Adelaide has finalised its coaching structure for 2024 with Jack Hombsch promoted to backline coach and Scott Burns taking on a new role.
Hombsch replaces Burns who will move to the vacant forwards position, while remaining Matthew Nicks’ Senior Assistant for a fourth season.
Nathan van Berlo will continue as midfield coach and Michael Godden will take on added responsibility in coaching development while again leading the SANFL team.
Hombsch played 116 AFL games with GWS, Port Adelaide and Gold Coast where he built a reputation as a tough competitor who was highly respected by his teammates and opposition.
After retiring as a player, he joined Adelaide’s AFLW program as head of development in 2021 and this year joined the Crows’ AFL and SANFL programs as backline development coach.
Crows Head of Football Adam Kelly said Hombsch was more than ready to step up to the Club’s AFL coaching panel full-time.
“Jack has already built some very strong relationships with our players, in particular the defenders, and is a natural fit as backline coach,” Kelly said.
“He has shown great initiative as a coach on game day at SANFL level and the way he has been able to educate some of our younger defenders has been very impressive.
“As a player he was a talented and hard-working defender who embraced a challenge and showed great resilience and now is instilling similar characteristics in our group as a coach.
“And Scott Burns is one of the most experienced assistants in the AFL who has coached across all three lines and will bring that experience to our forwards group.”
Godden will coach Adelaide’s SANFL team for a fourth season while taking on an increased role in coach development in the AFL program.
“Mick is a very important part of our coaching team and has received national recognition for the past two seasons with the AFL Coaches Association development coach of the year award,” Kelly said.
“In addition to his SANFL commitments, he will work closely with our panel in coach development which is in addition to the work being done by Ash Ross who has been with us for the past 12 months after working in New Zealand cricket and the South Australian Sports Institute.
“In the event of a scheduling clash involving our AFL and SANFL teams, Mick will work with the AFL team and Matthew Wright will coach the SANFL team.
“Matt was a terrific leader as captain of our SANFL team before retiring this season and will remain at the Club as a development coach.”
The other addition to the Club’s coaching panel for next season is the appointment of Andrew McPherson as development coach.
McPherson played 28 games for the Crows across seven injury-interrupted seasons from 2017-2023.
“Unfortunately injuries meant his playing career came to a premature end, but through that came opportunities for Andrew to explore coaching,” Kelly said.
“He was able to support our coaches on game day in the SANFL where he showed good aptitude and knowledge of the game, and he was an assistant coach of the state under-16 program this year.
“Andrew is an outstanding character, a strong leader and also a two-time winner of our Dr Brian Sando OAM Award for professionalism and dedication so will add a lot to our development program headed by Marco Bello.”
ADELAIDE’S 2024 COACHING STRUCTURE
Matthew Nicks – Senior Coach
Scott Burns – Forwards and Senior Assistant Coach
Nathan van Berlo – Midfield Coach
Jack Hombsch – Backs Coach
Michael Godden – SANFL and Coach Development
Marco Bello – Head of Development
Matthew Wright – Development Coach
Chelsea Randall – Development Coach
Andrew McPherson – Development Coach
