AFL 2021: Adelaide Crows off-season news

He won a premiership at Port Adelaide but arch rival Adelaide wants Shaun Burgoyne to join the Crows in his first role after retiring.

No sooner had Shaun Burgoyne hung up the boots than the Crows came calling. Picture: Getty Images

Adelaide has sounded out Shaun Burgoyne to bolster its football department.

The Advertiser understands the four-time Hawthorn and Port Adelaide premiership player is among a number of people the Crows have sounded out across the industry as they look to bolster their football department this off-season.

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Burgoyne, who played 157 games for bitter rivals the Power before playing 250 at the Hawks, retired after a glittering close to 20-year career in the AFL.

No sooner had Shaun Burgoyne hung up the boots than the Crows came calling. Picture: Getty Images

The 38-year-old is weighing up several options for his post-playing career and as part of the push to add to the football department at West Lakes it is understood the Crows have sounded him out as they go across the board to see who they could bring to the club.

Adelaide already has an Indigenous liaison officer Jeremy Johncock – a cousin of much-loved Crow Graham.

But Burgoyne taking up a potential role in the football department would only bolster this area.

Erin Phillips is Burgoyne’s sister-in-law. Picture Matt Turner.

Despite playing for fierce rivals Port Burgoyne has some strong links to people at the Crows.

Adelaide AFLW star Erin Phillips is his sister-in-law, while he knows Crows chief executive Tim Silvers from their time together at Hawthorn.

Burgoyne did nearly take up an offer with Gold Coast in 2019, checking out schools and property up there – but made the decision to stay in Melbourne for family reasons.

But Melbourne for the second year in a row has had to deal with an extended lockdown because of the Covid-19 situation there.

Key Adelaide figures such as Silvers and senior coach Matthew Nicks have said the Crows will do whatever they can to bolster their footy department this off-season.

Burgoyne helped lead Port to a premiership before crossing to the Hawks.

It is understood this involves sounding out a lot of people within the footy industry to see if they can be lured to West Lakes.

The Crows did have informal talks with Richmond footy guru Neil Balme about him returning to SA.

But on Monday Balme put out a statement saying he would honour the final year of his deal with the Tigers.

On top of being in a select club to have played 400 VFL/AFL games, Burgoyne has also played 35 finals games – the second-most by after Michael Tuck.

Burgoyne retired this year after 407 games. Picture: AFL Photos/Getty Images

Why Tiger mastermind knocked back Crows offer

Neil Balme has again turned down an approach from Adelaide to join the Crows football department.

After The Advertiser reported the Crows had hit a stumbling block in their bid to lure the football guru to West Lakes, Richmond issued a statement on Twitter from Balme in which he pledged his allegiance to the Tigers.

“I appreciate Adelaide Football Club reaching out for a conversation but Richmond is where my heart is and I look forward to continuing to help strengthen the club into the future,” Balme said.

Richmond Senior Club Advisor Neil Balme has made the following statement regarding recent media reports. pic.twitter.com/QK0Wzt9QLI

— Richmond FC 🐯🏆 (@Richmond_FC) August 30, 2021

🙏 pic.twitter.com/A6DzL6AY2v

— Richmond FC 🐯🏆 (@Richmond_FC) August 30, 2021

The Crows and Balme, who still has a year to run on his current deal at Richmond, had informal talks about him relocating to Adelaide.

Reports over the weekend had suggested it was confirmed, and Balme would be the club’s head of football — a role currently held by Adam Kelly.

But, for the second off-season, Balme has decided to spurn the advances of the Crows and stay in Melbourne.

Following the reports, senior coach Matthew Nicks used his speech at Adelaide’s Club Champion night on Saturday to praise Kelly.

“To Adam Kelly, not many have earnt the respect of the group that you have in such a short time,” Nicks said.

“You have been a rock for me and I look forward to working with you long into the future.”

Neil Balme says his heart is with Richmond. Picture: Michael Klein

The Crows pursued Balme last off-season to bolster the experience around Nicks and Kelly, who were both in their first seasons in their respective roles.

Balme was open to returning to Adelaide having coached Norwood to two premierships in the 1980s.

But a health condition meant Balme stayed at the Tigers, in a “godfather” role in their footy department.

The talks with the Crows had focused around a yet to be specified role, with it understood that if Balme went to Adelaide he would have be along with Nicks as one of the two most influential figures in the football department.

Adelaide’s pursuit of Balme is over. Picture: Michael Klein

On Monday Crows chief executive Tim Silvers was asked on FIVEaa about whether Balme was going to join the club.

He said he couldn’t talk about “contracted staff at other clubs”.

“However we are trying to get the best footy department we can in the competition so we are looking at bringing good people into our club,” he said.

“We need some experience and support to get our programs better but we have a wonderful leader in Adam Kelly who is our head of footy and Matthew Nicks who are leading the football department really well.

“It’s about trying to find pieces to support them to get even better.”

Originally published as AFL 2021: Adelaide Crows off-season news