home co-host Michelangelo Rucci after the 23-year-old wasn’t offered a contract at Adelaide for 2023.
Having played 36 games for the Crows in the last two seasons, Dillon thinks Rowe could prove a shrewd pick-up for the Power who may be looking to add small forward depth.
Given that James’ father Stephen played 29 games for the Crows, Dillon and Rucci discussed how an Alberton move could look for the young forward.
Rucci: “James Rowe has been squeezed out of Adelaide now they’ve got (Izak) Rankine, (Josh) Rachele, they’ve got a fair bit moving into the territory that was once his.
“Where does he go next?”
Dillon: “Would you take him at Alberton? I say that seriously.”
Rucci: “That’s interesting.”
Dillon: “You’re not paying anything for him, you’ve got the question marks over Orazio (Fantasia).
“You know he can kick goals, and in all fairness, he’s going to be a better player next year than he was this year, it’s only his second year in an AFL program.”
Rucci: “I’m now trying to think how father-son dinners go, how would that play out? This is like Graham Cornes, Kane and Chad all over again.”
Dillon: “I’m not sure how many are adding to their list, but it wouldn’t be unreasonable.
“You’re not relocating someone if you’re looking to add a little bit of depth.
“Maybe he’s just there as insurance, you’ve got a small forward.
“Maybe Jackson Mead is your small forward, but I see him in more of the midfield eventually.”
Rucci: “It’s not silly.”
Dillon: “It’s not that left-field if there’s no one to draft as a small forward and they won’t be coming into the draft until late.”
Rucci: “Even the rookie draft … as a bargain basement approach, that one works.”
Dillon: “I’m being genuine, I think he has a skillset.”
Rowe averaged 12.5 disposals, 3.1 marks and 1.6 tackles from 17 senior games in 2022.