Werribee stint pays off for Kyle

New Adelaide Crows rookie Kyle Hartigan at West Lakes. Picture: Calum Robertson. Source: The Advertiser

NEW Crows rookie Kyle Hartigan credits a move to mature-age football factory Werribee as the catalyst for his football revival.

Hartigan lived every young footballer's nightmare in 2009 when he went from top prospect to draft-day bust in less than 12 months.

But a bold decision to join Werribee in the VFL - the same club that helped spark the careers of Michael Barlow and James Podsiadly - has finally paid dividends.

"It's been a good club to be at where mature-age blokes are being picked up from," Hartigan said.

"I just had to wait for my chance and I was lucky enough that it popped up with the Crows."

Hartigan's move to Werribee caused a minor fracas in Melbourne at the end of the 2009 season.

He was zoned to Williamstown, but didn't fancy the idea of spending a season stuck in that club's reserves because of all the Western Bulldogs leftovers that needed a game. So he pushed hard to join Werribee and, after a brief challenge, Williamstown settled for a $5000 transfer fee.

The move didn't pay off immediately - Hartigan was overlooked in two more drafts before the Crows came calling on Tuesday.

He was forced to consider another career and has spent the past three years working as an electrical apprentice - a situation that has given him new perspective.

"Everything I did as a top ager I narrowed toward getting drafted and I got a bit caught up in it," Hartigan says.

"Working gave me a different outlook on life. If it (getting drafted) didn't happen I still had other things."

But getting drafted was still the 21-year-old's priority and he improved enough under former Western Bulldogs midfielder Scott West this year to convince the Crows of his worth.

"He's just been really consistent," West said.

"His main strength is his competitiveness, and he's got really good fitness and agility."

Hartigan isn't the only Werribee player making the move to SA this year. Tiger team-mates Travis Tuck and Brad Mangan have signed with SANFL club West Adelaide, so there will be a couple of familiar faces.

"I only found out at training on Monday night that Brad was gone," Hartigan says.

"He let me know and said if I need someone to live with, he'll have a house for me."

Hartigan is likely to begin the season at South Adelaide in the local league.

Sturt has decided to use the No. 1 selection in the SANFL mini-draft on Crows ruckman Angus Graham, leaving Hartigan for the Panthers at pick two.

"We'll see what happens ... If I end up there I'll be pretty happy," he said.

"I've got a long way to go. I've never been in the AFL system. I can only put my head down and train as hard as I can.

"I've got blokes ahead of me at the moment so I've just got to learn from those guys and do my best. If an opportunity arises hopefully I'm in good enough form and I've done everything I can to get the spot."

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