2024 Adelaide Football Club season

The 2024 Adelaide Football Club season will be the club's 34th season of senior competition in the Australian Football League (AFL). This is the Crows' second season captained by Jordan Dawson and their 5th year coached by Matthew Nicks. The senior men's season commenced on March 16 against Gold Coast at People First Stadium. The women's side will play their 9th season in the AFLW in 2024. The reserves side will play their 10th season in the SANFL in 2024, and their first captained by Jack Madgen.

Players are listed by guernsey number, and 2024 statistics are for AFL regular season and finals series matches during the 2024 AFL season only. Career statistics include a player's complete AFL career, which, as a result, means that a player's debut and part or whole of their career statistics may be for another club. Statistics are correct as of round 23 (18 August 2024) and are taken from AFL Tables. Rory Sloane remains on the list despite his retirement in 2024.

The following off-season changes were made to the squad prior to the 2024 season.

No.	Name	Position	New Club	via
3	Fischer McAsey	Key defender / utility	—	Retirement[6]
11	Paul Seedsman	Wingman	—	Retirement[7]
39	Tom Doedee	Key defender	Brisbane Lions	Restricted free agent[8]
23	Shane McAdam	Small forward	Melbourne	Trade[9]
21	Tyler Brown	Midfielder	Box Hill (VFL)	Delisted[10]
6	Jackson Hately	Midfielder	Essendon (VFL)	Delisted[10]
36	Andrew McPherson	Defender	—	Delisted[10]
42	Tariek Newchurch	Small forward	North Adelaide (SANFL)	Delisted[10]
38	James Borlase	Key defender	Adelaide	Delisted[11]
17	Will Hamill	Half-back / wingman		Delisted[12]

No.	Name	Position	Previous Club	via
21	Chris Burgess	Key forward / utility	Gold Coast	Trade[13]
6	Daniel Curtin	Key defender / utility	Claremont	2023 AFL draft, first round (pick No. 8)[14]
11	Charlie Edwards	Midfielder	Sandringham Dragons	2023 AFL draft, first round (pick No. 21)[15]
22	Oscar Ryan	Medium defender	Murray Bushrangers	2023 AFL draft, first round (pick No. 27)[16]
17	Will Hamill	Half-back / wingman	Adelaide	AFL rookie draft, first round (pick No. 9)[17]
38	James Borlase	Key defender		AFL rookie draft, second round (pick No. 20)[17]
36	Karl Gallagher	Medium defender	Monaghan GAA	Category B rookie signing[18]

No.	Name	Position	Previous number	Ref.
23	Izak Rankine	Small forward	22	[19]

