Daniel Curtin (born 8 March 2005) is an Australian rules footballer who plays for the Adelaide Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL). He was drafted by the Crows from the Claremont Football Club in the West Australian Football League (WAFL) with the eighth overall pick in the 2023 national draft.[1]
| Dan Curtin | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 Curtin in May 2025 | |||
| Personal information | |||
| Full name | Daniel Curtin | ||
| Nickname | DC | ||
| Born |
8 March 2005 Perth, Western Australia | ||
| Original teams |
Claremont (WAFL) West Coast JFC | ||
| Draft | No. 8, 2023 national draft | ||
| Debut | Round 8, 2024, Adelaide vs. Port Adelaide, at Adelaide Oval | ||
| Height | 197 cm (6 ft 6 in) | ||
| Weight | 94 kg (207 lb) | ||
| Position | Utility | ||
| Club information | |||
| Current club | Adelaide | ||
| Number | 6 | ||
| Playing career1 | |||
| Years | Club | Games (Goals) | |
| 2024— | Adelaide | 40 (15) | |
|
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of round 16, 2026. | |||
| Career highlights | |||
| |||
| Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com | |||
Curtin made his debut in Round 8 of the 2024 AFL season in the Showdown against Port Adelaide at Adelaide Oval. He is a utility who has been deployed in various positions around the ground, including as a midfielder, wingman, key defender, and as a high half-forward.
Early life
editBorn in Perth, Western Australia, Curtin grew up supporting the Fremantle Football Club in the AFL.[2]
Curtin played for the Claremont Football Club in his junior career. Curtin was selected in the All-Australian team after the 2023 AFL Under 18 Championships and captained the Claremont Colts team to the 2023 premiership.[3] He excelled at both senior and State level throughout the 2023 season.[4]
He was selected by Adelaide at pick number 8 in the 2023 national draft[1] after the Crows traded up in a deal with Greater Western Sydney which saw them give up pick number 11 and 15 in return for pick number 8 and 17. Curtin seemed a perfect suitor for Adelaide, who were lacking defensive height due to the departure of Tom Doedee and the injuries of Nick Murray and Jordon Butts. A versatile player who played as a defender, forward and midfield during his junior career,[5] Curtin was projected to be a top 5 pick but dropped down to pick number 8.[6][7]
Curtin's brother Cody plays for the Brisbane Lions and was drafted in the 2025 national draft.[8]
AFL career
editCurtin's long-awaited debut was announced on 30 April, 2024, two days prior to the round 8 Showdown versus Port Adelaide.[9] He was the last of the first nine 2023 national draftees to make their debut. Playing as a tall half-back, Curtin debuted with 9 disposals in 56% time on ground. He was substituted off tactically at three quarter time and replaced by veteran Brodie Smith. It wasn't until round 22 against the Western Bulldogs that Curtin played an entire game without being substituted, and he made it count by kicking his first two career goals as well as creating three clearances.[10]
A career-best game came for Curtin in round 2 of 2025, when Curtin scored new personal best statistics in disposals, marks and tackles, due to his positional change to a half-forward and wing role.[11][12] His performance was complete with a goal in the 61-point victory over Essendon.[13] Curtin played an important role in a five-point win over reigning premiers Brisbane Lions, collecting 14 disposals, 6 tackles, and 6 marks, and ultimately being rewarded with a nomination for the 2025 AFL Rising Star award.[14] In June, Curtin signed a three-year contract extension, keeping him at the Crows until at least the end of 2029, shunning offers from Western Australian clubs.[15] He celebrated his contract extension with a career-best game against Richmond, during which he was the best on ground with 26 disposals and two goals.[16] On the back of a dominant month of July, Curtin emerged as an early favourite for the 2025 AFL Rising Star winner.[17]
