The Adelaide Crows have announced Phil Walsh as the replacement for sacked coach Brenton Sanderson.
The Crows nabbed the 16-year assistant coach from Port Adelaide’s box on a three-year deal after multiple stints with the Power (1999-2008, 2014) and West Coast (2009-2013).
“As a career coach, I am ready for the ultimate test and 100 per cent committed to this fresh challenge,” Walsh said at Tuesday’s press conference, offering his new players an early lesson from behind the microphone.
“I have a message for the players of the Adelaide Football Club, and it’s something I’ve learned over the journey.
“Success doesn’t come looking for you. You’ve got to chase it and as a team, the only way to do that is through hard work and elite habits.”
Walsh earned the reputation as an innovative strategist and game-day impact maker during coaching stints with the Power and Eagles after a 122-game career for Collingwood, Richmond and the Brisbane Bears between 1983 and 1990.
The newly appointed coach felt the opening of the Adelaide position was a once in a lifetime opportunity.
“I suppose I took myself out of my own journey and thought, anyone who’s done what I’ve done probably deserves to be a senior coach.”
“I’m 54 years old and (a head coaching opportunity was) probably not going to come around again. I tell my kids to chase their dreams, so I probably don’t want to look back at 70 years old and think what might have been. So here I am.”
The Crows parted ways with Sanderson on September 17 after finishing 10th on the AFL ladder despite the 40-year-old having a further two years remaining on his contract.
Adelaide possesses one of the AFL‘s most talented midfield’s but missed out on a second straight finals appearance after finishing second in 2012, losing three of its last five home and away matches against middling competition.
Photo: David Mariuz/Getty Images
