Adelaide have emerged as a premiership contender in 2023 thanks to their trusted development in high-end draftees, trade recruitment and reliable veterans that are steering Matthew Nicks' side toward September.
The South Australian side is home to one of the younger lists in the competition and looks to be getting stronger as the year goes on, however there are areas the Crows could consider to bolster for 2024.
In the first part of our club-by-club AFL trade targets series, we've taken a look at the potential off-contract players Adelaide could look to attract to West Lakes
The Crows have flagged their interest in South Australian talent that could be made available this off-season, and that's the path we've taken in assessing their potential trade targets in 2023.
5. Brandon Zerk-Thatcher
Much like his close teammate Mason Redman, Zerk-Thatcher is an off-contract South Australian who is yet to secure his future beyond 2023 at Essendon despite a career-best campaign this year.
Zerk-Thatcher was perhaps considered a fringe player midway through 2022, but since his return to the club in Round 16 of last year he's emerged as a reliable key position defender in the red and black.
The Sturt and Imperial Murray Bridge product has played in 13 games and shown further signs of his value to Essendon, while the Crows could also come calling if a contract isn't sorted anytime soon.
Defender
Disposals
Marks
Rebound50s
While already home to the impenetrable pairing of Nick Murray and Jordon Butts, the addition of Zerk-Thatcher would give the Crows some stability and security in their backline with a three-pronged key-position structure.
Coupled with the aforementioned potential departure of Tom Doedee, a hole could be open in Nicks' back third that Zerk-Thatcher would be able to fill.
