Former North Melbourne and Port Adelaide goalkicker Lindsay Thomas has linked up with Adelaide as the club's new Indigenous Pathways Coach.

Thomas joins the Crows' Next Generation Academy program as a leader for the club's next generation of draft prospects, bringing over 200 games of top flight experience to pathways at West Lakes.

The 36-year-old started his career with the Kangaroos after being drafted to of Port Lincoln, South Australia, in 2006.

He would make his AFL debut the following year against Collingwood and played 23 games in his second season, emerging as a staple in the forward line.

The Roos' small forward kicked 325 goals from 205 career games in the blue and white, taking out the club's leading goalkicker award in 2010 and 2013 - the latter season seeing Thomas record a career-best 53 goals for the year.

Thomas returned to SA ahead of the 2018 season with a move to Port Adelaide, where he played seven AFL games in his final year in the AFL.

Adelaide's academies have seen a handful of players graduate to the AFL in recent years, with Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera, Leek Aleer, Isaac Keeler, Ashton Moir and current Crows trio James Borlase (NGA), Max Michalanney (father-son) and Tyler Welsh (father-son) among those to come through the development programs.

Among the club's current emerging ranks, several Crows Academy members have links to past AFL players, with Shaquan Davey (nephew of Aaron and Alwyn), Justin and Jermaine Miller (nephews of Graham Johncock and Eddie Betts), Anthony Long (nephew of Michael Long) and Malachi Varcoe (nephew of Travis) included in Adelaide's NGA.

Adelaide have Richmond premiership player Shane Edwards as the club's Indigenous player development manager.