2026 Adelaide Football Club season

Adelaide Football Club
2026 AFL season
CoachMatthew Nicks
CaptainJordan Dawson
Home groundAdelaide Oval

The 2026 Adelaide Football Club season is the Adelaide Crows' upcoming 36th season of senior competition in the Australian Football League (AFL). Adelaide's women's team will play their eleventh season in the AFLW, and their reserves team will play their twelfth season in the South Australian National Football League (SANFL).

The Adelaide Crows women's team will play their first season under head coach Ryan Davis following the departure of Matthew Clarke in 2025.[1]

Overview

Adelaide's 2026 board
CEO Chairman Deputy chair Board
Tim Silvers John Olsen Linda Fellows Neil Balme Shanti Berggren Richard Fennell James Gallagher Graeme Goodings Imelda Lynch Grant Stevens Stephen Roche
Adelaide's 2026 season overview
League Captain Coach Home ground W-D-L Ladder Finals Best and fairest Leading goalkicker
AFL Jordan Dawson Matthew Nicks Adelaide Oval 1–0–1 Riley Thilthorpe (5)
AFLW Sarah Allan, Ebony Marinoff Ryan Davis Norwood Oval, Unley Oval
SANFL Kieran Strachan Matthew Wright N/a

Men's squad

Reflects the teams squad during their final game of the season.

Adelaide Football Club · AFL personnel
Senior list Rookie list Coaching staff

Head coach

Assistant coaches

Legend:
  • (c) Captain(s)
  • (vc) Vice-captain(s)
  • (B) - Category B rookie
  • italics - Inactive player list
  • (ret.) - Retired
  • Long-term injury

Updated: 23 March 2026
Source(s): Senior list, Rookie list, Coaching staff, Injuries

Squad changes

Main article: 2025 AFL draft

The following off-season changes were made to the squad prior to the 2025 season.

Out

No. Name Position New Club via Ref.
5 Matt Crouch Midfielder N/a Retirement [2]
36 Karl Gallagher Forward Monaghan GAA Delisted [3]
4 Lachlan Murphy Forward Port Noarlunga Delisted [3]
45 Harry Schoenberg Midfielder West Coast Delisted [4]
45 Kieran Strachan Ruck Adelaide (SANFL) Delisted [4]
33 Brodie Smith Defender Seaton Ramblers Retirement [5]
21 Chris Burgess Forward West Adelaide
Paskeville FNC		 Delisted [6]
17 Tyler Welsh Forward Adelaide Delisted [7]

In

No. Name Position Previous club via Ref.
33 Indy Cotton Utility BA Centre of Excellence (NBL1 East) Category B rookie [8]
36 Finnbar Maley Forward North Melbourne Trade with North Melbourne [9]
26 Mitchell Marsh Forward West Adelaide No. 22, 2025 national draft [10]
34 Archie Ludowyke Forward Sandringham Dragons No. 50, 2025 national draft [11]
4 Callum Ah Chee Utility Brisbane Lions No. 1, 2026 pre-season draft [12]
17 Tyler Welsh Forward Adelaide No. 11, 2025 rookie draft [12]

Italics: Relisted as a rookie

Men's AFL season

Main article: 2026 AFL season

Pre-season matches

Adelaide's 2026 practice match and AFL Community Series fixtures
Date and local time Opponent Scores Venue Ref.
Home Away Result
Friday, 20 February (5:30 pm) Port Adelaide 10.15 (75) 14.10 (94) Won by 19 points Alberton Oval [13]
Saturday, 28 February (3:10 pm) Fremantle 12.12 (84) 9.14 (68) Lost by 16 points Rushton Park [14]

