Player Watch Daniel Curtin

[Betts are off]

I disagree, it's awful timing to bring in another high end prospect. The two big reasons for this is the league is moving away from the three tall model - the need to stop the opposition ball movement game is a big reason in this space - and that both our key forwards likely have 8+ years left in them.

The only reason you'd consider a top-end prospect (without them being F/S, NGA or you hit the jackpot on a late draft pick*) is you are not convinced Fogarty is your guy moving forward. There really isn't a reason we should be thinking that. Otherwise, it's a 2028-2029 problem when Fog is ~ 4 years out from retirement.

I disagree with your disagreement.

You always need coverage at key positions, and we have very little going forward. IMO grabbing a high ceiling one with the luxury of letting them come in a develop is good list management. Waiting until our AFL key forwards are finishing up before replacing them is not

 

[Cromulant]

I disagree with your disagreement.

You always need coverage at key positions, and we have very little going forward. IMO grabbing a high ceiling one with the luxury of letting them come in a develop is good list management. Waiting until our AFL key forwards are finishing up before replacing them is not

Our AFL key forwards, Tex aside, are a long way from finishing up.

Weve got front half talent to change our structure should we want to, and Murray is still there. Welsh doesn't look like hes the answer but hes still got some time yet.

If you want one, go and buy one.

 

[Golumless]

Agree with your list priorities. I'd add a small forward and a ROB replacement (he's adequate but may not stay) but they're not as glaring.

I understand and kind of share the anxieties of others about a lack of quality KPF depth (beyond Toby Murray) but it's not a high-enough priority at the moment. By all means, take a swing at a speculative sort with one of our later picks in this year's draft but we've already used premium capital on tall forwards.

To bring the conversation back on topic, Curtin might end up playing a wing/fwd role (ala Dempsey at Geelong) after Walker's retirement, anyway.

It's too late to replace ROB, via the draft unfortunately. That's a trade/FA problem. Though, grabbing one to replace ROB's replacement is a solid decision, but not one I expect Adelaide to make. The Reid/Hamish pairing have made it pretty clear they do not see any genuine value in a developing ruck.

Small forward I think could be interesting, but I'm not quite convinced it's a need as most people. I don't expect Rachele to ever make the transition into being a midfielder, or even a midfielder/forward. Not a slight against him, but with Rankine move to mid (and sometimes forward), Adelaide's best 22 has developed in a way that makes that move redundant.

The KPF anxiety is anxiety for the sake of it. You have two options with a long time left in the bigs, an intriguing prospect in Turray and you can always get a guy from the VFL/SANFL to be an additional body if need be. It's as far away as a need as it gets.

I disagree with your disagreement.

You always need coverage at key positions, and we have very little going forward. IMO grabbing a high ceiling one with the luxury of letting them come in a develop is good list management. Waiting until our AFL key forwards are finishing up before replacing them is not

You just need a body who can compete and follow instructions as your depth. You certainly do not need a high ceiling one who you're going to let rot in the SANFL for the next decade, or to potentially force you into a sub-optimal structure for the sake of it.

You're treating Fogarty and Thilthorpe like they're both 28-29, not 25 and 22.

 

[NSolis]

Imagine we picked up a Fogarty type player next year in the draft - reasonably high draft pick, fairly high ceiling. What do we do with this player? Do we stick with 3 talls after Walker leaves to try and make room for them? Do we leave them in the SANFL for 3-4 years except when one of the main two is injured? What's this player's incentive to stay at the club, assuming one of the main two doesn't do a knee or something?

Golumless is right - if we were to pick up key forward depth it would be a rookie/late pick/trade type situation like a Welsh or Burgess. We absolutely should not be recruiting a key forward with any sort of draft capital. We are spoilt for forwards already. If Walker retires at the end of this year we will move to having two key forwards in the best 22 and could still have T. Murray/Burgess as cover, not to mention that Dawson and Curtin could be capable forward options as well.

