AFL 2021: All the latest news at the Adelaide Crows

Rory Laird is now the seventh two-time Malcolm Blight Medal recipient at the Adelaide Crows, but what he did in March probably means more to his legion of fans.

Richmond footy club preparing to leave the State. 27/05/2021 . . Football manager Neil Balme chats with Liam Baker. . Pic: Michael Klein

Rory Laird’s transformation to one of the AFL’s premium on-ballers has been capped with his second Malcolm Blight Medal.

The 27-year-old has become the seventh player to be crowned Adelaide’s Club Champion for a second time at Saturday night’s event at the Convention Centre.

Laird did win his first gold jacket in 2018, as a defender.

Last year he was shifted into the midfield amid Adelaide’s struggles and he was a big part in the Crows positive finish to 2020.

In 2021 he continued in the midfield role and played all 22 games this season, averaging 32 disposals, 6.8 clearances and nearly six tackles per game.

He had a season-high 40 disposals twice against Collingwood in Round 12 and in the Round 23 win over North Melbourne last weekend.

Laird was rookie listed by the Crows with Pick No.5 in 2011 and made his AFL debut in 2013 when he played 18 games.

His career tally now stands at 182 and in March the two-time All Australian re-signed with the Crows until the end of 2026.

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Rory Laird has been transformed into one of the AFL’s most prolific midfielders.

Laird polled 123 votes to win by just three from fellow midfielder Ben Keays who has now finished top five in the award in his two seasons at the Crows after being delisted by Brisbane.

Paul Seedsman, who like Laird was nominated in the All Australian squad was third on 105 votes while Brodie Smith, Tom Doedee and Taylor Walker were all equal fourth on 93.

Reigning champion Reilly O’Brien and Jake Kelly were equal fifth on 90.

Adelaide’s Club Champion award is calculated by coaches rating every player with a score from 1-10 after every game this season.

Young guns Jordon Butts and Ned McHenry were rewarded for breakout seasons with finishes in the top 10, along with captain Rory Sloane.

Rory Laird pipped Ben Keays to be crowned the Crows best and fairest.

He also won the Member’s MVP Award on Saturday night, as well as the Players’ Trademark Award.

Taylor Walker, who got permission from the playing group to attend the night after his six-game ban for racially vilification, was Adelaide’s leading goalkicker with 48 goals from 17 games this season.

Young gun Harry Schoenberg — who was nominated for the AFL’s Rising Star Award — received the Mark Bickley Emerging Talent Award.

The departing Tom Lynch was presented the Phil Walsh Best Team Man Award and Ned McHenry the Dr Brian Sando OAM Trophy for professionalism and attention to detail.

Ruckman Kieran Strachan, who played the final two games of the season in the AFL, won the SANFL Club Champion Award while Jay Boyle won the Dean Bailey Award for on-field performance, dedication to training and commitment to the team.

Further to Adelaide’s AFLW vote count night in April, Ebony Marinoff was recognised for winning the Club Champion Award for last season from Anne Hatchard and Erin Phillips.

Phillips won the Leading Goal Kicker Award, Hatchard the Players’ Player Award and Sarah Allan was crowned Best Defensive Player.

2021 Malcolm Blight Medal Final Leaderboard

1. Rory Laird 123 votes

2. Ben Keays 120 votes

3. Paul Seedsman 105 votes

4. Brodie Smith 93 votes

4. Tom Doedee 93 votes

4. Taylor Walker 93 votes

7. Jake Kelly 90 votes

7. Reilly O’Brien 90 votes

9. Jordon Butts 88 votes

10. Rory Sloane 86 votes

10. Ned McHenry 86 votes

CROWS IN TALKS TO LAND FLAG MASTERMIND

Adelaide has had informal talks with Neil Balme over a senior role within the Crows football department.

Despite reports that Balme had agreed to become the Crows head of football for 2022, the Richmond senior club advisor is still under contract at the Tigers and no agreement has been struck up with him and Adelaide.

But the Sunday Mail understands that the Crows and Balme have had informal talks, over what would be a huge coup for the rebuilding Adelaide.

The Crows pursued Balme last off-season and he 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.

Highly regarded Richmond football manager Neil Balme could be heading interstate. Picture: Michael Klein

But the Crows pursuit of the 69-year-old this year looks set to have a far better result for Adelaide.

What role Balme would take at the Crows if he makes the move has yet to be specified.

But it is understood it would be a role that would place him along with senior coach Matthew Nicks as the two most influential figures in the Crows football department.

Adam Kelly is currently the Crows head of football, but Balme would be his senior.

Matthew Nicks (right) has said the Adelaide Crows will look to improve their footy department.

Last week when asked about the potential of Balme joining, after The Advertiser reported that the Crows were interested in the Richmond senior advisor again, Nicks said Adelaide had big plans to improve its football department.

“Again, what I can say is we are doing everything we possibly can to get better as every club would be doing at this point in time,” Nicks said.

“It’s looking in to that, sitting down, discussing a strategy and saying how can we improve? “We talk about adding to our group which is already strong.”

Balme has been an instrumental figure in Richmond’s three premierships across the past four years after leaving Collingwood and joining the Tigers as general manager of football in September 2016.

Balme also has an excellent reputation with Indigenous players, with the Crows still dealing with the fallout from ex-captain Taylor Walker being banned for six games for making a racial slur.

Originally published as AFL 2021: All the latest news at the Adelaide Crows