Adelaide's newly appointed Coaching Director, Murray Davis, has officially commenced his tenure with the Crows, speaking to the media for the first time as the club returned to pre-season training at West Lakes on Monday.
Davis, who joined Adelaide in October after a decorated 13-year coaching stint with the Brisbane Lions, shared his thoughts on the transition and his vision for supporting the Crows' coaching panel in his new role.
The seasoned coach, who was instrumental in Brisbane's 2023 premiership campaign, expressed his excitement about the challenge ahead and praised the Crows' football department for their drive to improve.
“Everyone has been very welcoming,” Davis said.
“There's a lot of good people here, and I've learnt very quickly how driven they are to get better. That was one of the things that attracted me to the role.”
Adelaide's inaugural Coaching Director made it clear that his initial approach will be to observe and learn, aiming to support senior coach Matthew Nicks and the broader coaching group.
“My main role is to support the coaching group—starting with Nicksy, the assistants, and the development coaches—on how we improve,” Davis said.
“It's about observing in these early days, learning from them, and then identifying where I can add value as we head into the new year.”
The Crows, who finished 15th in 2024, have been under scrutiny for their lack of progress, prompting the creation of Davis' role to bolster the support around Nicks. Despite this, Davis praised Nicks' commitment to the team's growth.
“He's (Nicksy) been terrific. I'm getting to know him and all the coaches (and) from what I've seen in the early days, he's very invested in making sure we improve," he said.
“What I have been impressed by is how connected the group is and how hard they're working, that's been one thing I've observed.”
Reflecting on his time with Brisbane, where he worked with both forwards and defenders over the past decade, Davis emphasised the importance of composure during challenging periods - a lesson he intends to carry into his role with Adelaide.
“One of the biggest lessons I learned at Brisbane was the value of remaining calm and not deviating from the team's focus,” Davis said.
“It's a long season, and belief is key. You can see that belief and drive to improve in this group.”
Monday marked the first full-squad session for the Crows, with players returning from their off-season break. Davis joined the team on the track as they completed their first 2km time trial and other drills.
New recruit Alex Neal-Bullen, acquired from Melbourne, impressed with a standout performance, while Hugh Bond and Isaac Cumming also caught the eye with strong runs.
Riley Thilthorpe took a cautious approach to training, walking laps due to a tight back but is expected to resume running soon. Meanwhile, draftees Sid Draper and Tyler Welsh eased into pre-season activities and will be gradually introduced to the full program.
Davis highlighted the importance of fostering strong connections with both coaches and players as the club embarks on its 2025 campaign.
“My role isn't just about supporting the coaches,” Davis explained.
“It's also about building relationships with the players. Izak Rankine is one I've had some exposure to coaching against - he's a talent and someone I'm looking forward to working with.”
