Dean Bailey has joined the Adelaide Crows in a new role as Strategy and Innovation Coach.

The experienced former Melbourne senior coach will join new Senior Coach Brenton Sanderson’s coaching team and on match day will have a role with the midfield group, as well as a key role in match day strategies.

Mark Bickley, as a senior assistant coach, will manage the line coaches in Scott Camporeale and a soon to be named assistant coach to replace Ben Hart.

Crows CEO Steven Trigg said: “The Club is thrilled to add Dean’s senior experience to our mix of coaches. His role will have a heavy emphasis on strategy, both our own and opposition analysis. He will also provide support to Brenton across all areas and he heads up, in a coaching perspective, our innovation program. With Dean and Mark Bickley as the two key reports to the Senior Coach, this will allow Brenton optimal time to work with the players.”

Bailey, 44, has been in the AFL coaching system for more than a decade.
He played 53 games for Essendon from 1987-92 and then finishing his career with SANFL Club Glenelg from 1993-96. After coaching Mt Gravatt in Queensland in 1998-99, Dean spent two years (2000-01) with Essendon as a development coach. He then joined Port Adelaide as an assistant coach from 2002-07 before being appointed Melbourne senior coach.

Bailey said today: “I am excited about the next new coaching challenge, assisting Brenton who has had enormous success with Geelong, and working with all members of the club, in particular the footy department and the players."

Adelaide has also boosted its development area with assistant coach Matthew Clarke moving into a full-time development coaching role, joining existing development manager Peter Jonas and development coaches Tate Kaesler and Alan Stewart. The main focus for the former Brisbane, Adelaide and St Kilda ruckman will be improving the Club’s midfield group.

Additionally, Adelaide has appointed Paddy Steinfort as Leadership Development Manager. Paddy will be heavily involved with the playing group in revamping the Club’s leadership program. Since being an AFL player (with Richmond) Paddy has had experience in leadership training in elite sports in New Zealand with the Black Caps (Cricket), Rugby (Hurricanes, Blues) and Basketball (Breakers).

Trigg said: “We made it clear at the end of the season that we needed to inject more resources into development and re-working of our leadership program and surround Brenton, as a first-time senior coach, with the experience he desires.”