Shepparton Swans product Josh Rachele inks big extension at Adelaide

By Liam Nash

Jun 21, 2023

Adelaide crowing over Josh: Shepparton’s Josh Rachele has signed a contract extension at Adelaide, keeping him at the club until the end of 2029. Photo by AAP Image/Jono Searle

Adelaide Football Club has placed a major vote of confidence in Shepparton’s Josh Rachele, locking down the electric mid-forward with a big contract extension.

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Rachele, 20, was initially signed until 2025, but inked a new deal which keeps him at the Crows until at least the end of 2029.

The Shepparton Swans product was over the moon to continue his AFL journey with the South Australian club.

“I’m really happy with where the club is heading at the moment,” Rachele said.

“And I think that shows with the number of signings we’ve announced in the last couple of weeks.

“The club has been really good with my family and I have enjoyed my time here so much, I had no intentions of going home at all, and in this next period of time I really want us to have some success.”

Rachele has shaken up the competition since being taken at pick six by Adelaide in the 2021 AFL Draft.

The youngster exhibited his nous around goal with a five-goal bag on debut against Fremantle and has kicked on to average 14 disposals a game across 26 appearances, slotting a total of 33 goals.

He first honed his craft as a soccer player in Shepparton at Goulburn Valley Suns and eventually joined Melbourne City’s academy.

Rachele later made the full-time switch to football and it proved fruitful as his wide skill set has been on full display for the Crows throughout the past two seasons.

Adelaide list management and strategy general manager Justin Reid said it was an important get for the club to secure Rachele until the end of the decade.

“We’ve all seen the class that Josh brings to our team,” Reid said.

“We were delighted when we secured him on draft night in 2021 and are even more delighted that he will be with us for at least the next six years.

“He is a constant threat around goal when he’s playing forward and has shown his ball-winning ability in the midfield, as well as a strong defensive mindset to pressure and tackle the opposition.

“As impressive as he has been in his first two seasons, there is still a lot of growth to come in his game and we are thrilled that it will continue to be in a Crows guernsey.”