The Cats have pulled off a surprise by recruiting a highly regarded Crows assistant.
The Adelaide Football Club has confirmed the departure of highly regarded assistant coach James Rahilly, who will return to Kardinia Park for the 2024 season.
Rahilly has been living in the City of Churches since the end of the 2020 season, serving as Matthew Nicks’ forward line coach for three years.
Rahilly, a Geelong Falcons product, is expected to make tracks for the Cattery after notifying the club of his wish to return to Victoria for family reasons.
On Saturday, Crows Head of Football Adam Kelly confirmed Rahilly’s wishes, emphasizing that the deputy had played a key role in Adelaide’s recent development.
“James has played a significant role in the development of our team over the past three years and last week it was pleasing to see him rewarded with an AFL Coaches Association Award,” Kelly said in a statement.
“Under his guidance, a number of our forwards have significantly improved, and he has been instrumental in building connection across the group with regard to our ball movement, which puts us in a strong position moving forward.”
“So while it’s unfortunate that James won’t be continuing with us in 2024, we also understand the nature of the industry and that he has an opportunity to continue his career in his home state, so we wish him, his wife Georgia and their children Van, Hyde, Wren and West all the best for the future.”
Despite being given the opportunity to return home, Rahilly stated that the decision was not easy.
“I’ve loved my time here and grown very close with the players, coaches and staff,” Rahilly said in a statement.
“I’m also very proud of the progress we’ve made over the last three years under Nicksy, and it’s clear the Club is on the right track and will be successful in the near future.”
“I’d like to thank Adelaide for giving me the opportunity to broaden my coaching experience in 2021 but now the opportunity to continue that back home with my family is too good to pass up, and I leave wishing the Club nothing but the best.”
Rahilly first returned to Kardinia Park in 2008, leading the club’s youngest in his job as Geelong’s development coach, after playing 90 games for the Cats between 1998 and 2005.
Rahilly also assisted Chris Scott in his debut season in the Pivot City, serving as a full-time assistant during Scott’s first season.
The pair will reunite for the 2024 season, with Rahilly joining other assistants James Kelly, Nigel Lappin, and Shane O’Bree.
Rahilly’s arrival follows Shaun Grigg’s decision to opt out in order to seek a job with Gold Coast under his former head coach, Damien Hardwick.
Adelaide has indicated that Rahilly’s replacement will be announced and the coaching staff for the 2024 season will be finalized in the following weeks.
