Recently delisted Adelaide forward Ned McHenry has joined Adelaide Football League club Prince Alfred Old Collegians as a player-coach for the 2025 season.
A former first-round pick, McHenry departed the Crows after the recent season following 70 games in six years at West Lakes. He played 10 games in 2024, with his most recent coming in Round 13 against Richmond as the tactical sub.
McHenry was selected as the 16th overall selection in the 2018 AFL Draft out of the Geelong Falcons and would make his AFL debut in his maiden year with Adelaide before ending his first season with eight games to his name.
The 24-year-old played at least 20 games in the next two seasons before falling out of favour at selection, with the Crows deciding against offering McHenry a new contract this off-season.
The Barwon Heads product will remain in South Australia from 2025, joining the Old Reds in a coaching role that is also set to see the small forward feature on-field.
"The committee of the PAOCFC is delighted Ned McHenry has accepted the job as A grade coach in 2025," a club post read.
"Ned made a standout presentation to the subcommittee only 10 days ago, and from that point on, we knew we had found our next A-grade coach.
"Ned will bring a successful, professional, organised, yet straightforward philosophy to the club that only a quality person who has spent six years in the high-pressure, professional AFL system could do.
"Ned will be joined in the A-grade coaching group by Tom Brinsley and Adam Perryman; anyone who knows anything about Prince Alfred Old Collegians Football will know the quality that Tom and Adam bring with everything they do. We are sure the three of them will make a fantastic team.
"This is an exciting time for the club as we prepare for our 100-year celebration in 2026. This announcement marks the start of what will be a very big couple of years."
McHenry managed to balance his time in the AFL with a promising career as the host ofย Reel Talkย - a fishing show - onย Channel 7 this year.ย