Regular season

Adelaide's 2026 AFL season fixture
Round Date and local time Opponent Home Away Result Venue Attendance Ladder position Ref.
Scores
0[1] Bye 11th Bye
1 Saturday, 14 March (7:35 pm) Collingwood 11.13 (79) 13.15 (93) Won by 14 points Melbourne Cricket Ground (A) 62,482 5th [15]
2 Friday, 20 March (7:10 pm) Western Bulldogs 13.10 (88) 14.11 (94) Lost by 6 points Adelaide Oval (H) 49,185 8th [16]
3 Thursday, 26 March (7:30 pm) Geelong Kardinia Park (A)
4 Friday, 3 April (6:45 pm) Fremantle Adelaide Oval (H)
5[2] Thursday, 9 April (7:10 pm) Carlton Adelaide Oval (N)
6 Saturday, 18 April (7:05 pm) St Kilda Adelaide Oval (H)
7 Saturday, 26 April (3:15;pm) Brisbane Lions The Gabba (A)
8 Friday, 1 May (7:40 pm) Port Adelaide Adelaide Oval (H)
9 Sunday, 10 May (3:15 pm) Richmond Melbourne Cricket Ground (A)
10 Saturday, 16 May (12:45 pm) North Melbourne Adelaide Oval (H)
11 Thursday, 21 May (7:30 pm) Hawthorn York Park (A)
12 Bye Bye
13 Thursday, 4 June (7:00 pm) Geelong Adelaide Oval (H)
14 Thursday, 11 June (7:30 pm) Western Bulldogs Docklands Stadium (A)
15 Saturday, 20 June (12:45 pm) Melbourne Adelaide Oval (H)
16 Port Adelaide Adelaide Oval (A)
17 West Coast Perth Stadium (A)
18 Gold Coast Adelaide Oval (H)
19 Sydney Sydney Cricket Ground (A)
20 Collingwood Adelaide Oval (H)
21 Essendon Docklands Stadium (A)
22 Richmond Adelaide Oval (H)
23 Fremantle Perth Stadium (A)
24 Greater Western Sydney Adelaide Oval (H)

^ Opening Round
^ Gather Round

Ladder

Updated to the end of round 2.

Pos Team Pld W L D PF PA PP Pts Qualification
1 Gold Coast 3 3 0 0 384 201 191.0 12 Finals series
2 Western Bulldogs 3 3 0 0 339 247 137.2 12
3 Sydney 3 2 1 0 318 228 139.5 8
4 Hawthorn 3 2 1 0 339 287 118.1 8
5 Fremantle 2 1 1 0 218 180 121.1 4
6 North Melbourne 2 1 1 0 207 178 116.3 4
7 Port Adelaide 2 1 1 0 200 183 109.3 4
8 Adelaide 2 1 1 0 181 173 104.6 4
9 Collingwood 2 1 1 0 157 159 98.7 4
10 St Kilda 3 1 2 0 251 272 92.3 4
11 Melbourne 2 1 1 0 190 225 84.4 4
12 West Coast 2 1 1 0 183 225 81.3 4
13 Greater Western Sydney 3 1 2 0 249 307 81.1 4
14 Geelong 2 1 1 0 179 225 79.6 4
15 Carlton 2 1 1 0 144 203 70.9 4
16 Brisbane Lions 2 0 2 0 166 215 77.2 0
17 Richmond 2 0 2 0 131 203 64.5 0
18 Essendon 2 0 2 0 153 278 55.0 0
Source: afl.com.au
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) percentage; 3) number of points for

Men's summary

Milestones

AFL Awards & Nominations

Women's squad

Adelaide Football Club · AFL Women's personnel
Senior list Rookie list Coaching staff

Head coach

Assistant coaches

Legend:
  • (c) Captain(s)
  • (vc) Vice-captain(s)
  • italics - Inactive player list
  • Long-term injury

Updated: 23 March 2026
Source(s): Players, Coaches

Squad changes

Main article: 2025–26 AFL Women's player movement period

The following off-season changes were made to the squad prior to the 2026 season.

