PERTH — Dan Curtin’s boots will hit the turf at Optus Stadium on April 25, and it’s not just another game. For the Adelaide Crows utility, this Anzac Day clash against Fremantle carries a weight most players only nod to in press calls. It’s personal. The 19-year-old rookie, drafted from Western Australia, steps into his first AFL match in his home state on a day that’s sacred for Australians, a day that’s more than footy for him and his family.
Curtin, who’s been grinding through his debut season with the Crows, doesn’t talk much about himself. But on April 24, he let slip a few words that cut through the usual pre-game noise. Anzac Day, he said, is a moment to pause, to think about the soldiers who fought and fell, the ones who shaped the country he’s proud to call home. It’s not just rhetoric. His family’s got ties to that history—stories of service passed down, though he keeps the details close. For Curtin, running out in front of a roaring crowd on April 25 isn’t just a career milestone. It’s a nod to those stories, to the weight of the day.
The Crows-Fremantle matchup marks only the fourth time Adelaide has played on Anzac Day, a rare slot for the club after games in 1993, 1999, and 2021. This year, the stakes feel sharper for Curtin, who’s been carving out a role as a versatile utility since being picked eighth overall in the 2023 draft. He’s played a handful of games, showing flashes of why the Crows banked on him—quick hands, a knack for reading the play, and a willingness to throw his frame into contests. Against Fremantle, he’ll face a Dockers side hungry to climb the ladder, and he’ll do it under the eyes of family and friends in the stands, some who’ve made the trek from his hometown of Claremont.
His brother Cody, a footy nut who’s been glued to Dan’s career, put it plainly on April 24. Anzac Day, he said, is the one day you stop and think about the people who served, the ones who didn’t come back. He’ll be watching his brother from the sidelines, probably louder than most. For the Curtin clan, the game’s a moment to connect the personal and the national, a chance to see Dan carry their family’s pride onto the field.
The game itself, set for a twilight bounce at 7:40 PM local time, is expected to draw a packed house at Optus Stadium. Both teams are scrapping for momentum in a season that’s already thrown up surprises. Adelaide, sitting mid-table, needs Curtin and the younger brigade to step up against a Fremantle outfit known for its relentless pressure. But for Curtin, it’s not just about the scoreboard. It’s about honoring a day that’s bigger than the game, even if he’d never say it that way himself.
Adelaide’s coach, Matthew Nicks, confirmed on April 23 that Curtin would line up, praising the kid’s work rate and versatility. The club’s been deliberate about easing him into the AFL’s grind, but this game feels like a turning point. For Curtin, it’s a chance to play in front of his people, on a day that’s etched into his family’s story. He’ll wear the Crows’ guernsey, but he’s carrying more than that.