Adelaide’s State League team will once again be led by a South Australian, as Barossa Valley native Jack Madgen is announced as the new Captain. Madgen succeeds Matthew Wright, who captained the team for five seasons before retiring last year.
The 30-year-old returned to South Australia ahead of the 2023 season as the Crows’ SANFL leadership player after spending five seasons with Collingwood in the AFL. Madgen, a key defender, played 49 AFL games for the Magpies after transitioning from basketball, where he played with Cairns in the NBL and in college in the US. In his first season with the Crows’ SANFL team, he played in all 19 games and took on a mentoring role in the Club’s Academies, working with the next generation of talent, including Father-Son prospects.
Expressing his excitement about the captaincy, Madgen said, “I grew up as a kid in the Barossa supporting the Crows, so to captain any Crows side is a huge honour, and I’m really looking forward to it.”
Acknowledging the importance of teamwork, he added, “It’s pretty hard to do it all on your own, so I’m really looking forward to sharing this experience with my teammates and bringing them along for the ride where I can.”
Crows SANFL Coach Michael Godden praised Madgen’s passion and experience, describing him as an excellent choice for the captaincy. “Jack is incredibly passionate about team success, and that was clear from the first day he joined us,” Godden said. “He’s a great leader, genuinely committed to making himself and those around him better.”
The Crows are set to participate in three SANFL trial games before the season officially kicks off, facing West Adelaide on March 2, Sturt on March 16, and Woodville-West Torrens on March 22. Adelaide’s 2024 SANFL campaign begins against South Adelaide at Flinders University Stadium on March 29.