Adelaide may be faced with an awkward decision to navigate at the upcoming AFL draft after it was revealed those closest to South Australia’s top junior prospect have reservations about him joining the Crows.
Sid Draper is considered the standout South Australian player in this year’s draft pool, and could be taken well inside the top 10 at November’s draft.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Top AFL draft prospect’s reservations about joining Adelaide.
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It makes Draper a highly attractive prospect for the Crows, who historically have loved to pick local talent with the high picks if possible, and hold pick No.4 this year.
But 7NEWS Adelaide’s Josh Money says those in the youngster’s inner circle aren’t so keen for them to read his name out.
“7NEWS understands those close to Sid Draper are worried about Adelaide’s ability to manage its younger players,” Money said.
“Draper is a 182cm midfielder from South Adelaide who averaged 22 disposals in his six league (SANFL) games this year.
“With Adelaide holding pick four in the draft and in dire need of young midfielders, many expect the Crows to pursue Draper, but it’s understood the All-Australian under-18 junior star prefers a move to a big Victorian club.
“The Draper camp was alarmed by Adelaide’s handling of Josh Rachele at the end of the season, where he was dropped for the club’s final game and called out (publicly) by a number of the Crows’ leaders.”
The Crows were heavily criticised by their own fans and the broader AFL community for their treatment of young gun Rachele.
They dumped the exciting forward for their last game of the year in the aftermath of his antics against Port Adelaide the previous week.
The 21-year-old stoked the fires in the lead-up to the Showdown, playing the pantomime villain when he jokingly claimed Port Adelaide supporters “don’t have many teeth”.
And during the match, he goaded fans, pointing to his teeth while celebrating a goal in the second quarter.
Speaking exclusively to Channel 7 at the time, Crows captain Jordan Dawson went into detail on the behind-the-scenes meeting the club’s leadership group had with Rachele.
“Riling up the opposition crown and players unnecessarily is probably not going to benefit us to win the game,” Dawson said.
“So, that’s what we’re ultimately there to do, and play our roles and perform to the best of our ability.
“To get the opposition up and about before the game, doesn’t help us win, so that’s where we were coming from.”