Adelaide's 2024 AFL season fixture

Round	Date and local time	Opponent	Home	Away	Result	Venue	Attendance	Ladder position	Ref.
			Scores
0	Bye
1	Saturday, 16 March (7:10 pm)	Gold Coast	8.12 (60)	8.6 (54)	Lost by 6 points	Carrara Stadium (A)	11,466	10th	[22]
2	Friday, 22 March (7:10 pm)	Geelong	11.11 (77)	14.12 (96)	Lost by 19 points	Adelaide Oval (H)	44,758	13th	[23]
3	Friday, 29 March (4:20 pm)	Fremantle	9.15 (69)	4.10 (34)	Lost by 35 points	Perth Stadium (A)	51,037	15th	[24]
4	Thursday, 4 April (7:10 pm)	Melbourne	8.15 (63)	10.18 (78)	Lost by 15 points	Adelaide Oval (N)	48,020	15th	[25]
5	Saturday, 13 April (4:35 pm)	Carlton	14.14 (98)	16.4 (100)	Won by 2 points	Docklands Stadium (A)	46,284	14th	[26]
6	Friday, 19 April (7:10 pm)	Essendon	11.9 (75)	10.18 (78)	Lost by 3 points	Adelaide Oval (H)	46,700	15th	[27]
7	Saturday, 27 April (1:45 pm)	North Melbourne	12.9 (81)	20.18 (138)	Won by 57 points	Bellerive Oval (A)	4,727	12th	[28]
8	Thursday, 2 May (7:00 pm)	Port Adelaide	12.6 (78)	5.18 (48)	Won by 30 points	Adelaide Oval (H)	52,106	12th	[29]
9	Sunday, 12 May (3:30 pm)	Brisbane Lions	13.12 (90)	13.12 (90)	Match drawn		40,278	12th	[30]
10	Saturday, 18 May (1:45 pm)	Collingwood	12.6 (78)	11.8 (74)	Lost by 4 points	Melbourne Cricket Ground (A)	63,935	13th	[31]
11	Sunday, 26 May (4:10 pm)	West Coast	21.11 (137)	5.8 (38)	Won by 99 points	Adelaide Oval (H)	40,965	12th	[32]
12	Saturday, 1 Jun (1:45 pm)	Hawthorn	16.11 (106)	12.8 (80)	Lost by 27 points	Melbourne Cricket Ground (A)	36,086	14th	[33]
13	Thursday, 6 June (7:00 pm)	Richmond	10.11 (71)	12.7 (79)	Lost by 8 points	Adelaide Oval (H)	37,342	15th	[34]
14	Saturday, 15 June (7:00 pm)	Sydney	10.7 (67)	16.13 (109)	Lost by 42 points		41,535	15th	[35]
15	Bye							15th	Bye
16	Saturday, 29 June (7:00 pm)	Greater Western Sydney	13.16 (94)	12.6 (78)	Won by 16 points	Adelaide Oval (H)	29,802	14th	[36]
17	Sunday, 7 July (4:10 pm)	Brisbane Lions	14.13 (97)	13.8 (86)	Lost by 11 points	The Gabba (A)	30,183	15th	[37]
18	Saturday, 13 July (7:00 pm)	St Kilda	10.11 (71)	5.9 (39)	Won by 32 points	Adelaide Oval (H)	34,549	14th	[38]
19	Friday, 19 July (7:40 pm)	Essendon	17.11 (113)	17.13 (115)	Won by 2 points	Docklands Stadium (A)	36,020	14th	[39]
20	Sunday, 28 July (3:40 pm)	Hawthorn	8.10 (58)	19.10 (124)	Lost by 66 points	Adelaide Oval (H)	41,823	15th	[40]
21	Saturday, 3 August (4:35 pm)	Geelong	13.12 (90)	13.7 (85)	Lost by 5 points	Kardinia Park (A)	28,000	15th	[41]
22	Sunday, 11 August (3:40 pm)	Western Bulldogs	17.9 (111)	9.18 (72)	Won by 39 points	Adelaide Oval (H)	39,177	15th	[42]
23	Saturday, 17 August (7:00 pm)	Port Adelaide	11.14 (80)	8.10 (58)	Lost by 22 points	Adelaide Oval (A)	52,459	15th
24	Saturday, 24 August (7:40 pm)	Sydney				Sydney Cricket Ground (A)		15th

Adelaide lost their first game of the 2024 AFL season to Gold Coast by 6 points in wet weather conditions. Gold Coast led for the entire match and Adelaide looked very poor, until a late fourth-quarter comeback spearheaded by Josh Rachele and former Sun Izak Rankine gave the Crows a glimpse of hope. Chris Burgess played his first game for the club after being traded from Gold Coast to Adelaide in the 2023 trade period.^[13][22]

Round 2 marked Adelaide's first game scheduled on a Friday in almost two years. Adelaide came into this game as favourites, despite losing their opening game and Geelong winning theirs. However, Adelaide lost by 19 points with another late comeback falling short due to wasted chances in front of goal.^[23]

This was Adelaide's first time playing against Fremantle in Perth since 2019. Competitive for most of the game, Adelaide were overrun in the final quarter to lose by 35 points.

For the second consecutive year, Adelaide hosted the opening game of Gather Round, this time hosting Melbourne. The final margin of 15 points was flattering to the Crows, who were comprehensively defeated across the ground thanks to former Crow Simon Goodwin's coaching. Christian Petracca was the best player on the ground, while young Jake Soligo was impressive for Adelaide.^[44]

Adelaide won their first game of the season in round 5, largely credited to Matthew Nicks and the variety in his midfield, rotating players such as Jordan Dawson and Rory Laird out and Jake Soligo and Izak Rankine in. Lachlan Gollant was substituted off for the fourth quarter and replaced by Sam Berry, who kicked the winning goal with just over a minute of regulation time remaining.^[45] This was Adelaide's first win in Melbourne since 2021.

