Forwards Eddie Betts and Tom Lynch have been included in Adelaide’s 2017 senior leadership group.
Betts and Lynch join fellow goalkicker Taylor Walker, who has retained the captaincy, Rory Sloane, Scott Thompson and Daniel Talia in the six-person group voted by the players and endorsed by key personnel at the Club.
Betts, 30, and Lynch, 26, are both first-time members of the senior leadership group.
Betts has had an enormous impact on and away from the football field since switching from Carlton at the end of 2013. The dual-All Australian, who recently signed a long-term contract extension, has topped the Club’s goalkicking in each of his three seasons at West Lakes. In 2016, he finished runner-up in the Crows Club Champion voting and was presented with the Phil Walsh Best Team Man award.
A veteran of 253 AFL games, Betts is a much-loved character at Adelaide. He’s a mentor to a number of his younger teammates and takes pride in being a role model in the wider community.
Lynch, who joined Adelaide from St Kilda ahead of the 2012 season, is a vocal and passionate member of the playing group. The hard-working forward has overcome injuries early in his career to become a vital cog in the Crows team. He’s played 83 AFL games including 77 for Adelaide.
Walker, 26, will lead the Club for a third consecutive season.
The influential forward was voted by his peers as the best captain in the AFL last year. He’s played 130 career games including 46 as skipper.
Walker said he was thrilled to captain the Club again in Season 2017.
“It’s always an honour to be named captain of your football club and it’s a responsibility I thoroughly enjoy,” Walker said.
“I am really confident in the playing group we have at the Club and am excited for what season 2017 holds.”
Sloane, 26, has been elevated to the position of vice-captain. The two-time Crows Club Champion, who has been a member of the leadership group for the past five years and was an acting co-captain in 2014, was recognised as vice-captain of the All Australian team last season.
Another All Australian, Daniel Talia will enter his fourth year in the senior leadership group. The 25-year-old is the only defender to hold an official title.
A long-serving leader, Thompson also retains his place in the group. The 33-year-old played his 300th AFL game last season.
Crows Senior Coach Don Pyke praised the six players selected in this year’s senior leadership group.
“Taylor has done an exceptional job as captain during my time at the Club and has fittingly been returned to the role,” Pyke said.
“Rory is a great leader on and off the field for our players and he has deservedly been selected vice-captain. Daniel and Scott were both influential with their leadership last year and will continue to play an important role in 2017.
“Excitingly, Tom and Eddie have been recognised for their commitment to our team values and have been added to the group and both will be key contributors this season.”
Veterans Sam Jacobs and Richard Douglas, who had official titles last season, have been left out of the 2017 group, while former captain Nathan van Berlo has retired.
Adelaide’s 2017 AFL Senior Leadership Group is:
Taylor Walker (captain)
Rory Sloane (vice-captain)
Scott Thompson
Daniel Talia
Eddie Betts (new)
Tom Lynch (new)
