Three-time Richmond premiership player and 300-gamer Shane Edwards’ has a long-running, unconventional connection to the Adelaide Football Club.

And that connection is one of the driving forces behind Edwards’ decision to join the Crows’ football department.

On Monday, the Club announced the 33-year-old was joining Adelaide as both Indigenous Player Development Manager and as part of the Club’s recruiting team.

Speaking to AFC Media, Edwards revealed he shared a special bond with a few former Crows players.

“There were a few reasons, but first of all, getting to work at the Adelaide Football Club is something I’ve wanted to do and something that’s really interested me, being from SA,” Edwards said.

“I played state under-18s with (football operations manager) Tom Hurley, Sam Jacobs and I grew up with Matty Wright as well, so it’s almost like a state reunion coming back to the Crows.

“Having a relationship with a lot of people at the football Club also showed me that the Club is in good hands and a place I’d like to work.

“Richard Taylor who was a recruiter at Richmond is now at Adelaide, so being able to work with him is something I really look forward to.”

Drafted from North Adelaide in 2006, Edwards went on to play in AFL premierships in 2017, 2019 and 2020.

He made the All-Australian team in 2018 and in 2022 became the first Indigenous Tiger to reach the 300-game milestone.

Edwards retired from the AFL this year after 303 games in 16 seasons and had also spent the past four years working with Richmond’s recruiting team while still playing.

Edwards is set to work with a few former opponents from the 2017 Grand Final, but he didn’t expect it to be an awkward encounter.

“Having played against some of the guys and watching from afar, I’ve got the utmost respect for them,” Edwards said.

“I copped a lot of floggings from Adelaide during my career before the Grand Final, though.”

The former utility, who will relocate to Adelaide with his partner Sam and two-year-old daughter, Mya, says being closer to family is also another reason for the move back.

“My partner is from Adelaide as well, so once you have a child you start thinking a bit further ahead and you start thinking about everyone else as well,” Edwards said.

“Seeing grandparents, friends and family missing out on our daughter getting older is something we wanted to change.

“Going through Covid and the lockdowns probably only strengthened our thoughts around coming home.

“I’m looking forward to learning as much as I can in the recruiting department and sharing my football knowledge and life experience with all the players.”