AFL 2025: Neil Balme joins Adelaide Crows board as football director

After multiple attempts over recent years to lure Neil Balme to South Australia, the Crows have finally succeeded. See all the off-field changes here.

Adelaide has finally landed Neil Balme, with the Crows announcing the football doyen will join their board.

After multiple attempts to lure the former Collingwood, Geelong and Richmond footy boss in recent years – despite the Crows convinced he would join them on one occasion – Balme will finally come to West Lakes as a director for Adelaide.

He will become the Crows’ new football director, with club legend and former captain Mark Ricciuto due to stand down at the end of 2025 due to the term limits now in the constitution.

Balme will be one of two new faces on the Crows’ board, alongside former player and list manager James Gallagher.

Neil Balme is joining the Crows. Picture: AAP Image/Michael Dodge

Crows chairman John Olsen said Balme would also chair the Crows’ football strategy committee, be part of the list-management committee and provide general support to the football department.

Gallagher will also join both committees, and Ricciuto will work closely with the duo this year to ensure a smooth transition.

“The club is in an important stage of its on-field evolution and along with Mark, who continues to offer sage advice, Neil and James will provide additional guidance,” Olsen said.

“Replacing a person of Mark’s knowledge and standing in the game was never going to be easy and the timing of these latest appointments was important to facilitate an effective handover.

“Neil has seen and done it all in football for over five decades, and he has a proven track record of shaping and overseeing leading football departments. Success follows him.

“With James, we have someone of high character who brings a diverse set of skills and perspective from within and outside the industry.”

Balme recently left Richmond where he helped the Tigers to three premierships.

Prior to that he was at the Magpies and Cats, who also won three premierships in his time there.

Balme has had a fantastic career in football. Picture: David Caird

“Football has always been such a big part of my life and this is a new challenge, and great opportunity to remain involved in the game in an official capacity,” Balme said.

“In recent years I’ve had numerous conversations with the Crows and the likes of John Olsen, Mark Ricciuto and Tim Silvers, and I obviously have strong ties to South Australian football, and this role is a good fit.”

Gallagher played 38 games for the Crows between 2001 and 2004 before 228 SANFL games for Norwood, where won the 2012 premiership. Post-playing days, he forged a career in banking before joining St Kilda in 2018. For four years he was the Saints’ head of list management before family reasons brought him back to South Australia.

“My time at the Crows as a player remains one of the most memorable parts of my football journey,” Gallagher said.

“I’m looking forward to getting back to the club, forging new relationships and gaining a greater understanding of its inner workings, so I can assist the football department and administration in any way I can.”

Originally published as AFL 2025: Neil Balme joins Adelaide Crows board as football director