The Adelaide Football Club confirms the appointment of Brenton Sanderson to the position of senior coach.

Sanderson, 37, has immediately stepped down from his role as an assistant coach with the Geelong Football Club to accept Adelaide’s role on a three-year term.

He will be the sixth coach of the Adelaide Football Club, following Graham Cornes (1991-94), Robert Shaw (1995-96), Malcolm Blight (1997-99), Gary Ayres (2000-2004) and Neil Craig (2004-2011).

Sanderson was one of the original Crows in 1991, when he was selected in the inaugural squad as a promising All-Australian under-17 midfielder from SANFL club Sturt.

He made his AFL debut in 1992 and played six games in two seasons before he was traded to Collingwood, where he played four games in one season.

But it was at Geelong where he eventually found success. In his first season with the Cats he was dropped for the 1995 grand final but he then became a regular half back and his 199-game career with the Cats was highlighted by winning the 2001 club best and fairest. He also finished third in 1998, 2000 and 2003.

Sanderson retired at the end of the 2005 season and moved back to South Australia to be a development coach at Port Adelaide. After one season he returned to Geelong, where he has been an assistant coach for the past five seasons.

Crows CEO Steven Trigg said Sanderson’s appointment had unanimous support from the selection panel and the Board.

“The Club undertook a really exhaustive selection process; and our clear conclusion is that Brenton is ready. He has the skills, experience, plans and personal qualities.

“Brenton has worked incredibly hard. He’s faced a number of setbacks early on and emerged strong and successful - and in successful environments. There’s no question of his leadership qualities.”