Converts are not such a tall order

Looking back on Port's year of pain

New Crows recruits who were former basketballers - Jack Osborn and Tim Klaosen Picture: Sarah Reed Source: HWT Image Library

THE Crows aren't about to stake out local basketball games every weekend but list manager David Noble knows there's plenty of potential to find more footballers crashing the boards.

Tim Klaosen and Jack Osborn's signings as three-year non-registered rookies last month made it five basketball converts on Adelaide's list in 2013.

Forward Ricky Henderson was shooting hoops in Victoria when he was drafted in 2009, Ben Dowdell was a former college basketballer signed under the AFL's alternative talent rule last year and Josh Jenkins played NBL before lobbing in the AFL.

Noble said there were tell-tale signs as to whether a good basketballer might make it on the football field.

"We went to watch Tim (Klaosen) play basketball,'' Noble said. ``You look for things like can he turn defence into offence? How does he release the ball? Is he a good decision-maker? Is he aggressive?

"Then you need to make an assessment on their mechanics. Where they can improve, what areas to target and how long until we get them there.''

Klaosen admits his kicking needs plenty of work but Noble said there were many positives. ``What caught our eye was his athleticism and his agility at ground level.

"And as you get further into it you understand what these guys are like. You get a feeling of how hard they're willing to work and are they going to give it everything they've got''

Osborn was just as impressive in his trial for the Crows after four years of basketball in the US.

"His speed was good for a big guy,'' Noble said.

"He'd played (football) longer than Tim had and we watched him with (ruck coach) Matt Clark and how he marked the ball at the highest point.

"It was a normal marking style.''

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