Adelaide coach Matthew Nicks has lauded the work over the pre-season of emerging star Josh Rachele after a disappointing end to the 2024 season.
Rachele was dropped for the final home and away match of last year's campaign, lacking the ability to uphold club values and standards despite producing on-field brilliance.
However, Nicks has revealed the redemption story the 21-year-old has undertaken since that career-defining moment, remaining coy on the potential of his inclusion into the leadership group following an impressive summer.
"I think he's given himself to the team this break," Nicks said.
"We haven't selected our leadership group for the year but Josh has made big ground in that space. He's really stepped up and worked with our young group.
"He's definitely a leader of our young group."
Rachele has been working closely with veteran pair Ben Keays and Alex Neal-Bullen, with the latter recently joining the West Lakes club from Melbourne during the most recent trade period.
The trio are expected to play predominantly across half-forward under Nicks, with spurts in the midfield.
Rachele has leant on the experience of Keays and Neal-Bullen, which has shone through his workload heading into the 2025 campaign.
"He's gone to work," Nicks said.
"He put his head down and gone to work because he's a pro.
"He's still got work-ons but he's getting reward for hard work over the work, and the group know that so the group are getting around him.
"The group he's playing alongside in Alex Neal-Bullen and Ben Keays is really helping with that, and he knows it."
Neal-Bullen's inclusion has worked wonders on multiple levels.
The 29-year-old has burst onto the scene with his incredible work ethic and clean ball use, something Melbourne fans will rue.
However, Nicks has been more impressed with his leadership qualities, suggesting that the club's recruit could immediately join the leadership group, which is yet to be decided.
