Jon Ralph analyses Adelaide’s decision to drop Josh Rachele foir round 24

Can Josh Rachele really be dropped on form? JON RALPH writes that the Crows face an impossible PR task to convince fans Rachele hasn’t been made a scapegoat if he loses his spot.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – JULY 19: Josh Rachele of the Crows and Matthew Nicks, Senior Coach of the Crows celebrate during the 2024 AFL Round 19 match between the Essendon Bombers and the Adelaide Crows at Marvel Stadium on July 19, 2024 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Adelaide’s will attempt to send a message about elevated standards to its playing group with its perplexing decision to drop Josh Rachele for round 24 despite his strong form in the past five weeks.

But the shock call, set to be confirmed at selection on Thursday night, has a significant chance of backfiring given his inability to win back his spot after the last game of the season.

Adelaide is furious with Rachele’s conduct after he claimed in one of his regular weekly radio spots that “Port supporters don’t have many teeth”, then mocked those fans after a Showdown goal.

But while he again failed to commit to a tough 50-50 contest in the centre of the ground during the game, his form has actually been very strong in the past five weeks.

He has kicked 10 goals, including three-goal hauls against Geelong and Essendon and had 34 score assists in that time, with his season not up to his high standards but still a 30-goal year.

Dropping him in round 24 will require some explanation from the club on Thursday at selection, but any suggestion the demotion is form-based will ring hollow from the football department.

They will have to explain why he is not the scapegoat for another loss under Matthew Nicks’ tenure.

Josh Rachele is facing the axe from Adelaide’s team after a week in the headlines. Picture: Daniel Pockett/Getty Images

It will also give rise to claims the club is trying to stifle his exuberant personality when Adelaide has showmen like Taylor Walker and Izak Rankine who also love to fire up the crowds.

The decision will also put a spotlight on the media deals he has with Adelaide companies, which include sister stations 5AA and Nova.

He went on both of those stations as part of his deal this week in contracts that are organised by his management.

What a poor way to back in, support & assist a 21YO who they invested pick 6 and a contract through 2029… https://t.co/QLmTRMW5DM

— Josh Jenkins (@JoshJenkins24) August 21, 2024

Those lucrative deals supplement his income, with Rachele contracted to 2029.

He also had a deal with Channel 9 but he sacked that contract earlier in the year after he drew headlines when he said he wasn’t sure why he wasn’t being given more midfield time.

Rachele did not front for his weekly 5AA appearance on Thursday morning.

Rachele embraces Matthew Nicks after a win in April. Picture: Michael Klein

While rivals will be sure to ask about his services given what shapes as a long and difficult summer, Adelaide will give short shrift to any trade talk given that contract for the next five seasons.

Adelaide coach Matthew Nicks, under intense pressure next year to perform, might also admit he has not been able to effectively harness the talents or personalities of his playing group.

Teammate Rory Laird slapped Rachele midweek when he suggested he should be “letting his footy do the talking”.

“We all know that Josh has engaged in this before in terms of some of the stuff he does on-field. He’s a big celebrator and he’s just a very passionate guy, I think, and he came out and said it was a bit of a joke and a bit of a laugh — but it is something we try and shy away from,” he said.

“It’s not something many of our players would go out and try to do. It was a little bit misaligned as to how we approach these games. I think Josh understands that.

“He kept going on with it and it was in line with how the game was, it was such a passionate and intense game that he probably got to the game and continued on with it instead of just letting his footy do the talking.

“I can understand how passionate some players get … it just happens out there, you just get caught in the moment with the adrenaline and the crowd and how intense it was.”