Crows draftee to debut against Cats – days after joining Adelaide
A week after being recruited by Adelaide in the mid-season draft, the Crows newest player is making a surprise AFL debut tonight. And he’ll be playing alongside an old mate.
The stars have aligned for Adelaide’s mid-season recruit Hugo Hall-Kahan, who will make his AFL debut on Thursday night against Geelong.
The Crows picked Hall-Kahan in last week’s rookie draft. The 22-year-old defender had previously been on Sydney’s list having been recruited by the Swans in the 2022 mid-season draft.
Adelaide had not expected the half back to play in the AFL so soon, but Isaac Cumming’s hamstring injury at training on Monday night has paved the way.
Crows football boss Adam Kelly said Hall-Kahan had made an immediate impression at the club and deserved his selection for the Adelaide Oval clash.
You might like
“Our recruiting team … tracked Hugo closely in the lead up to the mid-season draft and they recommended with confidence that he was a player that could add something to our squad, and that he had the potential to play at AFL level in 2026,” Kelly said.
“We didn’t think that the opportunity would avail itself so early but with Isaac Cumming’s injury on Monday night, and Hugo really impressing in our last two main sessions, the decision was made to bring him in for his AFL debut.
“Whilst new to our group, we are trusting in the high level of footy that Hugo has consistently produced in the VFL, and that warranted the opportunity.”
The 22-year-old defender was recruited from VFL team Williamstown after a strong start to the season.
Stay informed, daily
“I’ve been impressed with him so far and he does have that defensive intent and that mongrel as well, so that’s been really pleasing,” backline coach Jack Hombsch told AFL.com.au ahead of Thursday night’s blockbuster at Adelaide Oval.
“The biggest thing we can do is just help him play on instinct, because that’s been working for him, and you want him to be playing free and playing the way he was for the first 10 rounds of the year (in the VFL).
“That’s the reason he got picked. It’s exciting for him, the whole story of a young guy getting picked up and then making his AFL debut one week later.”
Hall-Kahan will have close mate Josh Worrell by his side in the Crows’ backline, the pair growing up together in Melbourne and attending Haileybury College.
The Crows also recalled veteran key forward Taylor Walker, while both Riley Thilthorpe and Izak Rankine are injured.
Geelong has made three changes, losing in-form defender Lawson Humphries to an ankle injury, managing Mitch Edwards and dropping Brad Close.
Jack Martin, Jack Bowes and Oli Wiltshire will come into their side.
The Cats have won their last six games against Adelaide, and nine of the last 10.
The Crows’ last win over Geelong was at Adelaide Oval in round one, 2021.
Want to see more stories from InDaily SA in your Google search results?
- Click here to set InDaily SA as a preferred source.
- Tick the box next to "InDaily SA". That's it.
