AFL 2022: Adelaide Crows signing news and pre-season updates

Adelaide has bolstered its football department after signing a three-time premiership winning star.

Three-time Richmond premiership player Shane Edwards has joined Adelaide’s football department as the Crows Indigenous player development manager as well as a role in the club’s recruiting team.

The 303-game Tiger finished his playing career at the end of the 2022 season after he was drafted from North Adelaide in 2006.

He spent the final four years of his playing career at Punt Road also working with Richmond’s recruiting team.

With Edwards joining the Crows the club’s current Indigenous player development manager Jeremy Johncock will move into a role as the Indigenous programs manager.

Crows head of football Adam Kelly said Edwards was one of the most respected players in the competition.

Shane Edwards (C) will join Adelaide’s football department. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL/Getty

“First and foremost, it is Shane’s record of leadership and mentorship, and his obvious desire to support others to be their best that made him a great candidate for this role,” Kelly said.

“That he has been part of a highly successful environment for a long time, and that he brings with him a vast amount of football experience complements his suitability for the important role that he will play within our program.

“His decorated playing career is obvious – over 300 games, three premierships and All-Australian honours – but just as impressive is his standing in the game and reputation as a highly respected football person and proud Indigenous man.”

Edwards said he was excited to get into the Indigenous player support space.

“I think I’ve got a bit to offer in that department (Indigenous player development), 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 looking forward to,” Edwards said.

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