Adelaide are keeping their cards close to their chest ahead of next week's AFL Draft, declaring their leading options for the No.1 pick is "down to four" players.
Pressure will be on Crows national recruiting manager Hamish Ogilvie and his team come the opening minutes of the count, with options-a-plenty at hand with the first selection of the night.
Speaking to AFC Media, Ogilvie said there is currently a quartet of prospects the club has their eye on, but they will be taking every precautionary measure.
“We haven’t made a decision yet as we’re still waiting on some more medical information,” Ogilvie said.
“We’re down to four and we won’t make a decision until we’ve got all the information in case there’s something in there, but it’s pretty routine information required.
“It’s just a bit later than normal because of the constraints that everyone’s had this year with medical testing, combine testing, location, travel, doctors not having access to put their hands on the players, so that just made it more difficult and took more time.”
Oakleigh Chargers product Jamarra Ugle-Hagan has been tipped as the best player of 2020 draft class, but with his link to the Western Bulldogs via the Next Generation Academy, won't be at Adelaide next season.
The Crows could force the Bulldogs into handing over their most expensive set of picks to match Adelaide's bid at the top of the order, or could look to hand the top honours to a lucky prospect that will end up at West Lakes.
If the Crows move toward the latter, Western Australian key forward Logan McDonald looks to be the next best thing.
A promising carnival last year added to an impressive run in the WAFL gives McDonald an advantage over Victorian draft hopefuls who were unable to compete in 2020.
If Adelaide were to look locally, 200cm forward/ruck utility Riley Thilthorpe is the prized South Australian of the draft and would offer plenty of flexibility to the Crows and some relief for Reilly O'Brien.
With Brad Crouch departing West Lakes and a large void in the engine room now needing to be filled, the Crows could look to boost their midfield stocks rather than add height.
Elijah Hollands is touted as the best midfielder in the crop of neophytes, with the Vic Country onballer showing plenty of upside since rupturing his ACL in February as he continues to galvanise list manager in the build up to the draft.
The AFL Draft will commence next Wednesday, December 9.