Out

No. Name Position New Club via Ref.
27 Abbie Ballard Forward N/a Delisted [20]
5 Rachelle Martin Midfielder N/a Delisted [20]
14 Stevie-Lee Thompson Midfielder N/a Retirement [21]
33 Anne Hatchard Midfielder Gold Coast Trade with Gold Coast [22]
4 Zoe Prowse Defender Essendon Trade with Essendon [23]
3 Brooke Boileau Midfielder Carlton Trade with Carlton and Brisbane [24]

In

No. Name Position Previous club via Ref.
Grace Egan Midfielder Richmond Trade with Richmond [25]
Chloe Bown Midfielder Oakleigh Chargers No. 5, 2025 national draft [26]
Lucy Waye Forward West Adelaide No. 21, 2025 national draft [26]
Olivia Gorman Midfielder Northern Knights No. 25, 2025 national draft [26]
Alicia Blizard Forward East Fremantle No. 39, 2025 national draft [26]
Ava Stewart Utility Swan Districts No. 63, 2025 national draft [26]

Women's AFLW season

Main article: 2026 AFL Women's season

Pre-season matches

Adelaide's 2025 practice match fixtures
Date and local time Opponent Scores Venue Ref.
Home Away Result

Regular season

Adelaide's 2026 AFL Women's season fixture
Round Date and local time Opponent Home Away Result Venue Attendance Ladder position Ref.
Scores

Ladder

Women's summary

Milestones

AFLW Awards & Nominations

Reserves squad

Adelaide Football Club · SANFL personnel
Development squad Coaching staff
  • 53 Austin McDonald
  • 54 Tate Coleman
  • 55 Stephen Tahana
  • 56 Saxon Evans
  • 57 Reuben Hill
  • 59 Lachlan Thomas
  • 60 Jaxon Bennett
  • 60 Harry Boyle
  •    Joseph Haines
  •    James Richards

Head coach

Assistant coaches

Legend:
  • (c) Captain(s)
  • (vc) Vice-captain(s)
  • (i) Inactive

Updated: 23 March 2026
Source(s): Players, Coaches

Reserves SANFL season

Main article: 2026 SANFL season

Pre-season matches

Adelaide's 2025 practice match fixtures
Date and local time Opponent Scores Venue Ref.
Home Away Result
Friday, 20 February (3:00 pm) Port Adelaide 10.13 (73) 5.3 (33) Lost by 40 points Alberton Oval [27]
Friday, 27 February (6:15 pm) Woodville-West Torrens 9.8 (62) 13.11 (89) Lost by 27 points Football Park [28]
Saturday, 14 March (3:20 pm) Central District 14.13 (97) 10.11 (71) Lost by 26 points Elizabeth Oval [29]
Saturday, 21 March (2:10 pm) South Adelaide 8.16 (64) 13.6 (84) Won by 20 points Noarlunga Oval [30]

Regular season

SANFL fixture Crowd numbers
Adelaide's 2026 SANFL season fixture
Round Date and local time Opponent Home Away Result Venue Attendance Ladder position Ref.
Scores
1 Saturday, 28 March (2:10 pm) West Adelaide Richmond Oval
2 Thursday, 2 April (7:40 pm) Woodville-West Torrens Woodville Oval
3 Saturday, 18 April (2:10 pm) Central District Elizabeth Oval
4 Saturday, 25 April (2:10 pm) North Adelaide Prospect Oval
5 Friday, 1 May (4:30 pm) Port Adelaide Adelaide Oval
6 Saturday, 9 May (2:10 pm) Sturt Unley Oval
7 Saturday, 23 May (2:10 pm) Glenelg Glenelg Oval
8 Bye Bye
9 Saturday, 6 June (2:10 pm) South Adelaide Noarlunga Oval
10 Saturday, 6 June (2:10 pm) North Adelaide Prospect Oval
11 Sunday, 21 June (2:10 pm) Norwood Norwood Oval
12 Port Adelaide Adelaide Oval
13 Central District Elizabeth Oval
14 Glenelg Glenelg Oval
15 West Adelaide Richmond Oval
16 South Adelaide Noarlunga Oval
17 Woodville-West Torrens Woodville Oval
18 Norwood Norwood Oval
19 Sturt Unley Oval

