Drama over dumped Crow Josh Rachele keeps rumbling on

The drama surrounding outspoken Crow Josh Rachele, who has been dumped this week, is showing no signs of slowing down.

The Josh Rachele saga with the Adelaide Crows is showing no signs of slowing down.

It has been a wild week for the budding 21-year-old star, who brought enormous attention on himself with his “not many teeth” barbs aimed at Port Adelaide fans prior to last Saturday’s Showdown.

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The Power won the game and Matthew Nicks initially backed Rachele, the coach speaking of “theatre” in his post-match comments and declaring “if we stamp that out we become robots”.

Nicks and his match committee then promptly turned around and dumped Rachele from the side for Adelaide’s final clash of 2024 against the Swans in Sydney.

Rachele had played all 22 matches so far this season, kicking 30 goals, following 21 matches and 23 goals in 2023.

Nicks spoke to media on Friday morning and talked about “team first” values, while trying to insist the decision to drop Rachele wasn’t related to his Showdown antics and comments.

Josh Rachele giving it to Port fans in last week’s Showdown. (Photo by James Elsby/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

And in a very different mood training with Adelaide's SANFL team on Friday. Picture: Dean Martin

The Rachele treatment has been a talking point all week, with a number of footy greats questioning any move to drop him, including former Demons captain Garry Lyon and South Australian footy great Graham Cornes.

There was yet another twist over the last 24 hours when Rachele “liked” a social media post that labelled the club’s move “disgusting” and suggested the small forward could ask for a trade.

“Just so you know, us crows fans are here for you rash,” the post read. “Disgusting what the club is doing hanging you out to dry. Would not blame you asking for a trade mate.”

Channel 7 Adelaide reporter Josh Money then posted a reply from Rachele, with the young Crow attempting to explain the “like” had been a mistake.

Rachele at the bottom of a Port Adelaide response. (Photo by Mark Brake/Getty Images)

“That was an accident. I was on my own Instagram feed & a few people were liking good things & I wanted to like that & it was actually the one underneath.

“It was an honest mistake. I love the football club, they’ve invested in me heavily.”

On Thursday, Adelaide footy boss Adam Kelly explained the decision to drop Rachele for the first time this season.

“We love the energy Josh brings to our group and he’s going to be a very important player for us for a long period of time,” Kelly said.

“Collectively, we must always prioritise the team-first focus which is so central to our values and standards.

“And we have and will continue to work with Josh in this space, as we do with all of our players, coaches and staff.”

Speaking on SEN radio prior to the forward’s dumping, Lyon said the Crows would leave Rachele with plenty to think about over the off-season.

It’s been a long season for Matthew Nicks and the Crows. Picture Dean Martin

“Adelaide, I think, need to tread warily here,” he said. “If they drop him this week, is that what you want him stewing on for the next six months?

“The fact that he would be feeling publicly called out by a teammate, a week of criticism and then he’s got six months to think about it.”

There was a real cross-section of reactions to the drama that has beset the club this week, coming off a desperately disappointing season for the 15th-placed Crows.

“If only the media were as hard on Matthew Nicks for winning so few games and failing for another season instead of grilling a kid having a bit of fun,” was one comment on X.

“Geez this has been a farcical episode all round,” wrote another.

“You can tap again and unlike,” one wrote on the “liking” furore.

“Hahaha. All the huge news out of Adelaide today. That club is a rabble,” offered a fourth.

It has also added a little extra heat to the Crows, who face the mighty task of taking on minor premiers and flag favourites Sydney at the SCG on Saturday night.

Originally published as Drama over dumped Crow Josh Rachele keeps rumbling on