Adelaide Crows veteran Taylor Walker has hyped up the club's latest first-round draft pick, calling Sid Draper a strong chance to suit up in Round 1.

Draper is a homegrown South Australian talent who landed at the Crows at Pick 4 of last year's National Draft, with the expectation he'll come straight into the side.

Walker has continued to add to that expectation by revealing his insights into the teenager's first AFL pre-season.

“He's (Draper) a good chance (to play Round 1)," Walker said on Triple M Breakfast.

"He does some really, really amazing things on the field."

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Walker has also agreed with the consensus view by Crows players that competition for selection is at an all-time high.

Both Mitch Hinge and Jordan Dawson have stated that every position is uncertain ahead of Round 1, with the influx of trade talent and increasing development of young players providing selection headaches for the Adelaide coaches.

"You know when the coaches have their meetings and they go overtime, it seems to be selection's getting harder," Walker said.

"It's great, we probably haven't had this for a period of time.

"Getting the three boys with the trade and the two draftees, it certainly puts pressure on guys in the team which is healthy and hopefully catapults us going forward and we win some more games.”

Taylor Walker
Taylor Walker

Walker named a mix of young and old Crows dominating the pre-season training track ahead of a season of high expectations.

Jake Soligo, I love watching him. Alex Neal-Bullen's been amazing. Ben Keays is training real well," Walker listed.

"The two guys that I've really enjoyed this preseason are Brodie Smith and Riley Thilthorpe.

"Although 'Thilthy' has had some back issues, what he's been able to do has been great learning, to understand his body a bit better."

Soligo had a breakout season in 2024, playing all matches and increasing his disposal figures to over 22 per game, while Keays continued to emerge as one of Adelaide's star contributors.

Neal-Bullen's premiership experience from the Demons will no doubt be valuable to a youthful Crows team. One of the youth is Thilthorpe, who is poised for an increase in output this year after a massive physical transformation.

Smith will be hoping to continue pressing for selection after playing just 15 games in 2024. The 33-year-old veteran will be a general in defence when picked, as he is surrounded by a crop of emerging young defenders ready to fire in 2025.

The Crows open their season with a home encounter against St Kilda on Sunday, March 16.