Adelaide 36ers championship winner Rupert Sapwell a contender for Crows’ new culture position
A former Adelaide 36er is among the contenders for the Crows’ new head of culture and leadership role.
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A close mutual friend of Matthew Nicks has helped three-time Adelaide 36ers title winner Rupert Sapwell become a contender for the Crows’ head of leadership and culture position.
Sapwell is a leading candidate for the new role after interviewing last week on the recommendation of Paul Bauer, a teammate in the 36ers’ 1998-99 championships.
Bauer has been long-time mates with Nicks and now works as the Crows’ commercial general manager.
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Sapwell was a renowned “glue guy” who helped teams jell during his 360-game NBL career, then was president of the league’s players association, before coaching Norwood to two SA titles.
For the past nine years, he has been director of sport at Trinity College, combining administrative work with trying to make a difference helping students, including some from refugee and lower socio-economic backgrounds, embrace the co-curricular program.
He also coaches the boys’ open basketball team – the reigning national school champions.
The 47-year-old told The Advertiser he was excited about the opportunity to learn more about what the Crows role would entail.
“Paul Bauer and I played on a couple of championships and we’re good mates and through Paul I’ve met Matthew Nicks – they’ve been best mates for a long time,” Sapwell said.
“Nicksy was looking for someone like that and Paul Bauer through our association said ‘I know a guy’.
“I’ve had conversations with Nicksy … and we are very philosophically aligned and I think he’s going to make a difference no matter who the head of culture and leadership is.
“It’d be an exciting role but I’ve also got a pretty awesome role at Trinity.
“So if it happens that’s great, but if not, I’m right in my wheelhouse here.
“I’ve always loved culture and leadership things … so I’m thrilled to be considered.
“I guess I’ve got a strong suit in dealing with young men and that’s the sort of path that entices me to this role.”
Creating a head of culture and leadership was one of the key findings of the external review into Adelaide’s football department, which was completed in October.
Sapwell said employing someone full-time in that position showed the Crows “really mean business about making a difference in that respect”.
“Whoever gets that role I think will need to get in there really quickly because this is relationship-forming time,” he said.
Sapwell said he had not played football since he was 15 or 16.
“I can kick one and don’t look embarrassing out there and that’s the end and I wouldn’t come in there and go ‘hey, you should be playing so and so’,” he said.
“The coach in me is excited to be around high-performance … and these are highly motivated people trying to get to the peak of what they can do.”
Adelaide is also searching for a football manager following Brett Burton’s dismissal after the review.
SANFL general manager Adam Kelly is understood to be one of the contenders for that position.