AFL 2023: Adelaide Crows assistant coach James Rahilly rejoins Geelong

James Rahilly was last month named the AFL Coaches Association’s Assistant Coach of the Year after guiding Adelaide’s league-best attack. But he’s officially on the move.

Elliott Himmelberg of the Crows during Crows training at West Lakes. Picture: Mark Brake

Adelaide has confirmed that highly-regarded assistant James Rahilly has rejoined Geelong.

Rahilly, who had overseen the Crows’ forwards since 2021, was named the AFL Coaches Association’s Assistant Coach of the Year last month.

With his guidance, Adelaide was the highest scoring team in the league this past season.

Rahilly arrived at West Lakes from the Cats and was now returning to Victoria for family reasons.

Crows football boss Adam Kelly said the club was disappointed to lose Rahilly but understood his decision.

“James has played a significant role in the development of our team over the past three years and last week it was pleasing to see him rewarded with an AFL Coaches Association Award,” Kelly said.

“A number of our forwards have significantly improved under his guidance and he has been instrumental in building connection across the group with respect to our ball movement, which puts us in a strong position moving forward.

“While it’s unfortunate that James won’t be continuing with us in 2024, we also understand the nature of the industry and that he has an opportunity to continue his career in his home state, so we wish him, his wife Georgia and their children Van, Hyde, Wren and West all the best for the future.”

James Rahilly iwill return to the Cats. Picture: Mike Burton

Rahilly said it was a tough decision to leave.

“I’ve loved my time here and grown very close with the players, coaches and staff,” Rahilly said.

“I’m also very proud of the progress we’ve made over the past three years under Nicksy (senior coach Matthew Nicks) and it’s clear the club is heading in the right direction and towards success in the near future.

“I’d like to thank Adelaide for giving me the opportunity to broaden my coaching experience in 2021 but now the opportunity to continue that back home with my family is too good to pass up.”

Adelaide will finalise its 2024 coaching panel in coming weeks.

Chol’s choice complicates Himmelberg’s Giant move

Mabior Chol choosing Hawthorn over Adelaide is jeopardising Elliott Himmelberg’s proposed move to GWS.

Himmelberg, 25, had hoped to join his older brother, Harry, at the Giants next season and a trade was on the cards if the Crows could have secured fellow key forward Chol as a replacement.

But Chol, 26, requesting a move to the Hawks on Thursday has made a brotherly union at GWS unlikely.

Adelaide is reluctant to let Himmelberg leave if it cannot bring in another tall forward during the trade period, which starts on Monday.

He has a year to run on his contract.

Himmelberg has played 41 games for the Crows since arriving at the club via pick 51 in the 2016 national draft.

Elliott Himmelberg may find it difficult to get to GWS. Picture: SANFL Image/James Elsby

He has not featured in more than 11 AFL matches in a season and is coming off just three in 2023.

Adelaide’s strong attacking stocks has made it more difficult for Himmelberg to play regularly, having fallen behind Taylor Walker, Darcy Fogarty and Riley Thilthorpe in the pecking order.

Earlier this week, GWS footy boss Jason McCartney told AFL Trade Radio the Giants had been having good chats with the Crows about Himmelberg for a while.

“We’d really like to (get him) as a positional need,” McCartney said.

The Crows were expected to land Gold Coast’s Chris Burgess, who requested a trade from earlier this week, but would likely need to recruit another player to part with Himmelberg.

Burgess, a South Australian, would provide depth at either end of the ground to help cover for defender Tom Doedee’s departure to Brisbane and Nick Murray’s absence with a serious knee injury.

Originally published as AFL 2023: Adelaide Crows assistant coach James Rahilly rejoins Geelong