2023 Season Guide

SEASON GUIDE

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT TO COUNTRY

The Adelaide Football Club acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders as the traditional owners of country throughout Australia and their ongoing connection to land and waters. We pay our respects to them, their diverse cultures and elders that were, are, and will be.

MESSAGE FROM THE CEO

TIM SILVERS

Our Club is in good shape both on and off the field and there is a feeling of excitement and anticipation for a range of reasons heading into the 2023 AFL season.

After completing another tough pre-season program, we can’t wait to play for premiership points and see the progression of our team and development of our young players. It’s been particularly pleasing to see the likes of Josh Rachele, Jake Soligo and recruit Izak Rankine, among others, make an impact in the midfield during the practice matches.

Likewise, seeing Jordan Dawson seamlessly step into the captaincy role and confidently deliver his own style of leadership has been great. Not only does he consistently deliver the goods once the siren sounds, he also has a hard edge and a fierce determination to see our team return to finals. I would like to acknowledge and thank Rory Sloane for the outstanding job he did as skipper over the past four seasons during which there was some challenging times. Rory always drove high standards and will no doubt continue to do so.

While we have to wait until Round 2 against Richmond to play in front of you at Adelaide Oval, it marks the start of an unprecedented four consecutive games at home which

presents a real upside for everyone in the Crows family. Included in that stretch is a Thursday night game against Carlton in Round 5 which opens the AFL’s inaugural Gather Round. It’s a significant opportunity for us to showcase and celebrate football in South Australia but equally show what we can do against a big-drawing rival in a marquee time slot.

While a lot of the off-season talk has centred on our AFL team, we are just as excited about what our SANFL side can achieve this year. With addition of further talent and the leadership of Jack Madgen who has returned home to South Australia from Collingwood, we are confident of again going deep into the finals. Our younger players will benefit immensely from learning and developing in a winning culture. It is also worth noting that our AFLW players are already training hard and we see them coming and going from the training facility most days, despite the fact it’s their off-season!

Off the field, we are wasting no time trying to realise the varied and ambitious objectives in our recently

launched five-year strategy, titled Earn the Pride. We are determined to create an era of sustained success.

No initiative is more important than our push to build a new training, administration and community headquarters, as it underpins much of what we are trying to achieve in the months and years ahead. Our project team is currently working tirelessly amidst a backdrop of community consultation and liaising with many stakeholders, while also starting to piece together detailed plans. We want the Thebarton Oval precinct to be a place you can proudly call home!

We are determined to see our membership tally swell to 100,000 over the coming years and I encourage you to get your family, friends and colleagues who have not yet signed up to do so. There has never been more offerings and categories to suit people’s different schedules, lifestyles and budgets.

Our Board composition has also changed and we welcome a new Director in Imelda Lynch, who gained your majority vote

in the recent independently-run election. Imelda is an experienced health administrator who has held numerous executive and non-executive roles, and we look forward to the fresh perspective she will bring. After eight years on the Board, Rod Jameson retired and his contribution to the Club as a Director should not be underestimated, particularly his work with our past player and officials movement. No doubt his three decades-long association with the Club, which includes being a premiership player and life member, will continue in other less formal ways.

There are always ups and downs in every footy season and I look forward to riding them with you in the months ahead. See you at Adelaide Oval. Go Crows!

Regards, Tim Silvers

THERE ARE ALWAYS UPS AND DOWNS IN EVERY FOOTY SEASON AND I LOOK FORWARD TO RIDING THEM WITH YOU.

MESSAGE FROM THE COACH

MATTHEW NICKS

We are entering an exciting phase in the evolution of our playing group.

The past few years have enabled us to build a strong connection both on and off the field, which leads to a familiarity and predictability about the way we want to play.

Our young players have been exposed to AFL football and know the standards that are required to challenge the best teams in the competition, and along the way we have added high end talent to our squad.

Most notably in the off-season was the addition of Izak Rankine during the trade period. We were delighted when Izak indicated he wanted to return home to South Australia and after a strong preseason we can’t wait to see him run out in a Crows guernsey for the first time.

