Adelaide SANFL Captain has announced his retirement from the Crows’ State League Side.
Wright has spent the past five years as the Crows SANFL Captain, joining the side in 2019 after hanging up his AFL playing boots with Carlton.
The forward became Adelaide’s longest serving State League Captain this season and, in 2022, notched a special milestone when he led the side out for the 50th time against Woodville-West Torrens.
Adelaide’s Preliminary Final against Sturt on Sunday marked the 33-year-old’s final SANFL game and was also his 300th AFL/SANFL match.
Speaking to AFC Media Wright said there were mixed emotions walking off the field for the last time on Sunday.
“It was a tough one (on Sunday), walking off it was certainly disappointing not to come away with the win and miss the opportunity of playing off in a SANFL Grand Final,” Wright said.
“But there was also a bit of relief to be honest, the body was just sort of hanging on by the end and it’s well and truly shut down now, so it was certainly the right decision.
“Looking back I have loved the journey, being part of two great footy Clubs and meeting so many great people, I wouldn’t change it for the world.”
Wright’s career with the Crows ends, having almost come full circle.
He was selected by Adelaide at the 2010 AFL Rookie Draft and went on to play 94 AFL games in five seasons, before joining Carlton as a delisted free agent in 2016.
Wright then lined up in 65 AFL games for the Blues until he retired in 2019, and returned to SA to captain Adelaide’s SANFL side, as well as take up a role as the team’s forward coach.
He said the opportunity to come back and finish his playing career with the Crows, while also starting his journey as a coach, was something he was incredibly thankful for.
“I’ve really loved my role with the SANFL team over the past few years,” Wright said.
“Early days at the Crows, I really enjoyed working with the younger players coming into the system, and going across to Carlton I got the opportunity to work closely with the likes of Charlie Curnow, Harry McKay and Patrick Cripps as young players.
“So I knew pretty early on I wanted to go down the coaching/development route, and for the Crows to offer me the chance to come back and start that phase of my career while still getting to play at a high level.
“I could not be more thankful for the Adelaide Footy Club.”
Crows SANFL Coach Michael Godden highlighted the influence of Wright on the program, saying he was a “great contributor to our footy club and to the game”.
“Unfortunately we couldn’t send him off the way we wanted to but I am sure he has a long future in the coaching game,” Godden said.
“It’s been a pleasure watching him and it’s been a pleasure coaching him.”
Wright will continue at the Club as a development coach.
