Adelaide coach Matthew Nicks is confident in-demand defender Mark Keane will be at West Lakes in 2025 and hopes veteran Taylor Walker will join him on the Crows’ list next year.
Keane’s name has been raised in trade discussions amid reports the Irishman could explore a move back to Victoria, with a return to his old club Collingwood said to be growing traction.
The 24-year-old is reportedly “open” to a move east despite being penned to the Crows for a further 12 months, with his departure potentially another blow to Adelaide’s list build.
Keane recently spoke on his desire to earn a new extension with the South Australian club but has offered no guarantees on his future beyond this year.
“Hopefully one day it (new contract) will get done sooner rather than later but we’ll have to wait and see until the end of the season,” he said last month.
The key defender’s coach is hopeful he will see out his current contract or re-sign to the Crows, with the pair in ongoing conversations about Keane’s future.
Speaking to the media, Nicks admitted you “just never know until it actually happens”, but shared some level of confidence in Keane being a Crows player in 2025.
“Yeah, I am (confident he’ll stay),” he said.
“He’s a very important part of our group. We love the way he goes about his footy and how he is off the field.
“He loves our footy club, so I’m super confident we’ll get that one done. In saying that, you just never know until it actually happens.
“We talk regularly, that’s ongoing. As we’ve said right throughout, we work on things right throughout the year. Mark and I have been in contact right throughout, making sure he’s clear on what it is we’re looking for and how important he is for us.
“Hopefully that decision is one that he makes soon and then we can set ourselves for what’s next.”
Another big list decision looming at Adelaide will be the future of club great Taylor Walker, who is yet to have his playing future cemented. The Crows’ all-time leading goalkicker may retire but has hinted he is keen to play on, with a call to be made soon.
Nicks said he “would love” Walker to play a 17th season with the club but noted the tough decision is one all parties are continuing to work through.
“I can’t tell you what’s going to happen in that space,” Nicks said.
“(We’re in) ongoing conversations where ‘Tex’ and I are very much aligned around where to from here. It’s not a decision that has necessarily been locked away yet.
“He’s a character, an entertainer, he’s done everything in this stadium and the other ones.
“I would love ‘Tex’ to play on, and he and I are just talking through that now. It comes down to a physical and mental thing from a playing point of view.”
With their finals chances dashed, Adelaide can place greater attention on their list management plans ahead of the off-season.
Looks to break back into the finals frame next year, Nicks flagged the coming months will be a “busy” period for the Crows as they look to “make ourselves better”.
“Now is a time with a little more opportunity (to be active) with players coming to the end of contracts and free agency,” he said.
“It’s a slightly busier time of the year, but there’s a constant balance with that week-to-week and then longer term when it comes to our list and how we continue to improve.
“We owe that to our members and supporters, they expect us to be out there busy and working to make ourselves better. That’s what we’re doing at this point.”
Adelaide currently holds Picks 4, 27, 42 and 60 for this year’s National Draft.