As some of you would have noted in our pre-season games, Izak not only adds class ahead of the ball but he along with other exciting young players like Josh Rachele and Jake Soligo will provide us with a different look through the midfield as well with speed and power around the footy.

We were also very pleased with what our recruiting and list management team headed by Hamish Ogilvie and Justin Reid were able to deliver at the national draft by bringing three quality young players to our Club.

Defender Max Michalanney is our first ever father-son selection in the national draft and has league experience with Norwood, while

midfielders Billy Dowling and Hugh Bond both bring leadership qualities as well as their football ability which will add to our team.

We were also fortunate to sign midfielder Tyler Brown and defender Mark Keane from Collingwood during the pre-season supplemental period and they have both made an impact in a short period since joining us after Christmas.

There is also a new look to our leadership group with Jordan Dawson taking over as captain from Rory Sloane.

Sloaney has done an incredible job over the past four years during what has been a challenging time for our Club and his leadership will continue as he returns from a knee injury this season. He has done a mountain of work with our high performance and rehabilitation team to get his body ready to come back to AFL footy and we can’t wait to have him out on the ground for us again.

Jordan has been a standout from the moment he walked through the door and is the perfect person for Sloaney to hand the baton to. His on-ground leadership is hugely important to us and his care for his teammates while demanding high standards has shone through since we recruited him from Sydney.

He will be supported by a really strong leadership group including Brodie Smith, Ben Keays, Tom Doedee and Reilly O’Brien who had the opportunity to lead the team in Sloaney’s absence last season and did a terrific job.

As we reflect on the progress of last year and look towards season 2023, I am excited by which players will take the next step in their careers in a similar way that guys like Darcy Fogarty and Sam Berry did last season. You could see those two in particular grow in confidence which is the result of hard work in the right environment with the right people.

As a team last year we showed we can match, and in some cases beat, the best teams in the competition so we know our best football stacks up. But we must learn to do it consistently which is our challenge this season. I know our group has the right attitude, has embraced the hard work over summer and is excited by the journey ahead.

Ultimately we want to produce the type of footy that makes our Members and supporters proud because there is nothing better than playing in front of a packed crowd at Adelaide Oval.

I can’t wait to see you there.

ULTIMATELY WE WANT TO PRODUCE THE TYPE OF FOOTY THAT MAKES OUR MEMBERS AND SUPPORTERS PROUD

2023 ADELAIDE

BACK ROW (left to right): Lachlan Murphy, Ned McHenry, Sam Berry, Andrew McPherson, Will Hamill, Tyler

THIRD ROW: Izak Rankine, Harry Schoenberg, Luke Pedlar, Mitch Hinge, Mark Keane, Riley Thilthorpe, Reilly

SECOND ROW: Rory Laird, Matt Crouch, Shane McAdam, Brodie Smith, Jordan Dawson (Captain), FRONT ROW: Hugh Bond, Billy Dowling, Zac Taylor, Jake Soligo, Josh Rachele,

ADELAIDE CROWS

Brown, Lachlan Gollant, James Borlase, Jackson Hately, Max Michalanney, Lachlan Sholl, Chayce Jones. Reilly O’Brien, Kieran Strachan, Jordon Butts, Elliott Himmelberg, Nick Murray, Josh Worrell, Darcy Fogarty. (Captain), Matthew Nicks (Senior Coach), Rory Sloane, Taylor Walker, Tom Doedee, Ben Keays, Wayne Milera. Rachele, Patrick Parnell, Luke Nankervis, Tariek Newchurch, Brayden Cook.

A NEW LEADER

Adelaide will have captaincy experience across the entire ground this season with Jordan Dawson being appointed the Club’s ninth AFL skipper.

With all three remaining an important part of the Crows’ team in 2023, Sloane said the team was in good hands.

“Once a captain always a captain, and now a skipper in each line which will be really powerful for our footy club,” Sloane said.

“It’s been an honour and a privilege to captain this side for the past four years, and it’s a privilege to hand over the captaincy to Jordan.