You could move me on a defender maybe.

 

[cmndstab]

Curtin's ball use is keeping him in the side right now, as he develops into his body. You don't mind 10-12 disposal games if 90% of them are hitting the target.

What will help him to take the next step is developing some explosiveness. He's not slow once he gets going, but is slow off the mark. I'm not sure if this is a mindset thing or a physicality thing.

 

[Crow till I die]

It's too late to replace ROB, via the draft unfortunately. That's a trade/FA problem. Though, grabbing one to replace ROB's replacement is a solid decision, but not one I expect Adelaide to make. The Reid/Hamish pairing have made it pretty clear they do not see any genuine value in a developing ruck.

Small forward I think could be interesting, but I'm not quite convinced it's a need as most people. I don't expect Rachele to ever make the transition into being a midfielder, or even a midfielder/forward. Not a slight against him, but with Rankine move to mid (and sometimes forward), Adelaide's best 22 has developed in a way that makes that move redundant.

The KPF anxiety is anxiety for the sake of it. You have two options with a long time left in the bigs, an intriguing prospect in Turray and you can always get a guy from the VFL/SANFL to be an additional body if need be. It's as far away as a need as it gets.



You just need a body who can compete and follow instructions as your depth. You certainly do not need a high ceiling one who you're going to let rot in the SANFL for the next decade, or to potentially force you into a sub-optimal structure for the sake of it.

You're treating Fogarty and Thilthorpe like they're both 28-29, not 25 and 22.

The other player that comes to mind on our list for a long term small forward spot that may also pinch hit in midfield is Pedlar. IF he can show over a block of games he is over injury and is sharp and aggressive, then as a player that can find the goals, he could be a very handy small forward along with Rachele - whom I do see playing some midfield as time rolls on - maybe 70-30 (where 70 is time in the forward line)

 

[Betts are off]

You just need a body who can compete and follow instructions as your depth. You certainly do not need a high ceiling one who you're going to let rot in the SANFL for the next decade, or to potentially force you into a sub-optimal structure for the sake of it.

You're treating Fogarty and Thilthorpe like they're both 28-29, not 25 and 22.

Yeah we just straight up disagree on the value of the position here. So no point arguing it further.

 

[Crow till I die]

Curtin's ball use is keeping him in the side right now, as he develops into his body. You don't mind 10-12 disposal games of 90% of them are hitting the target.

What will help him to take the next step is developing some explosiveness. He's not slow once he gets going, but is slow off the mark. I'm not sure if this is a mindset thing or a physicality thing.

I don't think its much of a stretch to see him while he develops his craft play the Tom Lynch role for us - he has a wand of a kick on him generally, takes a strong mark and can get up and down the ground. he knows how to kick a goal too (that miss V Collingwood was very unlike him usually)

 

[John Who]

As far as I can tell, Curtin is quality like Fog. I’m unsure which position fits him best, but like Fog, just give him games and with a few years of experience and a mature body, he will bring a positive outcome.

 

[Redleg Crow]

Gotta sign him. Sick of hearing Roo saying the club doesn’t know where to play him

 

[FR0GGY]

The strength, skills and poise really make a delicious mix.

Second he works out how to find a bit more of it, and back himself in with it he's going to be a monster.

He’s extremely balanced in everything he does.

 

[cleanhands]

He’s extremely balanced in everything he does.

Nice looking (football) 20yr old

 

[WeeBlake]

Curtin's ball use is keeping him in the side right now, as he develops into his body. You don't mind 10-12 disposal games if 90% of them are hitting the target.

What will help him to take the next step is developing some explosiveness. He's not slow once he gets going, but is slow off the mark. I'm not sure if this is a mindset thing or a physicality thing.

I don’t think that’s the kind of thing that develops often, at this age

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

Curtin's ball use is keeping him in the side right now, as he develops into his body. You don't mind 10-12 disposal games if 90% of them are hitting the target.

