Adelaide has bolstered and restructured its coaching and high-performance departments as the Club looks to deliver improved on-field performance.

Experienced assistant coach Murray Davis, who has been with the premiership-winning Brisbane Lions for the past 13 seasons, will join the Crows in the role of Coaching Director.

Davis has a well-rounded coaching journey, having mentored the Lions’ forward line for the past two seasons and prior to that their defenders for a decade. He has also worked in Brisbane’s development team and coached in his own right, which included leading the NT Thunder to a NEAFL premiership in 2011.

Davis will work closely with all of Adelaide’s coaches but in particular assistants Scott Burns (forwards), Nathan van Berlo (midfield) and Jack Hombsch (defence).

Crows Executive General Manager Football Adam Kelly said the role of Senior Coach is increasingly demanding and the Club wanted to provide Matthew Nicks with the best possible structure and support in 2025.

“Over the past couple of months, we have been evaluating and exploring ways in which we can finetune our coaching structure and been searching for someone to complement the strengths of Matthew and his assistants,” Kelly said.

“Murray comes to us with a diverse range of football and coaching experiences, as well as detailed insights from a high-functioning and successful program at Brisbane.

“We have the utmost respect for what Brisbane have been able to do and the way in which they have gone about their business, and Murray has been a witness and contributor to their rise.”

In other changes, Michael Godden will have a greater emphasis on player and coach development, and Matthew Wright becomes SANFL Senior Coach while continuing to work with the Club’s emerging forwards.

The Darren Burgess-led high-performance team also welcomes Jared Hoare as Head of Fitness and Conditioning. He has most recently worked with Australian Super Rugby team, the Melbourne Rebels, as well as stints with the NRL’s South Sydney Rabbitohs and North Queensland Cowboys.

Additionally, Alec Buttfield has been appointed to the role of Head of Sports Science. Buttfield has been providing sport science, biomechanics, skill acquisition, performance and data analysis services to elite sporting clubs, including a number of AFL clubs and most recently Major League Baseball’s, Philadelphia Phillies.

Existing team member, Josh Manuel, has also been promoted to Head of Strength and Athletic Development.