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AAP
Sport
Steve Larkin

Michalanney is Crows' first father-son to play in AFL

Max Michalanney will become Adelaide's first father-son pick to play an AFL game. (Richard Wainwright/AAP PHOTOS) (AAP)

Young defender Max Michalanney will become Adelaide's first father-son draftee to play an AFL game when he debuts against GWS on Sunday.

And Collingwood discard Tyler Brown will make his Crows debut in the clash against the Giants in Sydney.

Michalanney, 19, was Adelaide's top pick at No.17 overall in last year's national draft and was warmly embraced by teammates at Thursday training when told of his inclusion.

"The way his teammates reacted, those are the moments as a coach you just stand back and enjoy them like a proud father watching the kids go to work," Adelaide coach Matthew Nicks said.

"Max has been great. He has shown he's ready to play at the level.

"He will still have some ups and downs as all young players do but he's a fantastic character."

Michalanney's father Jim played 211 SANFL games, including four premierships, for Norwood between 1974 and 1986.

"Jim was a fantastic footballer in his own right ... the apple doesn't fall far from the tree," Nicks said.

Adelaide's two previous father-son selections Ben Jarman (2016) and Jackson Edwards (2017) - sons of Adelaide's 1997 and 1998 premiership heroes Darren Jarman and Tyson Edwards - didn't play an AFL game.

Midfielder Brown was signed by Adelaide in January as a pre-season supplemental selection after being delisted by Collingwood after 27 games in five seasons.

"A really strong effort from him," Nicks said of the 23-year-old midfielder.

"A really good opportunity to build the respect from his teammates and he has done that in a short period of time.

"Tyler is a great footballer and has been in the system ... we're just trying to get him with us and build some belief in him.

"He has added some different dynamic to that (midfield) group, he has got some size, he can move really well side-to-side."

Prized recruit Izak Rankine, lured from Gold Coast, is also a certain selection for his first game in Crows colours.

"Izak has added to the group instantly," Nicks said.

"That first session he came to training some of the boys had their mouths open at the end of it, just 'wow'."

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