For the third time in less than a year, a late non-decision from the umpires cost Adelaide a chance at winning the game (the first against Collingwood, and the second most famously against Sydney). The morning following the game, the AFL conceded that a free kick should have been awarded to Taylor Walker for a tackle laid on Sam Draper, giving Walker a chance to kick a goal after the siren and win the game.^[46] Walker acknowledged that the umpiring decision was frustrating, but also concedes that the Crows' performance was "unacceptable".^[47]

Draftee Dan Curtin made his long-awaited AFL debut, while Smith and Butts returned from injury.^[48] Prior to the game, the all-time Showdown record was tied at 27 apiece. The game commemorated Rory Sloane, who had announced his retirement earlier in the week.^[49] Adelaide's home attendance of 52,106 was their biggest home attendance since 2016.

The last three minutes were played with scores level, and the game ended in a draw — the second of the 2024 AFL season. It was Adelaide's first draw since 2017 (which was against Collingwood at the MCG), their first at home, and the third in their history.^[50] It was Brisbane's first since 2009.

Izak Rankine, who designed the Indigenous guernsey worn, starred with 30 disposals and a late goal of the year contender dribbled from the boundary, but a Jordan De Goey set shot was the winning score for Collingwood.^[31] With less than 30 seconds left, Rankine kicked the ball inside the forward 50, but was pinged for running too far. Controversy stirred as fans began to think it was the fourth game-costing decision in less than a year, but Fox Footy measured that Rankine did indeed run farther than his allocated 15 meters.^[51]

Kuwarna dominated this match, and despite the effort and talent of number-one draft pick Harley Reid, Kuwarna dominated until the final siren, falling short of a 100-point margin by mere seconds.^[32]

Hawthorn kicked the first four goals of the game, and the Crows were not able to regain a lead, extending their winless streak at the MCG (starting in 2017 and spanning nine games) until at least 2025. Matthew Nicks described the loss as "as bad as we've played all year".^[33]

Debutant Billy Dowling, James Borlase, and Strachan all kicked their first AFL goals, but five goals in a row for the 17th-seeded Richmond in the third quarter was too much to overcome.^[34] The performance resulted in heavy scrutiny towards Matthew Nicks and the entire club.^[52] Leigh Montagna agreed with coach Nicks' comments that the Crow's performance was "clearly lacking confident after a disappointing showing."^[53]

Joel Amartey of the Swans, whose previous best goal tally was four, kicked four in the second quarter to keep the Swans in the contest going into half time. He kicked another four in the third quarter, effectively leaving Adelaide behind in the contest. Amartey finished with a career-best nine goals, the most any player had kicked in a game up to that point in the season.^[35]

Bye

Following the mid-season bye, coach Nicks was confident for the clash against bogey-team Greater Western Sydney,^[54] who the Crows had only beaten once up to this point of Nicks' four-year tenure.^[55] When defender Chayce Jones suffered an injury at training the day before the game, a late change was made to include Zac Taylor in the game day squad for his debut.^[56] He was the substitute, and came on for Brayden Cook at three-quarter-time.

An incident involving Izak Rankine and Brandon Starcevich of the Brisbane Lions in the first quarter resulted in a concussion to Starcevich and a four-match ban to Rankine. Adelaide fell short despite a late charge, resulting in another close finish between the two clubs.^[37]

Adelaide stormed home on a rainy Adelaide night over St Kilda, who scored just one goal in the second half. Riley Thilthorpe, in his first game since being injured pre-season, kicked two final-quarter goals to seal the game.^[38]

Zac Taylor kicked his first AFL goal as one of eight consecutive second-quarter goals for Adelaide. Essendon responded with the next five goals in a high-scoring affair. Ben Keays, who kicked a career-best five goals, assisted Josh Rachele in kicking a last-minute goal to lead by four points. Adelaide won by two points in an upset victory to keep their slim hopes for finals qualification alive.^[39]

Updated to the end of round 23.