“I love this footy club and will always do what’s best for the footy club and the timing seems right.

The 25-year-old defender takes over the role from midfielder Rory Sloane who shared the job and then took over from key forward Taylor Walker.

“Nicksy, myself, Dan Jackson and Adam Kelly have been chatting for some time now about what it looks like moving forward and who’s next, and we do believe Jordan is that man.

“He’s one of the most caring footballers I’ve come across, has developed unbelievable connections in a year’s time to a point where his peers have voted him in as well.

“I only experienced it for a short period last year, but now back in full swing of training, his ability to step back and detach himself from the chaos on ground and make calm decisions about what’s best for the group during a game of footy will set us up really well going forward.”

Dawson grew up as a Crows fan in the state’s South East and was drafted to Sydney from SANFL club Sturt in 2015.

He finished third in the Swans’ bestand-fairest in 2021 before returning home and joining the Crows for the 2022 season.

Making an instant impact across half-back and on the wing, Dawson joined the leadership group and finished runner-up in Adelaide’s club champion award in his debut season before being appointed captain in February, 2023.

“Sloaney has been an incredible captain in my year here and I’ve admired the way he’s gone about his footy over the journey,” Dawson said.

“For myself growing up as an Adelaide supporter and being South Australian it’s (captaincy) a real privilege and something I will take very seriously.

“Early on when I got to the Club I wanted to assess where the group was at and play good football, then as the year went on and Sloaney got injured I wanted to step up in that area (leadership) and to be in the leadership group was a huge honour for me.

“Being voted in by the other players is really important to me so I’m grateful to Nicksy, the Board and the Club for the opportunity and I’m really excited about where the group is at and where we’re heading.”

Dawson will be supported by a five-man leadership group this year which includes Ben Keays, Tom Doedee, Brodie Smith and Reilly O’Brien.

Doedee and Smith have been part of the leadership group since 2020 while Keays and O’Brien were added last year.

“We are very fortunate to have some fantastic leaders at our Club and for these five players to again be backed in by their teammates reflects the outstanding job they have been doing,” Nicks said. “Stability with our leaders is important as our group continues to grow and build a strong connection both on and off the field.

“It’s an exciting time with Jordan taking over the captaincy and he is surrounded by some experienced leaders who each bring different strengths to the role.

“I want to thank Rory for his unbelievable leadership in the short period of time I’ve been at the footy club, we all know how Rory leads and he will continue to have that leadership going forward no doubt.

“But I’m extremely excited to congratulate Jordan on what comes next.”

RANKINE RETURNS

HOME

For Izak Rankine, returning home to South Australia and pulling on the colours of the team he barracked for growing up was always a dream.

And that dream has now become a reality for the 22-year-old goalsneak, who is preparing for his first campaign as an Adelaide Crow.

Rankine, who grew up in Adelaide, was drafted to Gold Coast in 2018 and spent the past four seasons playing footy away from his family and friends.

But a desire to be closer to family and play for his childhood Club was strong, so when the opportunity arose, it was too good to pass up, resulting in Rankine requesting a trade from the Suns last year.

“I always wanted to come home, it was just a matter of when and I guess it happened sooner rather than later,” Rankine said.

“I went for the Crows growing up, I was a big fan, I went to all the games and all of that, so to finally put on a jumper is pretty special and it’s very exciting for me.

“I’ve always gone for the Crows as everyone knows, I was never going anywhere else.

“Being comfortable and being around family will just help me play my best footy (and) my family is very proud of me and happy to have me around again.”

Rankine revealed his desire to seek a trade back to his home state became strong during the Suns’ Round 15 match against Port Adelaide in Round 15 last year.

“I’m a product of South Australia and the best thing to be able to do is play footy in South Australia for a South Australian team in front of big crowds, that’s what excites me the most,” Rankine said.

“When Gold Coast played Port in Adelaide at the back end of the season that’s when it sank in that there could be a real possibility of coming home.

“It was nice to have the family in the change rooms after that (Round 15) game.“From then on, from that Port game, it was just a snowball effect.”

