Adelaide Crows will use tonight's no. 95 pick to elevate mature-age rookie Ian Callinan. The Crows have forfeited its first two selections in the draft. Picture: Sarah Reed. Source: adelaidenow
ADELAIDE has vowed to invest heavily in next year's free agency and trade period after yesterday taking a shock draft hit.
In a clear admission of guilt in the Kurt Tippett salary cap scandal, the Crows withdrew their first two selections (20 and 54) at tonight's national draft as they brace for heavy draft penalties and fines from the AFL.
In what amounted to a football plea bargain, Adelaide struck an extraordinary deal with the league to take a short-term hit for longer-term gain.
It will now have picks 62, 81 and 95 (to be used on upgrading mature-age rookie Ian Callinan) at tonight's draft.
The Crows' stunning decision to surrender their earlier selections is strategic - and smacks of them knowing they are going to be hit with severe penalties at AFL House on Friday, November 30.
That's when the AFL Commission will hear 11 charges against the Crows, chief executive Steven Trigg, football manager Phil Harper, former football operations manager John Reid and wantaway Tippett for engaging in conduct prejudicial to the draft and in breach of the total player payments provisions.
We see this as a pragmatic gesture made in good faith
The club and Trigg each face three charges, Reid and Tippett two and Harper one.
The hearing, which already has been adjourned, will be held at AFL House in Melbourne on Friday, November 30.
Adelaide has employed four high-powered lawyers to fight its charges but it is understood it has been told to expect heavy punishment, including the loss of its first two picks from at least the 2013 and 2014 national drafts.
This prompted yesterday's dramatic move, which AFL football operations manager Adrian Anderson said would be taken into account when the league next week hands down its findings into the Tippett case.
"We see this as a pragmatic gesture made in good faith," Chapman said in a statement.
"We are in ongoing discussions with the AFL and this is all about seeking the best overall outcome for the Adelaide Football Club."
Believing its playing list is in good shape and having made a commitment to re-draft second-year midfielder Nick Joyce - the fall guy in the Tippett saga - in the pre-season draft, the Crows preferred to take part of their draft hit now.
Tonight's draft is the last compromised draft and Adelaide has modest picks. With star mini-draft pick Brad Crouch promoted to its senior list, the club knows penalties at future drafts will hurt it more.
Chapman refused to elaborate on the club's decision to hand back picks 20 and 54 but said it was working towards protecting its on-field future.
And he vowed to spend the $700,000-a-year the club is saving in losing Tippett, who plans to join premier Sydney in the pre-season draft, to lure key players to West Lakes in next year's free agency and exchange period.
"We will be pro-active in that area next year, no doubt," Chapman told The Advertiser.
"We are well placed to spend some money on players we think can help our football club and the process of identifying those players will start shortly."
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