• 2024 AFL Rising Star Nomination – Luke Nankervis (Round 13)^[58]
• 2024 22under22 44 man squad – Max Michalanney^[59]
• 2024 22under22 44 man squad – Jake Soligo^[59]
• 2024 22under22 44 man squad – Josh Rachele^[59]

• Round 1 – Chris Burgess (club debut)^[13]
• Round 2 – Lachlan Murphy (100 games)
• Round 3 – Brodie Smith (250 games)^[43]
• Round 5 – Jordan Dawson (50 club games)
• Round 5 – Izak Rankine (100 career goals)
• Round 7 – Mitch Hinge (50 career games)
• Round 8 – Dan Curtin (AFL debut)^[60]
• Round 8 – Matt Crouch (150 games)
• Round 9 – Josh Rachele (50 goals)
• Round 13 – Billy Dowling (AFL debut)^[61]
• Round 13 – Jake Soligo (50 games)
• Round 16 – Zac Taylor (AFL debut)^[56]
• Round 17 – Sam Berry (50 games)
• Round 17 – Josh Rachele (50 games)
• Round 18 – Hugh Bond (AFL debut)
• Round 18 – Nick Murray (50 games)
• Round 18 – Ben Keays (100 club games)
• Round 19 – Darcy Fogarty (150 goals)
• Round 20 – Elliott Himmelberg (50 games)
• Round 21 – Riley Thilthorpe (50 games, 50 goals)
• Round 22 – Darcy Fogarty (100 games)

Excludes AFL-listed players. Updated as of round 17, 2024.^[67]

SANFL fixture Crowd numbers

Adelaide's 2024 SANFL season fixture

Round	Date and local time	Opponent	Home	Away	Result	Venue	Attendance	Ladder position	Ref.
			Scores
1	Friday, 29 March (2:10 pm)	South Adelaide	14.7 (91)	13.18 (96)	Won by 5 points	Hickinbotham Oval (A)	2,080	5th
2	Saturday, 13 April (2:30 pm)	Central District	15.7 (97)	5.12 (42)	Lost by 55 points	Elizabeth Oval (A)	1,855	6th
3	Saturday, 20 April (2:10 pm)	Glenelg	16.10 (106)	10.8 (68)	Lost by 38 points	Glenelg Oval (A)	2,647	7th
4	Saturday, 27 April (1:10 pm)	North Adelaide	12.12 (84)	10.8 (68)	Lost by 16 points	Prospect Oval (A)	2,005	8th
5	Thursday, 2 May (3:20 pm)	Port Adelaide	16.7 (103)	8.14 (62)	Won by 41 points	Adelaide Oval (H)	–	7th
6	Friday, 10 May (7:40 pm)	Norwood	10.12 (72)	7.12 (54)	Lost by 18 points	Norwood Oval (A)	2,602	8th
7	Saturday, 25 May (2:30 pm)	Sturt	15.12 (102)	6.5 (41)	Lost by 61 points	Unley Oval (A)	2,997	8th
8	Saturday, 1 June (2:10 pm)	West Adelaide	11.8 (74)	7.12 (54)	Lost by 20 points	Richmond Oval (A)	1,102	8th
9	Saturday, 8 June (1:10 pm)	South Adelaide	8.14 (62)	8.7 (55)	Lost by 7 points	Hickinbotham Oval (A)	1,844	9th
10	Saturday, 15 June (3:10 pm)	Woodville-West Torrens	7.7 (49)	15.12 (102)	Lost by 53 points	Adelaide Oval (H)	–	9th
11	Bye							9th	Bye
12	Saturday, 29 June	Glenelg	7.15 (57)	15.6 (96)	Won by 39 points	Glenelg Oval (A)	1,477	8th
13	Saturday, 6 July	Central District	5.9 (39)	11.9 (75)	Won by 36 points	Elizabeth Oval (A)	1,519	7th
14	Saturday, 13 July	Norwood	14.18 (102)	5.9 (39)	Lost by 63 points	Norwood Oval (A)	1,661	8th
15	Saturday, 20 July	North Adelaide	7.13 (55)	14.9 (93)	Won by 38 points	Prospect Oval (A)	1,291	8th
16	Saturday, 27 July	Woodville-West Torrens	8.12 (60)	11.10 (76)	Won by 16 points	Woodville Oval (A)	–	7th
17	Sunday, 11 August (2:10 pm)	West Adelaide	17.9 (111)	6.7 (43)	Won by 68 points	Adelaide Oval (H)	–	7th
18	Saturday, 17 August	Port Adelaide				Adelaide Oval (A)	–
17	Sunday, 24 August	Sturt				Unley Oval (A)	–

• Official Website of the Adelaide Football Club
• Official Website of the Australian Football League