Adelaide Crows sign former Port Adelaide star Josh Francou for Don Pyke’s coaching panel
PORT Adelaide great Josh Francou joins Adelaide Crows coaching staff to support Don Pyke.
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JOSH Francou is now officially part of Don Pyke’s coaching panel at Adelaide.
The Crows on Tuesday confirmed — as reported in The Advertiser since the AFL grand final at the weekend — the return of Francou from Sydney to replace David Teague on Adelaide’s coaching panel.
Teague is continuing is coaching journey at Carlton, where he was a player from 2004-6.
Francou, 43, is the first Port Adelaide player to cross the great divide in SA football to become part of the Crows’ senior coaching panel.
Renowned for his passionate dislike of the Crows during his 156-game career at the Power, Francou is quoted by the Adelaide front office as being an “admirer” of the club.
“I have admired the Crows from afar for being a strong and well-run club,” Francou says in a club statement.
“They have a talented playing list which took them to a grand final and I am looking forward to getting to know the players and coaches and working with them.
“The chance to bring my family home to Adelaide is also a nice bonus.”
Francou has spent the past four years at the Swans as a development coach and working with Stuart Dew on the Sydney midfield. His previous coaching experience includes senior duty at SANFL club North Adelaide from 2011-13.
Crows football chief Brett Burton enthusiastically endorsed Francou’s arrival at West Lakes saying: “Josh brings a vast array of experiences which complement the skills and qualities that already exist within our coaching group.
“He possesses an astute football brain, has a background in teaching and will assist in making our program better.”
michelangelo.rucci@news.com.au