After completing his first pre-season with the Crows Rankine said he had felt welcomed straight away by his new teammates. But former Swan Jordan Dawson had been the first to take him under his wing, having returned home in similar circumstances ahead of the 2022 season.

“Jordan Dawson has been a big help to me,” Rankine said.

“It’s really exciting with all the young talent we’ve got coming through.”

While Rankine had played much of his career as a forward, he was eyeing more midfield minutes at the Crows.

“I’d love to be playing midfield and rotating forward,” Rankine said. “I played midfield growing up, rotating forward and I reckon my best footy is running amok, having a bit of fun, kicking goals and doing whatever the team needs.

“If that’s in the midfield then that’s cool but I’m sure me and ‘Nicksy’ (Matthew Nicks) will sit down (with me) and Darren Burgess as well to see where I fit in and what I can provide.

“I’m just excited to get stuck in.”

MEET THE NEW CROWS

22 IZAK RANKINE

16 31 22 16 31

MAX MICHALANNEY

2022 TRADE PERIOD

PICK NO.17

NATIONAL DRAFT

BILLY DOWLING

PICK NO.43

NATIONAL DRAFT

Adelaide secured the exciting small forward, who signalled his intent to return home to South Australia, during the 2022 Trade Period.

The highly-skilled 22-year-old committed to the Club until at least the end of 2025 by signing a threeyear deal.

Rankine has played 48 games for the Suns after being selected with Pick No.3 in the 2018 National Draft.

In 2022, he kicked 29 goals in 18 games, including bags of four against Collingwood and West Coast.

Michalanney became Adelaide’s first ever father-son selection in a National Draft.

Adelaide matched a bid by Sydney on Michalanney at Pick 17 to secure the 18-year-old on the opening night of the draft.

The 191cm defender was part of Adelaide’s Next Generation and Father Son Academy and played three League games for Norwood in 2022, including the semi and preliminary finals.

He was named in the under-18 All-Australian team after impressing in the national championships, which included being named SA’s best player against the Allies and Victoria Country.

Adelaide snared the home grown midfielder with Pick 43 at the National Draft after trading its way back into the third round.

The Crows completed a pick swap with Gold Coast to improve their draft position and secure the North Adelaide on-baller, who was named MVP of the SANFL’s under-18 competition in 2022.

Dowling is a hard-working midfielder who averaged 31 disposals, seven marks, five tackles, five clearances and six inside 50s throughout the SANFL season, which was highlighted by an incredible 44-disposal, four-goal performance against Glenelg in Round 16.

HUGH BOND

PICK NO.50 NATIONAL DRAFT

TYLER BROWN

SELECTED DURING THE AFL’S PRE-SEASON SUPPLEMENTAL SELECTION PERIOD

MARK KEANE SELECTED

DURING THE AFL’S PRE-SEASON SUPPLEMENTAL SELECTION PERIOD

The Crows traded up at the 2022 National Draft to secure Bond after completing a pick swap with the Brisbane Lions.

Bond is a tough 185cm midfielder from Ballarat renowned for his competitiveness who played 12 games for the Rebels this season and represented Victoria Country. He is a former top-level rower who later turned his full attention to football.

Brown joined the Club on a oneyear contract during the AFL’s pre-season supplemental selection period (SSP).

Two spots on Adelaide’s list became available, with Fischer McAsey and Paul Seedsman both being placed on the inactive list for the 2023 season.

Brown is the son of former Collingwood captain and premiership player Gavin Brown who had a 254-game AFL career.

Tyler played 27 games for the Magpies from 2018 to 2022 when he was delisted after battling illness and injury.

Adelaide completed its 2023 squad after welcoming the Irishman during the AFL’s pre-season supplemental selection period.

Keane returned to Australia to resume his AFL career after playing five games in three years for Collingwood from 2019 to 2021. He was contracted to the Magpies for 2022 but decided to remain in Ireland for the past 12 months. As well as showing plenty of promise in his three years in the AFL system, Keane has also played toplevel hurling and Gaelic football in Ireland.

