Third-year Crows defender Max Michalanney has stepped up into a crucial off-field role in 2025. 

Revealed by 250-game veteran Brodie Smith on last week’s episode of Crows Chat, Michalanney is the team’s new fines master, taking the reins from Kieran Strachan.

Smith said he was keen to see how the 21-year-old would fare in the role, and hinted that a big fine would be heading the way of one of Adelaide’s spearheads.

“Maxy has taken over the fines this year, he’s stepping up this year with Strachanie handing over the keys, he sent the message out to the boys (to be on high alert),” Smith said. 

“I can’t wait to see how Maxy presents it, he’s a very funny man and I think he’s got Tex helping out so it should be very entertaining. 

“I think Fog (Darcy Fogarty) may be in for a big fine with that (Coopers) tattoo stuff, I reckon he might be paying for half of our footy trip.” 

Smith also took the chance to highlight the talents of another teammate, as the Crows Chat crew dissected star forward Izak Rankine’s singing performance in the Gather Round Barossa spectacular. 

He said it had been a joy to watch Rankine grow in confidence as a performer. 

“It (Izak’s performance) was unbelievable, we first saw him perform last year, right before Gather Round he did a performance for the boys,” Smith said. 

“Nicksy (Matthew Nicks) walked into the team meeting with a guitar and we were all super confused, he got Ranks out the front and we all knew he could play a little bit, but when he got up in front of the room and started singing everyone was just in awe. 

“He got a standing ovation and since that moment he’s always in a room playing around the footy Club and singing along and the boys are trying to sing along. 

“To see him grow in confidence, it has been outstanding to watch, and for him to be able to replicate on the big stage in front of a TV audience now, it’s incredible.” 

Crows Chat airs on Triple M Adelaide every Sunday at 9am.