Callum Ah Chee on his move to Adelaide via the pre-season draft after failed trade
Cal Ah Chee has hit the track for the first time at his new club after a delayed move from Brisbane via the pre-season draft. He chats that failed trade and the Crows’ straight-sets finals exit.
New Crow Callum Ah Chee says Brisbane holding its ground and sending him to the pre-season draft to realise his move to Adelaide won’t impact how he views his time at the Lions.
Ah Chee trained for the first time in his new colours at West Lakes on Monday after a prolonged move from the Lions to the Crows.
While the 28-year-old was out of contract and had informed the Lions that he wanted to become a Crow, the two clubs could not agree on a deal for him during the trade period.
This meant Ah Chee had to wait until last month’s pre-season draft for the Crows to select him.
He said he still had fond memories of his time at the Lions, despite that frustration.
“It was obviously a little bit disappointing but I won two flags there,” he said.
“Played in three grand finals and my teammates over in Brissie I made long-lasting friendships with them and they will be part of my life forever which is amazing.
“I’ll never forget being able to live out my dream by going back-to-back (premierships)... and hopefully I can win one here as well.”
The Lions have been a team that the Crows have based their rebuild on closely.
While they were able to claim the minor premiership after a stunning rise from 15th in 2024, the Crows were bundled out of finals in straight sets.
Ah Chee said that was part of the journey.
“I think so, I think I joined Brisbane at a similar time,” he said.
There’s a new Crow in town.
— Adelaide Crows (@Adelaide_FC) November 30, 2025
Welcome, Cal â˜ºï¸ pic.twitter.com/aYwDUH4ulH
“So I think that is where I can help out and hopefully fast-track it a bit with my experience and my journey and what I have learnt over the years I hope I can give back to the boys.
“I think you have to go through a bit of adversity together, it is not easy you don’t make premiership teams overnight.
“You’ve got to go through adversity and learn from it, you can’t shy away from it.
“The finals are hard, it is almost another season. It is not easy to win finals games but I am sure the Crows boys learnt a lot from those games.”
Ah Chee might be from Western Australia originally, but grew up as a supporter of the Crows.
That and being closer to family with young kids was why he sought a trade to Adelaide.
“I supported Adelaide as a young kid, pretty surprising being from WA,” he said.
“But my dad went for the Crows so I’ve always had that link there, which is really exciting.
“My brother lived here and played for Port so I was very familiar with the town and we are closer to family here, it is a lot closer to Perth.
“That was a really big pull for me, having been in Brisbane without any help really for 10 years has been tough.”
Ah Chee also reunites with Crows director of coaching Murray Davis.
“I have an amazing relationship with him, I won my first premiership with him and he was my forwards coach,” he said.
“And he was also my backs coach when I first started at Brissie so I’ve kind of been with him the whole way.
“He was awesome to ask questions about the club and what it was like... I’m keen to work with him again.”
WHAT ELSE CAUGHT THE EYE
With Ah Chee now at the club, nearly all of the Crows list was on the track.
Captain Jordan Dawson was out there after he was one of only a handful of senior players who did not report for day one of pre-season last week.
Izak Rankine only walked a lap or two before going inside but the Crows have said it is nothing serious.
Last year’s top draftee Sid Draper was inside as he deals with a back issue.
Fellow draftee from last year Tyler Welsh looks to have gotten leaner after his first season at AFL level.
LIONS SKIPPER’S CALL TO CAL
- Callum Dick
Brisbane co-captain Harris Andrews has revealed he called premiership teammate Cal Ah Chee to wish him well on his move to Adelaide, which was delayed until the pre-season draft due to the Lions and Crows not being able to agree to a trade during the trade period.
“I did talk to Cal sort of when it all went down and just wanted to send him my support,” Andrews said.
“He’s a great guy and a great teammate. You obviously want the best for him and his family.
“It’s disappointing to lose Cal to Adelaide but he has to look after his family at the same time and he is a little bit closer to home (Western Australia) which is important.
“It will be exciting coming up against Adelaide they are a great team and he is going to play a big part for them so I wish him all the best.”
Originally published as Callum Ah Chee on his move to Adelaide via the pre-season draft after failed trade
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