Three rival club bosses ruled out as Adelaide Crows continue search for key football department positions
Several well-known footy identities have been linked to key vacant off-field positions at Adelaide, including Neil Craig, Neil Balme and David Noble. But which of them can be ruled out?
AFL
Don't miss out on the headlines from AFL. Followed categories will be added to My News.
- How a barbecue at Roo’s house helped seal Nicks’ Crows fate
- Prizes, discounts: check out the latest Advertiser subscriber rewards
Adelaide is continuing its search to fill three key vacant football department positions and is at least another week away from making any appointments.
The Crows have been seeking a new football manager and senior assistant, as well as their inaugural head of leadership and culture, to work alongside incoming coach Matthew Nicks.
Adelaide axed football boss Brett Burton and lead assistant Scott Camporeale this month after an external review, then appointed Nicks as Don Pyke’s successor the next week.
Rival club football managers Neil Balme (Richmond), David Noble (Brisbane) and Craig Vozzo (West Coast) have all been linked to the Crows but can be ruled out.
Speculation also mentioned Neil Craig, who coached the Crows to two preliminary finals while at the helm from 2005-11, and Glenelg premiership mentor Mark Stone were candidates yet both had not been contacted as of Monday.
Dual Norwood flag-winning coach Balme is happy at Richmond, where has been football boss for its past two premierships after success in similar roles at Geelong and Collingwood, while Noble will not be returning to the Crows from Brisbane.
Stream over 50 sports live and on-demand with KAYO SPORTS on your TV, computer, mobile or tablet. Just $25/month, no lock-in contract. Get your 14-day free trial and start streaming instantly >
West Coast football manager Vozzo is originally from Adelaide and a former SANFL player, agent and Eagles list boss, who still has family in SA.
But West Coast says he is fully committed there and will be at the club next season.
“He’s not going to entertain anything from Adelaide at all at the moment,” an Eagles spokesman said.
The Crows may look to promote someone from within or rejig their coaching positions if they find the right person to run the football department.
Phil Harper has held the footy manager post previously but he is happy as the club’s head of football administration and not been sounded out.
Whoever fills the vacancies will come in during a transitional period as the Crows prepare to begin their first pre-season under Nicks in the middle of next month and for the national draft on November 27-28.
Adelaide is seeking to bounce back in 2020 from two consecutive years without finals.