WHOPPER GOAL

Opt-in

MESSAGE FROM THE SANFL COACH

MICHAEL GODDEN

OUR MAIN FOCUS WITH SANFL PLAYERS EACH YEAR

IS THE CONTINUATION AND GROWTH

MEET OUR INDIGENOUS PLAYER DEVELOPMENT MANAGER SHANE EDWARDS

Shane Edwards admits he’s had itchy feet at times this pre-season.

After 16 consecutives years of AFL football, culminating with 303 games and three premierships at Richmond, this summer has looked a little different for the retired Tiger.

Having joined the Crows as Indigenous Player Development Manager and part of the Club’s recruiting team, Edwards has still been at footy training every day but just in different colours and a different role.

“It’s been different, there have definitely been times at training I’ve thought it would be good to be having a kick but it’s been nice not to have to front up to some of those running sessions,” Edwards said.

“I’ve really enjoyed the transition from playing to the football department and it’s been great to be part of a new footy club.

“I think I’ve got a lot to offer in that role (Indigenous Player Development Manager), regardless of whether it’s my job title or not I would always be keen on helping out in that space, it’s something I’m very passionate about.

“And I’ve been working in the recruiting department at Richmond for the past four years so it’s always been a focus to try to move into that space when I finished playing.

“Myself and my partner Sam have always had that want to go back to Adelaide so we are glad to have made the move with our daughter Mya.

“Seeing grandparents, friends and family missing out on our daughter getting older is something we wanted to change.

“And going through Covid and the lockdowns probably only strengthened our thoughts around coming home.”

Although Edwards spent his entire playing career at Richmond, his South Australian connections remained and played a part in bringing him to West Lakes.

“Getting to work at the Adelaide Football Club is something I’ve wanted to do and something that’s really interested me being from SA,” he said.

“I played state under-18s with (football operations manager) Tom Hurley, Sam Jacobs and I grew up with Matt Wright as well, so it’s almost like a state reunion coming back to the Crows.

“Having a relationship with a lot of people at the football club also showed me the club is in good hands and a place I’d like to work.

“I obviously played with (leadership manager) Dan Jackson at Richmond and Richard Taylor who was a recruiter at Richmond is also now at Adelaide, so I’m excited to be able to work with those two guys as well.”

Edwards won’t have to wait long to cross paths with his old team with Richmond coming to Adelaide Oval to play the Crows in Round 2.

“I had a look for that one as soon as the fixture was released,” he said.

“I’m pumped to be here and part of this Club so hopefully the boys can get the points.”

CROWS FOUNDATION

From

the Riverland to the APY Lands, Roxby Downs and the Far West Coast, the Adelaide Crows Foundation will reach thousands of children and youth across South Australia this year when its wellbeing, education and inclusion programs return to full capacity for the first time since pre-Covid.

For the past two years the Foundation’s programs have been restricted due to the pandemic but in 2023 the team will be back in full force visiting communities, educating and inspiring the next generation.

With the Club entering a new era of growth and enhanced engagement, as outlined in the recently released Earn the Pride 5-year Strategic Plan, the Crows Foundation is aspiring to deliver leading outreach programs benefiting 100,000 people.

At its core, the Foundation’s work is about building a better future for children and youth in need across the State, using the power of sport – and the Crows brand – to engage and empower them to reach their full potential.

Crows CEO Tim Silvers said it was exciting to be able to ramp up the Club’s community connections again and extend the influence the Crows Foundation’s programs have as a source for good across South Australia.

“We pride ourselves on being more than a football club and the work of the Crows Foundation is at the heart of this,” Silvers said.

“It provides a fantastic platform for our players and broader Club to give back and make a positive impact.

“It’s certainly been difficult to have a presence in the community as much as we would like across the past couple of years but, as we put the challenges of the pandemic behind us, we are excited to be able to take our health, education and inclusion programs to another level.”

In February the Crows Foundation clocked up its first kilometres for 2023, visiting the Riverland with a dozen AFL players to meet local supporters and spend time with almost 5,000 children at schools across Loxton, Renmark, Berri, Bamera and Waikerie.

