Daniel Curtin

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.

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 Born in Perth, Western Australia, Curtin grew up supporting the Fremantle Football Club in the AFL.

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. He excelled at both senior and State level throughout the 2023 season.

He was selected by at pick number 8 in the 2023 national draft Curtin was projected to be a top 5 pick but dropped down to pick number 8.

Curtin's brother Cody plays for the and was drafted in the 2025 national draft.

AFL career Curtin's long-awaited debut was announced on 30 April, 2024, two days prior to the round 8 Showdown versus . 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 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.

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. His performance was complete with a goal in the 61-point victory over . Curtin played an important role in a five-point win over reigning premiers , collecting 14 disposals, 6 tackles, and 6 marks, and ultimately being rewarded with a nomination for the 2025 AFL Rising Star award. 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. He celebrated his contract extension with a career-best game against , during which he was the best on ground with 26 disposals and two goals. On the back of a dominant month of July, Curtin emerged as an early favourite for the 2025 AFL Rising Star winner.

He finished the 2025 season with receiving the Mark Bickley Emerging Talent Award. He also finished second in the 2025 AFL Rising Star behind 's Murphy Reid. Curtin's 2026 pre-season was interrupted in January when he dislocated his knee.

Statistics Updated to the end of round 22, 2026.

46 !! 16 !! 13 !! 391 !! 207 !! 598 !! 187 !! 145 !! 0.3 !! 0.3 !! 8.5 !! 4.5 !! 13.0 !! 4.1 !! 3.2 !! 0