# 2023 Adelaide Football Club season

The 2023 Adelaide Football Club season is the club's 33rd season of senior competition in the Australian Football League (AFL). This is the Crows' first season captained by Jordan Dawson and their 4th year coached by Matthew Nicks. Adelaide finished 10th with 11 wins and 12 losses, therefore failing to qualify for the finals for a sixth consecutive season.

## Overview

Adelaide's 2023 season overview :
| Captain | Coach | Home ground | W-L-D | Ladder | Finals | Best and fairest | Leading goalkicker |
| Jordan Dawson | Matthew Nicks | Adelaide Oval | 11-12-0 | 10th | DNQ | Jordan Dawson | Taylor Walker (76) |

## Squad

Players are listed by guernsey number, and 2023 statistics are for AFL regular season and finals series matches during the 2023 AFL season only. Career statistics include a player's complete AFL career, which, as a result, means that a player's debut and part or whole of their career statistics may be for another club. Statistics are correct as of round 23 of the 2023 season (27 August 2023) and are taken from AFL Tables.
| No. | Name | AFL debut | Games (2023) | Goals (2023) | Games (AFC) | Goals (AFC) | Games (AFL career) | Goals (AFL career) |
| 1 | Chayce Jones | 2019 | 18 | 7 | 76 | 17 | 76 | 17 |
| 2 | Ben Keays | 2016 (Brisbane) | 23 | 22 | 83 | 47 | 113 | 58 |
| 3 | Sam Berry | 2021 | 4 | 0 | 39 | 8 | 39 | 8 |
| 4 | Lachlan Murphy | 2018 | 22 | 12 | 98 | 68 | 98 | 68 |
| 5 | Matt Crouch | 2014 | 7 | 2 | 143 | 30 | 143 | 30 |
| 6 | Jackson Hately | 2019 (GWS) | 1 | 0 | 15 | 2 | 28 | 4 |
| 7 | Riley Thilthorpe | 2021 | 21 | 18 | 46 | 44 | 46 | 44 |
| 8 | Josh Rachele | 2022 | 21 | 23 | 34 | 40 | 34 | 40 |
| 9 | Rory Sloane | 2009 | 22 | 6 | 255 | 136 | 255 | 136 |
| 10 | Luke Pedlar | 2021 | 21 | 25 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 26 |
| 11 | Paul Seedsman | 2012 (Collingwood) | 0 | 0 | 83 | 49 | 83 | 49 |
| 12 | Jordan Dawson (c) | 2017 (Sydney) | 23 | 6 | 45 | 16 | 109 | 50 |
| 13 | Taylor Walker | 2009 | 22 | 76 | 260 | 612 | 260 | 612 |
| 14 | Jake Soligo | 2022 | 21 | 10 | 37 | 16 | 37 | 16 |
| 15 | Brayden Cook | 2021 | 1 | 0 | 12 | 3 | 12 | 3 |
| 16 | Max Michalanney | 2023 | 22 | 0 | 22 | 0 | 22 | 0 |
| 17 | Will Hamill | 2020 | 0 | 0 | 38 | 1 | 38 | 1 |
| 19 | Zac Taylor | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 20 | Mitch Hinge | 2019 (Brisbane) | 22 | 1 | 40 | 4 | 43 | 5 |
| 21 | Tyler Brown | 2020 (Collingwood) | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 28 | 4 |
| 22 | Izak Rankine | 2020 (Gold Coast) | 20 | 36 | 20 | 36 | 68 | 93 |
| 23 | Shane McAdam | 2020 | 7 | 12 | 50 | 72 | 50 | 72 |
| 24 | Josh Worrell | 2021 | 12 | 0 | 17 | 0 | 17 | 0 |
| 25 | Ned McHenry | 2020 | 11 | 4 | 60 | 28 | 60 | 28 |
| 26 | Harry Schoenberg | 2020 | 11 | 2 | 57 | 19 | 57 | 19 |
| 27 | Luke Nankervis | 2023 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| 28 | Nick Murray | 2021 | 17 | 0 | 46 | 1 | 46 | 1 |
| 29 | Rory Laird | 2013 | 22 | 3 | 224 | 28 | 224 | 28 |
| 30 | Wayne Milera | 2016 | 22 | 3 | 96 | 29 | 96 | 29 |
| 31 | Billy Dowling | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 32 | Darcy Forgarty | 2018 | 21 | 34 | 79 | 117 | 79 | 117 |
| 33 | Brodie Smith | 2011 | 22 | 4 | 247 | 71 | 247 | 71 |
| 34 | Elliott Himmelberg | 2018 | 3 | 1 | 41 | 41 | 41 | 41 |
| 35 | James Borlase | 2023 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| 36 | Andrew McPherson | 2020 | 0 | 0 | 28 | 0 | 28 | 0 |
| 37 | Patrick Parnell | 2022 | 5 | 0 | 16 | 0 | 16 | 0 |
| 38 | Lachlan Sholl | 2020 | 16 | 4 | 54 | 13 | 54 | 13 |
| 39 | Tom Doedee | 2018 | 11 | 0 | 82 | 3 | 82 | 3 |
| 40 | Hugh Bond | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 41 | Jordan Butts | 2020 | 17 | 0 | 60 | 0 | 60 | 0 |
| 42 | Tariek Newchurch | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 43 | Reilly O'Brien | 2016 | 23 | 4 | 100 | 12 | 100 | 12 |
| 44 | Lachlan Gollant | 2021 | 4 | 4 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 |
| 45 | Kieran Strachan | 2020 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| 48 | Mark Keane | 2020 (Collingwood) | 5 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 10 | 0 |
Bold = Played every game in 2023

