Crows pounce to keep promising young trio in Adelaide nest

ADELAIDE has re-signed young guns Sam Berry, Luke Pedlar and Brayden Cook to new two-year deals.

The 19-year-olds, who were all taken inside the first 30 picks in December’s national draft, were already contracted for 2022, but agreed to extensions until the end of 2024 on Tuesday.

Inside midfielder Berry played 17 AFL games this season, Cook featured three times and hard nut Pedlar lined up twice at the elite level.

Chosen from Glenelg at No.11, Pedlar, was the club’s second-highest pick last year, behind Riley Thilthorpe (two).

Cook was drafted 25th overall from South Adelaide and Adelaide grabbed Berry from Gippsland Power three selections later.

Berry, who made his debut in Round 1, said he was excited to build on his first season.

“I’m very excited for where this club is heading,” Berry said.

Pedlar had a modified preseason due to groin soreness before impressing at SANFL level then making his AFL debut in Round 16.

An ankle injury cut short his campaign.

He said he had made some great connections at the club, which was building a great culture. “What Nicksy (coach Matthew Nicks) brings, I’m all for,” Pedlar said.

Wingman/half-forward Cook endured off-season shoulder surgery and came from a long way back to make his AFL debut in the round 21 Showdown.

He maintained his spot for the last two games.

Cook, who grew up as a Crows supporter, said he loved how close the squad was.

“It feels like home and, knowing we are going in the right direction, I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else,” Cook said.

Adelaide list manager Justin Reid said the trio was important for the club’s future.

“All three bring different weapons and attributes to our team,” Reid said.

“Clearly they have talent but they have also shown an appetite for the hard work that is required.

“It’s a credit to the work they have put in since being drafted and the development program in place at the club that we saw them feature at AFL level this season.

“We are excited about what the future holds.”

Their re-signings take the total number of players to have recommitted to the Crows this year to 23.