Crows forward Josh Rachele eyes midfield switch and leadership role
Young Crows star Josh Rachele says he’s developed both on and off the field — and believes that has him perfectly placed to be the contributor Adelaide needs to build on its 2025 season.
More consistency, more maturity, more enjoyment.
Adelaide star Josh Rachele says his development on and off the field has him well and truly aware of what his role is in the team for the Crows and at the club.
After bursting onto the scene with five goals on debut in 2022, the former No. 6 pick has had highs and lows for the Crows so far.
His omission for the last game of the 2024 season in particular was highly-publicised, but prior to a long-term knee injury in 2025 he was playing what he described as his most consistent out of his four years at AFL level to date despite playing just the 14 games.
“I think I’m starting to really understand my role now and what that is within the team,” he said.
“But also still bringing that excitement and x-factor when I can.
“I am starting to really enjoy my football over the last four years and really understand my role.
“The last two to three years I’ve had a lot of great learnings over these years and I think I’m starting to mature a bit on the football field.
“I’ve think my leadership has gone to another level from this year and it is something I am hoping to strive for in the coming years as well.
“I think we have a great one to five, one to six year group. We’ve got so many leaders within that core and I was very proud of myself as to where I got to both on and off the field and I’m just looking to build on that for next year.”
Even when the club copped plenty of external criticism for how they handled him at the end of 2024, following his sledge to Port Adelaide fans before and during the Showdown a week prior to the season-ender, Crows senior coach Matthew Nicks said he believed Rachele could be a leader at Adelaide.
The 22-year-old even his time injured in 2025 helped him in this regard.
“I think when you first get drafted you probably think about yourself a little bit more and trying to learn the game plan, learn what your role is,” he said.
“And once you get to a good stage in those first couple of years you really feel like you belong and within the team and I think I’ve had that sense of belonging now and I’m just looking to help the team as much as I can.
“It was great to see the game from a different lens (when injured).
“I was lucky enough to go in the coaches boxes and a lot of the opposition analysis meetings that I hadn’t done before and was able to sit back and really learn the game a bit more which I really enjoyed and loved.”
The Crows one to five year players will begin pre-season on Monday after their straight sets exit from finals.
Rachele, who was speaking at Morphettville Racecourse ahead of Sportsbet’s Finals Day on Saturday, said players had been gathering in big groups three times a week to train in the off-season.
The Crows have identified a need to improve their midfield after being outgunned in that area in finals.
Rachele’s name has been banded around as one player who could get more time in the midfield in 2026.
He said he was open to it but did enjoy being a forward for the Crows.
“To see Izak (Rankine) the last couple of years being a small forward and going into the mid has been great,” he said.
“But whatever the team needs, however I definitely think I can do that.
“I personally think I’m more forward of the ball. I love playing in the forward line and getting at the feet of Riley (Thilthorpe), Tex (Taylor Walker) and Fog (Darcy Fogarty) who make my job a lot easier.
“But it is definitely something that I’ll be aspiring to whether it is next year, or the year after, I think I can develop my game to help.”
Originally published as Crows forward Josh Rachele eyes midfield switch and leadership role
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