### Squad changes
#### In

| No. | Name | Position | Previous Club | via |
| 22 | Izak Rankine | Medium Forward | Gold Coast | trade |
| 16 | Max Michalanney | Defender | Norwood | AFL national draft, first round (pick No. 17) |
| 31 | Billy Dowling | Midfielder | North Adelaide U18 | AFL national draft, third round (pick No. 43) |
| 40 | Hugh Bond | Midfielder | GWV U18 | AFL national draft, third round (pick No. 50) |
| 11 | Paul Seedsman | Midfielder | Adelaide | AFL rookie draft, second round (pick No. 21) |
| 36 | Andrew McPherson | Defender | Adelaide | AFL rookie draft, first round (pick No. 5) |
| 21 | Tyler Brown | Midfielder | Collingwood | Pre-season supplemental selection |
| 48 | Mark Keane | Defender | Collingwood | Pre-season supplemental selection |

#### Out

| No. | Name | Position | New Club | via |
| 22 | Billy Frampton | Ruck | Collingwood | trade |
| 16 | Luke Brown | Defender | - | retirement |
| 31 | James Rowe | Forward | Woodville-West Torrens | delisted |
| 40 | Ben Davis | Forward | North Melbourne (VFL) | delisted |
| 46 | Brett Turner | Midfielder | Glenelg | delisted |
| 11 | Paul Seedsman | Midfielder | - | delisted |
| 36 | Andrew McPherson | Defender | - | delisted |

## Season
### Pre-season matches

Adelaide's 2023 practice match and AAMI Community Series fixtures :
| Date and local time | Opponent | Scores | Scores | Scores | Venue | Ref |
| Date and local time | Opponent | Home | Away | Result | Venue | Ref |
| Friday, 24 February (4:20 pm) | Fremantle | 14.9 (93) | 25.15 (165) | Won by 72 points | Victor George Kailis Oval [A] | |
| Friday, 3 March (7:40 pm) | West Coast | 7.10 (52) | 17.9 (111) | Won by 59 points | Mineral Resources Park [A] | |

