Crows announce former assistant James Podsiadly and basketball legend Phil Smyth as the final members of panel to pick Adelaide’s next senior coach

The Crows have named the final two members of a four-person coaching panel that will help choose the next senior coach as the club continues to pick up the pieces from a disastrous season.

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FORMER Crows player and assistant coach James Podsiadly and four-time Olympian and basketball coach Phil Smyth have been revealed as the final names that will sit on a four-person panel to select Adelaide’s next coach.

Podsiadly and Smyth will join Crows CEO Andrew Fagan and football director and board member Mark Ricciuto on the panel.

In announcing the panel via a statement on the Crows website, Fagan said he believed the club had settled on the right mix of football and coaching acumen, with the panel to meet in coming days to finalise the selection criteria.

Phil Smyth, centre, pictured with Norwood coach Jarrod Cotton and CEO James Fantasia at the club’s oval on The Parade in August. Picture: Tom Huntley

“James brings a wealth of football experience as a recently retired player who has spent time in the coaches box and at the AFL where he has been part of a team analysing the trends of the modern game,” Fagan said.

“Meanwhile, Phil is an internationally experienced basketball player and coach who has won six NBL championships and provided leadership and mentoring expertise to AFL coaches and players over a number of years.

“They will both provide invaluable insights and judgment in the selection of a coach who has the qualities and skills best suited to our playing group and environment, as we strive for premiership success.”

James Podsiadly inside the AFL Max facility next to Adelaide Airport. AFL Max is the brainchild of James Podsiadly, former Crows and Geelong Player. Picture: MATT TURNER

With speculation swirling that Hawthorn forwards coach Scott Burns is the leading candidate, the club left the door open for other in the industry to assist the search process.

“As has been the case in previous recruitment processes, the club may call on other appropriately qualified people at different stages to support their decision making,” the Crows said in its statement.

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Adelaide said it expected the panel would take “several weeks” to identify the best candidate and make a formal recommendation to the club’s board of directors about who will be the next Crows coach.

Podsiadly, who was part of Geelong’s 2011 premiership team, is currently CEO of AFL Max and works within the AFL’s game analysis team, while Smyth has an outstanding record in basketball and is renowned for his work mentoring both athletes and coaches across a range of sports.