What will help him to take the next step is developing some explosiveness. He's not slow once he gets going, but is slow off the mark. I'm not sure if this is a mindset thing or a physicality thing.

Or experience...

 

[cmndstab]

Or experience...

Someone like Draper was explosive from the day he walked in the door, though. I'm not sure it's an experience thing with Curtin, although it could be a confidence thing.

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

Gotta sign him. Sick of hearing Roo saying the club doesn’t know where to play him

Roo doesn't even realise he is outing our coaches as lacking IQ.

You just play quality players & get experience in them & work through their roles.

Fortunately it appears they have now settled Curtin on a wing & he's having more influence in most games.

 

[Mr_Moogle]

The strength, skills and poise really make a delicious mix.

Second he works out how to find a bit more of it, and back himself in with it he's going to be a monster.

At 1:10 he could have kicked a goal from there. He's a long kick and had the wind. I hope we still have this guy when we aren't coached by a loser who has taught our players to be fearful of making mistakes.

 

[Go the Guts]

Don’t agree re mobility

I reckon he’s actually quicker first 10 metres

Yes he’s bigger

Nah, he’s not. I’ve never seen a passage of play of him burning off anyone, but have seen him get caught a bunch of times. Dawson, however….
Happy to be corrected, but haven’t seen it yet.

 

[Hell Boy6669]

At 1:10 he could have kicked a goal from there. He's a long kick and had the wind. I hope we still have this guy when we aren't coached by a loser who has taught our players to be fearful of making mistakes.

There’s been a few occasions this year when I’ve thought he’s within range and should just be directly running at the goal and having a ping but instead looks for a short option. Would like to see him back himself more.

 

[hippyhippy]

Anyone else think curtain can play a lynch connector type role? Apart from endurance and fitness, pretty sure curtain had lynch covered in every other aspect.

 

[Golumless]

At 1:10 he could have kicked a goal from there. He's a long kick and had the wind. I hope we still have this guy when we aren't coached by a loser who has taught our players to be fearful of making mistakes.

A set shot at 50 m in the pockets should always be a pass first, then take the shot if there is no other option kind of deal (and mainly this is just to give your defense time to set up). After all league wise, it's a ~26% shot, whereas if you can buy 5-6 m and push it into the corridor it becomes a ~54% shot; source wheelo shot chart with some filters turned on. That play is just poor execution of the right idea.

 

[fuic08]

Sick of hearing Roo

Fixed that for you

 

[Mr_Moogle]

A set shot at 50 m in the pockets should always be a pass first, then take the shot if there is no other option kind of deal (and mainly this is just to give your defense time to set up). After all league wise, it's a ~26% shot, whereas if you can buy 5-6 m and push it into the corridor it becomes a ~54% shot; source wheelo shot chart with some filters turned on. That play is just poor execution of the right idea.

I don't see a reason for Dan Curtin to be concerned with what normal human beings can do, especially with a favourable breeze. If it had been down the other end, I would agree that he shouldn't attempt it.

 

[Mr_Moogle]

Nah, he’s not. I’ve never seen a passage of play of him burning off anyone, but have seen him get caught a bunch of times. Dawson, however….
Happy to be corrected, but haven’t seen it yet.

Dawson isn't that quick. Certainly not slow either but he's got a talent for using the width of the ground to find space. He's wily, arches his back, fends off, flanks, he doesn't beat them with raw speed.

 

[Jeffcrowe]

Better then than now. 2025-2026 and all you are doing is throwing a first round pick into the bin. One that could be used to strengthen actual needs, hello inside midfield and half back flank.

Different story late in the draft, as a late flutter for a KPF is somewhat worth it, but not something I'd personally worry about unless Hamish truly loved a prospect.

We’ve invested very heavily into the half back flank including 2x late 1st rounders in the 2023 draft , we just need to play them

This could be the last draft where we get access to a key position player as good as Cody Curtin who can play at both ends and is extremely competitive and a bit different to Dan re skillsets