The flood-affected region has had an incredibly tough couple of months, with the trip designed to provide some enjoyment and brief respite from the challenges the community is facing.

In March the first of the year’s Crows Cup Carnivals, established by AFLW Captain Chelsea Randall in 2016, will be hosted in the region, providing a fun and safe environment for local schoolgirls to give football a go. Part of the Crows Foundation’s health, wellbeing and resilience pillar, the program teaches the importance of nutrition, regular exercise and a positive attitude, aiming to build resilience in the 4,000 students around the State who will participate across the year.

The successful STEMfooty and Crows on Country programs will be delivered in the APY Lands, Far West Coast, in the Riverland and across Adelaide to more than 2,500 Year 7 students at schools identified as disadvantaged this year. STEMfooty translates SA kids’ love of AFL into an appreciation, understanding and passion for the science and maths behind it, offering 30 hours of innovative in-class learning.

Across July and August, the Variety Inclusive Academy will open for 100 children with an intellectual disability. The four-week football program aims to help young people with special needs increase physical activity levels while connecting them with AFL player role models and helping them to forge new friendships. Through the popular Crows Care program Crows players and staff will continue to deliver one-off experiences to support children and youth in need.

For more information about the Adelaide Crows Foundation, including information about how to donate, visit afc.com.au

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2023 MATCH DAY Hospitality

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ADELAIDE FOOTBALL CLUB

CROWS SUPPORTER GROUPS

The Adelaide Football Club is proud to have the support of fans and Members around Australia and thanks each and every one of those who throw their passion behind the Club.

If you would like more information about Crows Supporter Groups, please see below for contact details.

SOUTH AUSTRALIAN SUPPORTER GROUPS

Adelaide Metropolitan Crows Supporter Group

South East Crows Supporter Group

Eyre Peninsula Crows Supporter Group

Riverland Crows Supporter Group

Northern Areas Crows Supporter Group

Fleurieu Crows Supporter Group

Rainbow Crows Supporter Group

President: Peter Kauschke

Secretary: Julie Elliott

President: Trevor Roberts

Secretary: Marylyn Salievic

President: Jan Regan

Secretary: Jenny Sindos

President: Ian McLean

Secretary: Jill Martin

President: Andrew Benson

President: Brett McAloney

Secretary: Kay Young

INTERSTATE SUPPORTER GROUPS

Peter: 0439 990 134, csg.president@bigpond.com

Julie: 0458 276 974, crowsg@bigpond.com

Trevor: 0407 333 687, treman@internode.on.net

Marylyn: 0438 582 897, marilyn.salievic@bigpond.com

Mobile: 0428 823 490

Email: reegs2330@yahoo.com.au

Mobile: 0407 641 932

Email: msindos@bigpond.net.au

Ian: 0419 231 309

Jill Martin: 08 8642 5975, jillmartin@internode.on.net

Email: aben0685@internode.on.net

Web: adelaidecrowsfsg.com

Mobile: 0479 710 029, president@rainbowcrows.org

Facebook: facebook.com/rainbowcrows

SUPPORTER GROUPS CONTACT NAME CONTACT DETAILS

Melbourne Crows Supporter Group

Melbourne Based Coordinator: Debbie Campbell

QLD Crows Supporter Group David & Lyn Fairlie

NT Crows Supporter Group

ACT Crows Supporter Group

NSW Crows Supporter Group

President: Kevin Jenkins

President: Vanessa Little Secretary: David Benger

Nick Peters Matthew Angus

Mobile: 0405 477 487

Email: soupy1212@gmail.com

Email: d.fairlie@imb.uq.edu.au | lfairlie@mac.com

Facebook: Adelaide Crows QLD Supporters Group

Email: kjenkins1946@gmail.com

Vanessa: 0419 802 534, vklittle@gmail.com

David: 0413 088 717, croton@webone.com.au

Email: crowsnsw@gmail.com

Facebook: facebook.com/CrowsNSW/