Reserves summary

SANFL Awards & Nominations

References

  1. ^ Beveridge, Riley (2 December 2025). "Crows appoint former Sun, Eagle as new AFLW coach". afl.com.au.
  2. ^ "Former All-Australian, Crows B&F winner retires due to hip issue". afl.com.au. 26 August 2025. Crows midfielder Matt Crouch has announced his retirement, effective immediately
  3. ^ a b "Crows small forward delisted after 120 games, Irishman also axed". afl.com.au. 16 September 2025.
  4. ^ a b "Crows midfielder, ruck not offered new contracts for 2026". 17 September 2025.
  5. ^ "Crows veteran calls time after 15 seasons". afl.com.au. 18 September 2025.
  6. ^ "Burgess to depart Crows". afc.com.au. 17 October 2025.
  7. ^ "Crows cut father-son forward but promise rookie lifeline". afl.com.au. 31 October 2025.
  8. ^ "Cotton a Crow, as Adelaide signs rookie". afc.com.au. 29 August 2025. Retrieved 29 August 2025.
  9. ^ "High-flying Roos forward traded to Crows". afl.com.au. 15 October 2025.
  10. ^ "Crows select Mitchell Marsh with Pick No. 22". afc.com.au. 19 November 2025.
  11. ^ "Crows select Ludowyke with Pick No. 50". afc.com.au. 20 November 2025.
  12. ^ a b "Ah Chee becomes a Crow". afc.com.au. 21 November 2025.
  13. ^ Welsh, Sophie (20 February 2026). "Five goals from 'midfielder' Thilthorpe propels Crows against Power". afl.com.au.
  14. ^ Schmook, Nathan (28 February 2026). "Rising Star makes statement as Freo edges Crows on back of forward's five". afl.com.au.
  15. ^ Gabelich, Josh (14 March 2026). "Crows shake MCG hoodoo with statement first-up win over Magpies". afl.com.au.
  16. ^ Bastiani, Gemma (20 March 2026). "Unlikely hero emerges as Dogs deny fast-finishing Crows". afl.com.au.
  17. ^ @adelaide_fc; (14 March 2026). "On ya, Fog 👏" – via Instagram.
  18. ^ @adelaide_fc; (21 March 2026). "100 up for Rash 👏" – via Instagram.
  19. ^ a b c "Round One team news: Crows set to unveil three debutants". afc.com.au. 12 March 2026.
  20. ^ a b "AFLW: Crows thank Ballard and Martin". afc.com.au. 3 December 2025.
  21. ^ "AFLW: Premiership Crow calls time". afc.com.au. 5 December 2025.
  22. ^ "AFLW: Hatchard traded to Gold Coast". afc.com.au. 7 December 2025.
  23. ^ "AFLW: Prowse traded to Essendon". afc.com.au. 10 December 2025.
  24. ^ "AFLW: Boileau traded to Carlton". afc.com.au. 10 December 2025.
  25. ^ "AFLW: Grace Egan joins Crows". afc.com.au. 8 December 2025.
  26. ^ a b c d e Ben, Cotton; Laughton, Max (15 December 2025). "Tigers' Pick 1 curveball as EIGHT Academy stars join Suns in 'once-in-a-lifetime' AFLW Draft haul". Fox Footy.
  27. ^ Standish, Zac (20 February 2026). "SANFL trial match v Port Adelaide: Five key takeaways". afc.com.au.
  28. ^ Standish, Zac (27 February 2026). "SANFL trial v Woodville-West Torrens: Five key takeaways". afc.com.au.
  29. ^ Filosi, Ben (14 March 2026). "SANFL Trial v Central District: Five key takeaways". afc.com.au.
  30. ^ "SANFL trial vs South Adelaide: Five key takeaways". afc.com.au. 21 March 2026.
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