### Regular season

Adelaide's 2023 AFL season fixture :
| Round | Date and local time | Opponent | Home | Away | Result | Venue | Attendance | Ladder position | Ref |
| Ref |||
| 1 | Saturday, 19 March (1:10 pm) | Greater Western Sydney | 15.16.106 | 12.18.90 | Lost by 16 points | Giants Stadium [A] | 8,169 | 12th | |
| 2 | Saturday, 19 March (1:10 pm) | Richmond | 10.16.76 | 17.6.108 | Lost by 32 points | Adelaide Oval [H] | 38,492 | 15th | |
| 3 | Saturday, 1 April (7:30 pm) | Port Adelaide | 13.8.86 | 18.9.117 | Won by 31 points | Adelaide Oval [A] | 48,962 | 11th | |
| 4 | Saturday, 8 April (1:45 pm) | Fremantle | 17.9.111 | 10.12.72 | Won by 39 points | Adelaide Oval [H] | 33,725 | 7th | |
| 5 | Thursday, 13 April (7:40 pm) | Carlton | 18.10.118 | 9.8.62 | Won by 56 points | Adelaide Oval [H] | 47,395 | 7th | |
| 6 | Sunday, 23 April (1:10 pm) | Hawthorn | 11.10.76 | 11.13.79 | Won by 3 points | UTAS Stadium [A] | 10,119 | 5th | |
| 7 | Sunday, 30 April (4:40 pm) | Collingwood | 7.16.58 | 8.11.59 | Lost by 1 point | Adelaide Oval [H] | 43,942 | 8th | |
| 8 | Saturday, 6 May (2:10 pm) | Geelong | 14.14.98 | 11.6.72 | Lost by 26 points | GMHBA Stadium [A] | 21,415 | 10th | |
| 9 | Sunday, 14 May (1:10 pm) | St Kilda | 19.7.121 | 10.9.69 | Won by 52 points | Adelaide Oval [H] | 33,805 | 8th | |
| 10 | Saturday, 20 May (2:10 pm) | Western Bulldogs | 11.19.85 | 5.10.40 | Lost by 45 points | Mars Stadium [A] | 10,114 | 8th | |
| 11 | Sunday, 28 May (4:40 pm) | Brisbane Lions | 14.11.95 | 10.18.78 | Won by 17 points | Adelaide Oval [H] | 33,188 | 7th | |
| 12 | Saturday, 3 June (7:30 pm) | Gold Coast | 16.16.112 | 13.9.87 | Lost by 25 points | TIO Stadium [A] | 10,772 | 9th | |
| 13 | Saturday, 10 June (4:35 pm) | West Coast | 27.12.174 | 8.4.52 | Won by 122 points | Adelaide Oval [H] | 39,450 | 7th | |
| 14 | Bye | Bye | Bye | Bye | Bye | Bye | Bye | 8th | Bye |
| 15 | Sunday, 25 June (1:10 pm) | Collingwood | 12.10.82 | 11.14.80 | Lost by 2 points | MCG [A] | 65,930 | 8th | |
| 16 | Saturday, 1 July (1:45 pm) | North Melbourne | 21.12.138 | 11.6.72 | Won by 66 points | Adelaide Oval [H] | 35,226 | 7th | |
| 17 | Sunday, 9 July (3:20 pm) | Essendon | 17.13.115 | 15.7.97 | Lost by 18 points | Marvel Stadium [A] | 39,606 | 9th | |
| 18 | Saturday, 15 July (7:40 pm) | Greater Western Sydney | 8.9.57 | 10.11.71 | Lost by 14 points | Adelaide Oval [H] | 36.674 | 12th | |
| 19 | Sunday, 23 July (3:20 pm) | Melbourne | 14.13.97 | 13.15.93 | Lost by 4 points | MCG [A] | 33,122 | 13th | |
| 20 | Saturday, 29 July (7:40 pm) | Port Adelaide | 16.16.112 | 9.11.65 | Won by 47 points | Adelaide Oval [H] | 50,023 | 12th | |
| 21 | Saturday, 5 August (2:10 pm) | Gold Coast | 13.11.89 | 9.7.61 | Won by 28 points | Adelaide Oval [H] | 35,777 | 11th | |
| 22 | Saturday, 12 August (4:35 pm) | Brisbane Lions | 15.9.99 | 13.15.93 | Lost by 6 points | The Gabba [A] | 30,107 | 12th | |
| 23 | Saturday, 19 August (7:40 pm) | Sydney | 10.13.73 | 11.8.74 | Lost by 1 point | Adelaide Oval [H] | 44,817 | 13th | |
| 24 | Saturday, 26 August (8:10 pm) | West Coast | 12.6.78 | 17.21.123 | Won by 45 points | Optus Stadium [A] | 47,027 | 10th | |

