The Adelaide Football Club has finalised its coaching structure for the 2017 season.
Ryan O’Keefe will step up as the Club’s SANFL Senior Coach, with Heath Younie focusing on his role as Development Manager.
Younie will now work full-time on Adelaide’s development program for all players and coaches, both on and off the field.
O’Keefe has impressed as a development coach assisting the midfield since his arrival at West Lakes ahead of the 2015 season and will continue to mentor Adelaide’s younger midfielders in 2017 as well.
"I'm honoured to be the Club's new SANFL coach and excited to take on a new challenge," O'Keefe said.
"I'm looking forward to continuing to work with the great group of coaches we already have and helping the players get the best out of themselves."
The recently appointed Nathan van Berlo will be a development coach working with the Crows’ forwards.
Tate Kaesler will move into a newly created specialist position where he will oversee Adelaide’s team defence structures for both the AFL and SANFL teams.
The rest of Adelaide’s on-field coaching panel will remain the same as 2016.
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Crows Head of Football Brett Burton said the Club was happy with the mix of skill sets across the group.
“It’s great that we’ve been able to retain all of our on-field coaching staff from this year plus the addition of Nathan van Berlo,” Burton said.
“We have a fantastic group of coaches who cover a wide range of skills and they will now be looking to build on the strong foundations laid in 2016.
“Importantly, the coaching panel will now be able to continue to develop existing relationships with the players and each other.”
Burton said Ryan O’Keefe’s appointment as Adelaide’s second SANFL Senior Coach was a positive result for everyone.
“Congratulations to Ryan who will now take charge of our State League side on match day,” he said.
“It is a great opportunity for ‘ROK’ to take the next step in his coaching career and build on the skills he has developed since joining us in 2014.
“We see player and coach development as a key area for us in 2017 and Ryan’s appointment will allow Heath Younie to focus on that full-time.”
Crows Coaching Structure 2017
Senior Coach – Don Pyke
Midfield Coach – Scott Camporeale
Forwards Coach – David Teague
Rucks Coach – Matthew Clarke
Defensive Coach – James Podsiadly
Development Manager – Heath Younie
Team Defence Specialist Coach – Tate Kaesler
SANFL Senior Coach and Midfield Development Coach – Ryan O’Keefe
Forwards Development Coach – Nathan van Berlo
Defensive Development Coach – Paul Thomas
