BENDIGO Pioneers captain Sam Kerridge was last night selected by the Adelaide Crows at the AFL National Draft.Kerridge was taken by the Crows with pick 27 – Adelaide’s first selection.Also picked up last night was Tory Dickson, who spent this year playing in the VFL with the Bendigo Bombers. Dickson is headed to the Western Bulldogs, who used pick 57 on the 24-year-old.Kerridge told the Bendigo Advertiser last night he was “stoked” at being picked by the Crows, with Adelaide the closest club to his Mildura home.“Now that I’ve got the opportunity, I’m looking forward to pursuing something that I’ve been chasing for a while now,” Kerridge said.“To finally get the chance to get a crack at it is really exciting and I can’t wait to step into the club.”It hasn’t been an easy road for Kerridge, a hard-edged 188cm, 82kg midfielder renowned as a stoppage specialist, who was restricted to just six games for the Pioneers in 2010 after he was struck down by osteitis pubis.“It was tough with it being the only injury I’ve gone through so far, but to overcome that and get here is just great,” Kerridge said.Kerridge played his junior football with Mildura, before moving to Bendigo as a 16-year-old to further his footy with the Pioneers, where he has spent the past two seasons.While his 2010 was soured by injury, his hard work over the summer paid off this year when he put together a consistent season for the Pioneers, where he was named in their best players in 14 of 16 games.He represented Victoria Country at the under-18 national titles, and later impressed at the Draft Combine, particularly in the endurance events, where he ranked equal fourth in the beep test and 3km time trial.AFL talent manager Kevin Sheehan described Kerridge as a “player who just wants to play”, while Pioneers’ regional manager Ray Byrne likens him to a young Scott Selwood.“He was worked extremely hard and it’s a credit to him,” Byrne said.“To miss the amount of footy he did in 2010, but then come back the way he did this year and make the Victoria Country team, it hasn’t been easy for him.“He’s similar to Scott Selwood in the way he plays and prepares... he has all the traits of a Selwood boy.”With Kerridge’s selection, it takes the number of Pioneers players who have been drafted since 1993 to 52.Of those 52 players, Kerridge is the first to be drafted by Adelaide.Meanwhile, Dickson was rewarded for his solid season with the Bendigo Bombers by being given an opportunity at the Western Bulldogs.Dickson was coached at Bendigo this year by Shannon Grant, who is now an assistant coach at the Bulldogs.Grant also coached Dickson at Frankston in 2009.“Tory has worked really hard for the opportunity. He has been around the mark for a few years now and just stuck at it,” Grant said.“It’s a great story... it has taken him a while to get this chance and I’m sure he’s going to appreciate it and he’ll work really hard.“I think it’s going to be a pick that will be good for the club.”Dickson booted 48 goals for the Bombers this year playing a mix of forward and midfield. He finished runner-up to captain Ben Duscher in the best and fairest.As well as coaching Dickson, Grant also coached Kerridge in three games for the Bendigo Bombers this year, including the losing elimination final to the Northern Bullants.“I’m a massive wrap for Sam,” Grant said. “He’s a terrific kid and is going to be a very good footballer. The Adelaide Crows have got a good one there.”