Josh Rachele Biography

Adelaide Crows coach Matthew Nicks supports the decision to drop Josh Rachele late in 2024.

"I'm a huge believer in that reward is what brings out the best in people. But occasionally there's a need to challenge. I felt that towards the end of last year that we needed a small challenge," Nicks said.

"For mine Josh will be a leader of this football club in the not-too-distant future. So when that happens I want him leading in the right way. He, to his credit, took on board the information I shared with him at the end of last year and has had his best pre-season. There's no doubt about that."

Josh Rachele receives high praise for his maturity and work ethic during the pre-season, with teammate Ben Keays noting his improvement on and off the field.

"He's been electric, he's a really hard worker ... so it's no surprise he's improved as much as he has," Keays said.

"He's going to continue to get better and it makes it so easy to work with guys like that who are so hungry to want to get better."

Josh Rachele is dropped from the Crows' senior side to play Sydney in Adelaide's final round game against Sydney.

"We love the energy Josh brings to our group and he's going to be a very important player for us for a long period of time," Crows footy boss Adam Kelly said.

"Collectively, we must always prioritise the team-first focus which is so central to our values and standards. And we have and will continue to work with Josh in this space."

Josh Rachele signs a long-term extension with Adelaide, committing to the club until the end of the 2029 season.

"Adelaide gave me the opportunity to start with, so I feel like I have to pay them back," Rachele said.

"I want to be a one-club player. Looking at Tex (Walker) and Rory (Sloane) and these guys - playing 250 games - that's definitely something I want to do."

Already known for his extravagant goal celebrations, Josh Rachele says he is waiting for the right moment to do a backflip.

"I'm waiting one day until I kick a crazy goal but I can do a backflip. If I kick a goal after the siren or kick a crazy one from the boundary, that is definitely coming out … only at a home game though," Rachele said in an interview with Cal Twomey.

Josh Rachele is the AFL Rising Star nominee for round four after tallying 19 disposals, 9 marks, and 3 goals in the Crows' narrow loss to Essendon.

Josh Rachele makes his AFL debut for Adelaide at Adelaide Oval with 14 disposals (13 kicks and a handball), 5 marks, 3 tackles and 5 goals in a 1-point loss to Fremantle.

Adelaide coach Matthew Nicks says their top pick in the 2021 National Draft is a big chance to make his debut in round 1 of 2022 against Fremantle.

"He was already well built, and he'd done a lot of work leading in prior to being drafted to get himself physically ready to play an AFL game. It's really exciting what he's brought to the group. He's a competitive beast, he likes kicking goals, and those players are important," Nicks said.

Adelaide select Josh Rachele with pick No.6 in the 2021 National Draft.

Draft Report: A one-time member of the Australian under-17 soccer squad, Rachele turned down a scholarship offer from A-League club Melbourne City to instead focus on his football. The Shepparton product is an explosive X-factor player who has been likened to Greater Western Sydney star Toby Greene and is a strong forward who can also transition through the midfield. A boarder at Caulfield Grammar, Rachele won the Kevin Sheehan Medal as the best player in Division 1 of the under-16 national championships in 2019 and started 2021 in similar sizzling fashion. In Round 3 of the NAB League, he logged 17 disposals, five marks, seven score involvements and kicked four goals for the Bushrangers. The AFL Academy member, who trained with Carlton earlier this year, also caught the eye in an exhibition match against Geelong's VFL side in April, finishing as one of two players on his team to kick a goal. Rachele has genuine footy smarts and the athletic traits to match. He finished equal-eighth in the running vertical jump during NAB League pre-season testing, clocking a leap of 92cm.