He finished the 2025 season with receiving the Mark Bickley Emerging Talent Award. He also finished second in the 2025 AFL Rising Star behind Fremantle's Murphy Reid. Curtin's 2026 pre-season was interrupted in January when he dislocated his knee.[18]
Statistics
editUpdated to the end of round 16, 2026.[12]
G |
Goals | K |
Kicks | D |
Disposals | T |
Tackles |
B |
Behinds | H |
Handballs | M |
Marks |
| Season | Team | No. | Games | Totals | Averages (per game) | Votes | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | B | K | H | D | M | T | G | B | K | H | D | M | T | |||||
| 2024 | Adelaide | 6 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 29 | 25 | 54 | 16 | 7 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 4.1 | 3.6 | 7.7 | 2.3 | 1.0 | 0 |
| 2025 | Adelaide | 6 | 25 | 11 | 7 | 224 | 110 | 334 | 113 | 86 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 9.0 | 4.4 | 13.4 | 4.5 | 3.4 | 0 |
| 2026 | Adelaide | 6 | 8 | 1 | 4 | 72 | 37 | 109 | 37 | 27 | 0.1 | 0.5 | 9.0 | 4.6 | 13.6 | 4.6 | 3.4 | |
| Career | 40 | 15 | 11 | 325 | 172 | 497 | 166 | 120 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 8.1 | 4.3 | 12.4 | 4.2 | 3.0 | 0 | ||
References
edit- 1 2 "Daniel Curtin". Adelaide Football Club. Retrieved February 2, 2024.
- ↑ Turner, Matt (July 26, 2025). "Crows happily hitting the Dan button". The Advertiser (Adelaide). pp. 84, 85.
- ↑ "WATCH: Potential top-two pick Curtin lives up to the hype". The West Australian. September 25, 2023. Retrieved February 10, 2024.
- ↑ "Daniel Curtin Draft Profile". Rookie Central. Retrieved February 12, 2024.
- ↑ "Is this Australia's most versatile AFL draft prospect?". PerthNow. May 8, 2023. Retrieved February 10, 2024.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link) - ↑ "AFL Phantom Draft 2023: Top 30 prospects, first round projections | Sporting News Australia". www.sportingnews.com. November 20, 2023. Retrieved February 3, 2024.
- ↑ "Curtin headlines battle of young guns in WAFL Colts decider". PerthNow. September 21, 2023. Retrieved February 10, 2024.
- ↑ Bolch, Dylan (December 30, 2024). "Academy guns and father-sons: 25 AFL Draft prospects to keep under close watch in 2025". foxsports.com.au. Fox Footy.
- ↑ "Crows' prized draftee set for Showdown, will Rozee join him?". The Advertiser. April 30, 2024.
- ↑ Kimber, Howard (August 11, 2024). "Bulldogs back in the pack after big loss to Crows". afl.com.au. Australian Football League.
- ↑ Harvey, Daniela (January 29, 2025). "Hinge backs young teammate's positional switch". afc.com.au.
- 1 2 "Daniel Curtin". AFL Tables. Retrieved June 29, 2026.
- ↑ Bastiani, Gemma (March 22, 2025). "Crows end MCG hoodoo with statement win over Bombers". afl.com.au. Melbourne Cricket Ground.
- ↑ "Crows tall rewarded with Rising Star nom after impressive start". afl.com.au. June 10, 2025.
- ↑ "Curtin signs on". afc.com.au. June 26, 2025.
- ↑ Black, Sarah (June 29, 2025). "Crows consolidate top-four spot with crushing win over Tigers". afl.com.au. MCG.
- ↑ King, David (July 21, 2025). ""It's over": King calls the 2025 Rising Star race". sen.com.au. 1116 SEN.
- ↑ AAP (January 19, 2026). "Young Crow avoids ACL injury, set for delayed start to season". afl.com.au.
External links
edit
- Dan Curtin's profile on the official website of the Adelaide Football Club
- Dan Curtin's playing statistics from AFL Tables
- Dan Curtin at AustralianFootball.com
- Dan Curtin's WAFL playing statistics at WAFLFootyFacts.net
