Daniel Talia

Biography

AFC Debut Number: 182         AFC Debut Game: Round 15 v Sydney, 2011

Career Guernsey Number: 12

Daniel Talia was Adelaide’s first pick (No 13) at the 2009 AFL draft and went on to become a two-time All-Australian defender, Club Champion and 200-game Crow.

Talia started his football career in Greenvale, Victoria, where he also played for Assumption College in Kilmore, and then Calder Cannons in the TAC Cup. The All-Australian Under 18 arrived at Adelaide to find heavy competition for key defender spots from Crows including Ben Rutten, Scott Stevens, Phil Davis and Nathan Bock.

He battled some injuries in his first couple of seasons but made his AFL debut in round 15 of 2011 and had a breakout year in 2012 when he won the NAB AFL Rising Star award. He was named an All-Australian in 2014 and was also voted as Adelaide’s Club Champion. He also made the All-Australian side in 2016 and was in the 40-man squad in 2019, when he was awarded the Crows Members’ MVP.

Talia played his 200th game in the last round of 2020 but was unable to take to the field in 2021 after an off-season knee operation, followed by a foot injury which also required surgery.

He was a two-time winner of the Dr Brian Sando OAM Trophy, recognising outstanding and professional attention to detail in the standard of preparation for being an AFL footballer. Talia also was a member of Adelaide’s senior leadership group from 2015.

Talia’s grandfather, Harvey Stevens, played in Footscray’s 1954 premiership side, and younger brother Michael played for the Western Bulldogs and Sydney before joining Norwood in the SANFL.

Talia was selected at centre half back in Adelaide’s Best 22 of 30 Years team.