Who should the Crows take with Pick 1? Cornes has his say

The Crows finished 18th on the AFL ladder in 2020, thus earning the number one pick for the AFL Draft.

There have been many theories on what the Crows should do with the pick. Many have suggested they bid for Western Bulldogs Next Generation Academy star Jamarra Ugle-Hagan and likely lose him to the Dogs after a matched bid.

There has been debate that the Crows should select a player not assigned to a club already for the positive PR of immediately securing the number one draft pick at your club.

This draft is unlike any other as the Victorian talent pool were unable to play any games in 2020 due to COVID.

Because of the lack of body of work, there is a theory that drafting those Victorian kids is a has risk due to the unknown.

Now, Kane Cornes has had his say. Speaking on SEN SA Breakfast, the Port Adelaide great said he believes the Crows should bypass Ugle-Hagan and select Logan McDonald.

McDonald played senior footy for Perth in the WAFL in 2020 and kicked 21 goals in nine games.

“This kid is averaging three goals a game in the WAFL, taking six marks a game,” Cornes told SEN SA Breakfast.

“Regardless of the fact that he’s from Western Australia, and from what I’ve heard from Matt Rendell and Kevin Sheehan, he is the player they have to take in this draft and call him out at one.

“Don’t call him out at two, and then market the life out of him.

“Put him on your merchandise, get him modelling the Crows new jumper. If you’re worried about him leaving then your footy club is in all sorts of trouble.”

The Bulldogs have spent their off-season making sure they have enough draft points to bid for Ugle-Hagen should the Crows bid for him.

“What I would say to the Crows is don’t bid on Ugle-Hagan, there’s no point,” Cornes said.

“The Crows need a marquee player right now because when I was holidays, I watched them wheel out their new guernsey, and I know players are on holidays, Harry Schoenberg is the Crows’ marquee player right now.

“Give me a spell. I like him, he’s going to be a solid midfielder who’s going to play 150 games for the Crows, but they’re wheeling out an eight-game player to model their guernsey.

“What Adelaide need is a marquee player, someone to put bums on seats, they need a No.1 draft pick. There would be a massive anti-climax if they pick Ugle-Hagan at one and he doesn’t turn up to the Crows.”

The draft is set to be held this Wednesday.