How Josh Rachele responded in SANFL after shock Crows axing

It was a far cry from the Showdown as Josh Rachele took his first steps towards earning his way back into the Adelaide side when he turned out at Unley Oval for the Crows SANFL side.

Josh Rachele playing for Crows SANFL side after being controversially dropped for the AFL game against Sydney. 24 August 2024. Picture: Dean Martin

Josh Rachele would have expected and wanted to be more than 1300km away.

But as the 21-year-old ran onto Unley Oval after half-time on Saturday, the mini leaguers providing the guard of honour for the Crows’ SANFL team drew a big smile from him.

Rachele was there, playing his first state-league match since 2022 and receiving the most excitable on-ground welcome from the youngsters, partly because he opened his mouth.

A pre-Showdown barb about toothless Port fans and stirring them midgame with a solo, mock ‘teeth’ celebration started a headline-making week that only grew bigger when Adelaide dropped him for putting himself before the team too many times this year.

On Saturday, as the Crows were preparing to end their AFL campaign against Sydney at the SCG, Rachele finished his by taking his first steps towards earning his way back into the side at another postage stamp-sized ground.

Josh Rachele turned out for the Crows SANFL side after being controversially dropped. Picture: Dean Martin

Rachele did not have cause for his usual celebrations – he did not kick a goal and the Crows lost by 14 points, ending their SANFL finals hopes.

But he did the little things – both during and after the match – that pleased stand-in Adelaide state-league coach Matt Wright.

“I thought he worked his backside off,” said Wright, who took the reins while Michael Godden was in Sydney with the AFL squad.

“It’s obviously been a big week and a half for him but he bought in, gave himself to the team and he just wanted to make the team better, which he did.

“To then hang around and then give his boots and signatures to the kids post-game, that’s ultimately what it’s about.

“It’s fantastic for him to respond the way he did.”

Sturt put out the welcome mat for Rachele on Friday.

The Double Blues promoted the game on Facebook by posting: “Bring your best smiles to Thomas Farms Oval tomorrow when Sturt take on Adelaide”.

“Hey Josh Rachele, welcome to Unley. Don’t worry, we’ve got plenty of toothbrushes at Sturt Football Club. We like to keep our smiles as sharp as our footy skills. #Toothpasteandtackles,” the post, which had two cartoon teeth, said.

Rachele’s selection was a sideshow for the bumper crowd of 4147, most of whom attended on a beautiful winter’s day hoping the Double Blues could secure top spot on the ladder.

The whirlwind week did prompt Sturt to put on extra security, including someone following Adelaide’s players to the huddle and the change rooms.

Rachele copped a smattering of audible boos just once from the home fans – on the grandstand wing when he had an early disposal.

Crows supporters cheered.

Julie Cortvriend told this masthead: “I think it’s a bit harsh they dropped him”.

“He’s young and he’ll learn from the mistakes he’s made.”

Josh Rachele selection was a sideshow for the bumper crowd of 4147 at Unley Oval. Picture: Dean Martin

About a dozen Adelaide fans showed their support by wearing his No. 8 guernsey.

One of those was Billy Amanatidis, who said he did not like the way the club had handled the Rachele situation and he came to Unley to get behind the third-year Crow.

“His past month of footy has been pretty good – OK his last game was a bit quiet – but it’s the last game of the year, we’re 15th, dropping him makes no sense now,” Amanatidis, 22, said.

“I feel for him, a young 21-year-old boy.

“I do come to SANFL games, but this was a definite ‘I’m going to come and support him’.”

Amanatidis said the Crows’ reasoning that Rachele needed to be more team-first was a little confusing.

“I don’t think he’s selfish,” he said.

Rachele’s first touch on Saturday somewhat ironically was a goal assist – a classy, pinpoint pass to Toby Murray.

The axed Crow was named in a forward pocket though played almost entirely in the midfield.

He finished with 17 disposals, a team-high six clearances and three tackles.

Only Adelaide and Rachele would know exactly what team-first acts the coaches wanted to see.

Things like that goal assist four minutes into the game, winning his own hard ball before handballing to another Crow, his second-quarter smother, making habits of picking teammates off the turf after they had been tackled and running hard back to help the defence might have been among them.

“Like every other player, we just wanted him to have a crack,” Wright said.

“He was really impressive, I love working with Josh, I have played with Josh.

“He’s a ripper and he’ll no doubt continue to learn and contribute to our team.

“As a footy club and I think Josh, we’re sick of talking about it to a degree.”

With both sides lacking polish and missing shots – Sturt led 5.13 to Adelaide’s 4.11 at three-quarter time – it felt like the kind of game set up for Rachele’s class around goals to come to the fore.

He drifted forward a few times, but the Crows resisted the temptation to stick him inside 50 often.

“Playing (largely) midfield is a new role for him, but it’s going to be part of his development,” Wright said.

Adelaide, which has received a ton of external backlash, is hoping its decision to drop Rachele is good for him and the team in the long run.

“It’s a learning experience,” Amanatidis said.

Originally published as How Josh Rachele responded in SANFL after shock Crows axing