All the Adelaide Crows pre-season news for 2023 ahead of round 1

The Crows are keeping a close eye on some of South Australia’s brightest 2023 draft prospects including one prospective father-son pick.

Former Collingwood player Mark Keane is expected to join Crows training next week. Picture: Sportsfile via Getty Images

Young gun Josh Rachele is back training with Adelaide’s main group as he continues his progress from a hamstring complaint.

Rachele has been on a modified program this year due to the issue, having spent the bulk of sessions jogging on the sidelines or completing ball drills solo.

On Monday, the 19-year-old took part in match simulation and moved well, even spending some time on-ball, a good sign seven weeks away from round 1.

Rachele played 13 matches last season, including kicking five goals on debut, before a hip injury ended his campaign in August.

Josh Rachele (right, pictured earlier in pre-season) is back training with the main squad. Picture: Tom Huntley

Irish recruit Mark Keane, who featured five times for Collingwood from 2019-21 and signed with Adelaide on Saturday, was yet to arrive at the club.

The 22-year-old key defender is expected to start training with the Crows next week.

In other observations at Monday’s session:

■ Forward Shane McAdam was with the main group for the first time this pre-season after building his fitness. McAdam had Covid last week. Speedster Tariek Newchurch also joined in with the full squad after overcoming groin soreness. McAdam and Newchurch later ran laps with SANFL marquee player Jack Madgen.

■ Defender Josh Worrell is still working his way back from a hamstring issue, running solo for part of the session. Second-year midfielder Zac Taylor was jogging away from the main group due to a slight hamstring problem.

Josh Worrell (pictured in November) is still working his way back from a hamstring issue. Picture: Tom Huntley

■ The teams in match simulation were mixed, offering little indication as to potential A and B squads. Ruckman Reilly O’Brien was working on his forward craft, playing deep in attack, as Elliott Himmelberg and Kieran Strachan duelled in the middle of the ground. Izak Rankine’s ball use and pace again stood out. Patrick Parnell’s sound decision-making and neat kicking have caught the eye the past two sessions.

■ Rory Sloane, Tom Doedee, Ben Keays, Lachlan Murphy and Madgen were wearing non-contact hats. Murphy is the new addition to that group but the club is said to be looking after him and there are no concerns.

■ Forward Darcy Fogarty seems to have become more vocal on the track on the back of his brilliant finish to the 2022 campaign. The 23-year-old has often been one of the loudest voices at training this summer, instructing teammates during drills and match simulation, in another sign of his growth as a player.

■ Adelaide announced that 2023 draft hopefuls Ashton Moir (Glenelg) and Kane McAuliffe (North Adelaide), along with 2023 father-son prospect Tyler Welsh, son of Scott, will train with the club at times this season. Moir and Welsh are forwards, while McAuliffe is a midfielder.

Originally published as All the Adelaide Crows pre-season news for 2023 ahead of round 1