### Ladder

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | L | D | PF | PA | PP | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Collingwood (P) | 23 | 18 | 5 | 0 | 2142 | 1687 | 127.0 | 72 | Finals series |
| 2 | Brisbane Lions | 23 | 17 | 6 | 0 | 2180 | 1771 | 123.1 | 68 | Finals series |
| 3 | Port Adelaide | 23 | 17 | 6 | 0 | 2149 | 1906 | 112.7 | 68 | Finals series |
| 4 | Melbourne | 23 | 16 | 7 | 0 | 2079 | 1660 | 125.2 | 64 | Finals series |
| 5 | Carlton | 23 | 13 | 9 | 1 | 1922 | 1697 | 113.3 | 54 | Finals series |
| 6 | St Kilda | 23 | 13 | 10 | 0 | 1775 | 1647 | 107.8 | 52 | Finals series |
| 7 | Greater Western Sydney | 23 | 13 | 10 | 0 | 2018 | 1885 | 107.1 | 52 | Finals series |
| 8 | Sydney | 23 | 12 | 10 | 1 | 2050 | 1863 | 110.0 | 50 | Finals series |
| 9 | Western Bulldogs | 23 | 12 | 11 | 0 | 1919 | 1766 | 108.7 | 48 | |
| 10 | Adelaide | 23 | 11 | 12 | 0 | 2193 | 1877 | 116.8 | 44 | |
| 11 | Essendon | 23 | 11 | 12 | 0 | 1838 | 2050 | 89.7 | 44 | |
| 12 | Geelong | 23 | 10 | 12 | 1 | 2088 | 1855 | 112.6 | 42 | |
| 13 | Richmond | 23 | 10 | 12 | 1 | 1856 | 1983 | 93.6 | 42 | |
| 14 | Fremantle | 23 | 10 | 13 | 0 | 1835 | 1898 | 96.7 | 40 | |
| 15 | Gold Coast | 23 | 9 | 14 | 0 | 1839 | 2006 | 91.7 | 36 | |
| 16 | Hawthorn | 23 | 7 | 16 | 0 | 1686 | 2101 | 80.2 | 28 | |
| 17 | North Melbourne | 23 | 3 | 20 | 0 | 1657 | 2318 | 71.5 | 12 | |
| 18 | West Coast | 23 | 3 | 20 | 0 | 1418 | 2674 | 53.0 | 12 | |

### Awards and milestones
#### AFL Awards

* 2023 All-Australian Team - Taylor Walker (Half Forward)
* 2023 All-Australian Team - Jordan Dawson (Interchange)
* 2023 22under22 selection - Josh Rachele (Forward Pocket)

#### AFL Award nominations

* AFLPA MVP Nominees – Taylor Walker, Jordan Dawson, Rory Laird
* AFLPA Best first-year player Nominee – Max Michalanney
* AFLPA Best captain Nominee – Jordan Dawson
* 2023 AFL Rising Star Nomination – Max Michalanney (Round 5)
* 2023 AFL Rising Star Nomination – Luke Pedlar (Round 16)
* 2023 22under22 44 man squad – Nick Murrary
* 2023 22under22 44 man squad – Luke Pedlar
* 2023 22under22 44 man squad – Riley Thilthorpe

#### Milestones

* Round 1 - Max Michalanney (AFL Debut)
* Round 1 - Tyler Brown (Adelaide Debut)
* Round 1 - Izak Rankine (Adelaide Debut)
* Round 2 - Izak Rankine (50 AFL Games)
* Round 4 - Ned McHenry (50 Games)
* Round 7 - Harry Schoenberg (50 Games)
* Round 10 - Ben Keays (100 AFL Games)
* Round 12 - Darcy Forgarty (100 Goals)
* Round 13 - Taylor Walker (250 Games)
* Round 13 - Lachlan Sholl (50 Games)
* Round 15 - Jordan Dawson (100 AFL Games)
* Round 18 - Rory Sloane (250 Games)
* Round 19 - Luke Nankervis (AFL Debut)
* Round 21 - James Borlase (AFL Debut)
* Round 22 - Taylor Walker (600 Goals)
* Round 23 - Shane McAdam (50 Games)
* Round 24 - Reilly O'Brien (100 Games)