Adelaide has gained additional football expertise following the appointment of two Board Directors with extensive AFL industry knowledge.

Highly experienced and successful administrator Neil Balme and former Crow James Gallagher have been appointed on three-year terms.

One of the most respected figures in the game, Balme has been an architect of success at SANFL, VFL and AFL clubs, as a player, coach and administrator.

As Adelaide’s new Football Director, he will Chair the Football Strategy Committee and be part of the List Management Committee, and provide general support to the football department. Gallagher will also join both committees.

Under the Constitution, Club legend Mark Ricciuto must retire from the Board at year’s end, having reached his tenure limit after becoming a Director in 2014.

Ricciuto will work closely with Balme and Gallagher during the coming 12-months and the timing of their appointments ensures a smooth transition.

Crows Chairman John Olsen described the additions to the Board as significant, adding they reinforced Adelaide’s football-first approach and strong governance structure.

“The Club is in an important stage of its on-field evolution and along with Mark, who continues to offer sage advice, Neil and James will provide additional guidance,” Olsen said.

“Replacing a person of Mark’s knowledge and standing in the game was never going to be easy and the timing of these latest appointments was important to facilitate an effective handover.

“Neil has seen and done it all in football for over five decades, and he has a proven track record of shaping and overseeing leading football departments. Success follows him.

“With James, we have someone of high character who brings a diverse set of skills and perspective from within and outside the industry.”

Balme recently stepped aside from the Richmond Football Club at which he held the roles of General Manager of Football and Senior Club Advisor, during a period when the Tigers won three premierships.

Prior to that he held similar roles at Collingwood and Geelong throughout the 2000s and helped guide both clubs to grand finals and the Cats to three flags in 2007, 2009 and 2011.

Balme’s distinguished playing career began in WA before he joined Richmond where he played 159 games and won premierships with the Tigers in 1973 and 1974.

He then spent a decade at Norwood as both a player and coach where he guided the Redlegs to SANFL premierships as coach in 1982 and 1984. Balme later coached Woodville-West Torrens from 1991 to 1992, and Melbourne in the AFL from 1993 to 1997.

“Football has always been such a big part of my life and this is a new challenge, and great opportunity to remain involved in the game in an official capacity,” Balme said.

“In recent years I’ve had numerous conversations with the Crows and the likes of John Olsen, Mark Ricciuto and Tim Silvers, and I obviously have strong ties to South Australian football, and this role is a good fit.”

Gallagher played 38 games for the Crows between 2001-2004 and then went on to play 228 SANFL games for Norwood, including five years as captain and he was part of the Redlegs’ 2012 premiership.

Having forged a career in banking with both Macquarie and Westpac, he returned to the AFL industry at the St Kilda Football Club in 2018. He spent four years as the Saints’ Head of List Management before family reasons brought him back to South Australia.

“My time at the Crows as a player remains one of the most memorable parts of my football journey,” Gallagher said.

“I’m looking forward to getting back to the Club, forging new relationships and gaining a greater understanding of its inner workings, so I can assist the football department and administration in any way I can.”

Balme and Gallagher will officially join the Board at the Club’s AGM on March 5. Adelaide’s current Directors are John Olsen (Chair), Linda Fellows (Deputy Chair), Mark Ricciuto, Stephen Roche, Richard Fennell, Imelda Lynch, Shanti Berggren and Graeme Goodings.