Five years after criticising the Crows’ culture, Andrew McLeod remains estranged from the club

Five years after a highly-publicised falling out, one of the Crows’ greatest players is still estranged from the club. And though work is being done, there’s still a long way to go.

Adelaide is still trying to repair its relationship with one of its greatest players, five years on from a highly-publicised falling out.

Andrew McLeod, the Crows’ games record holder, remains “estranged” from the club after criticising its culture in June 2020.

Former Adelaide powerbroker Bill Sanders has been an intermediary in trying to mend the bridge, in the hope the dual Norm Smith Medallist will eventually return to club functions.

Sanders said it was important for the Crows to have legends like McLeod involved in some way.

One of Adelaide’s greatest remains estranged from the club. Picture: Darren Tindale

“I just feel so bad for the footy club and sad that Andrew is estranged at the moment,” Sanders told this masthead.

“It’s my hope and the hope of many others that we can fix that.

“Those endeavours will be ongoing.

“I’m sure the club would welcome him back enthusiastically to be where he should be.”

A member of both the Australian football and Crows halls of fame, McLeod received best afield honours in back-to-back premierships in 1997-98, was a three-time Malcolm Blight Medallist as club champion and earnt five All-Australian blazers during a 340-game career in the tricolours from 1995 to 2010.

His disconnection from his former club emerged five years ago when he declared on his podcast with Adelaide 36ers great Brett Maher that he did not feel comfortable walking back into there.

At the time, McLeod was an assistant coach with the Crows’ AFLW side – a role he held from 2018 until late 2020.

He and his wife, Rachael, had also run a suite of indigenous programs, often at the Crows, under the McLeod Centre of Excellence.

McLeod and wife Rachael at the 2025 AFL Hall of Fame event. Picture: Jonathan DiMaggio/Getty Images

Adelaide funded his programs for a year after $300,000 in federal government money lapsed in 2018, before withdrawing its financial support because of the impact of the Covid crisis.

In December 2020, McLeod stressed in an interview with Solstice Media that he still cared for the football part of the club and had a strong attachment to the AFLW squad.

Today, he is still very close with the Crows head of women’s football Phil Harper, holds strong relationships with some former teammates and is much loved by AFLW players who played under him.

While his relationship with the club is considered to be a work in progress, he remains involved in football.

Darwin-born McLeod is part of a taskforce examining the feasibility of an AFL side in the Northern Territory.

Adelaide Crows AFLW head coach Bec Goddard holds the 2017 AFLW Premiership Cup with assistants McLeod, and Peter Caven. Picture: Matt Turner

McLeod criticised the culture of the Crows in 2020.

He also sits on the Australian Football Hall of Fame selection committee and helps Morphettville Park’s women’s side, where his daughter plays.

McLeod attended a Crows home game with Sanders in 2023 and in 2021 was a club guest for its match against Melbourne at Adelaide Oval.

An oval function room that allows guests to watch Port Adelaide and Crows players to warm up is named after McLeod and Port Adelaide great John Cahill, his 1994 SANFL premiership coach.

Sanders said more discussion and understanding from the Crows would be needed to help bring McLeod back into the fold.

“He’s a great, lovely person who is a champion of the club,” he said.

McLeod was contacted for comment.

Originally published as Five years after criticising the Crows’ culture, Andrew McLeod remains estranged from the club