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NEIL CRAIG AWARDED NEALE DANIHER LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

Wednesday, Sep 27, 2023

Neale Daniher revealed the winner of the 2023 Neale Daniher AFL Coaches Association Lifetime Achievement Award as former Adelaide Crows Senior Coach and long-time football person NEIL CRAIG.

Former Adelaide Crows General Manager of Football, John Reid and Captain Mark Ricciuto, Brendon Bolton and Cycling coaching legend Charlie Walsh, were part of the tribute package speaking of how inspiring, intelligent, dedicated and what a special human Neil Craig is.

Melbourne coach Simon Goodwin, Craig’s former Captain at the Crows, also had a chance to reminisce on their years at Adelaide together, as well as touching on Craig’s coaching progression and philosophy and paying tribute to his incredible contribution to the game.

BACKGROUND ON NEIL CRAIG – 2023 NEALE DANIHER LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD WINNER

PLAYER

320 SANFL GAMES

  • Norwood

Premiership Player - 1975 & 1978

Club Champion - 1977

  • Sturt
  • Captain - 1985 & 1986.
  • North Adelaide

STATE

  • Represented South Australia 11 times in State of origin matches
  • South Australian Captain 1984

COACH

SANFL

  • Norwood from 1991 to 1995

AFL CAREER

ADELAIDE CROWS – 1997 to 1999

  • Fitness advisor
  • Part of the 1997 & 1998 Premierships

ADELAIDE CROWS – 2001 to 2011

  • Assistant coach – 2001 to 2004
  • Caretaker Coach for part of 2004
  • Senior Coach – 2005 to 2011
    • Guided the Club to their first ever minor premiership in 2005
    • Made preliminary finals in 2005 and 2006.
    • Made finals for five consecutive years (2005 – 2009)
    • Resigned in 2011 as the longest serving Crows’ coach in their history, still is.

MELBOURNE FOOTBALL CLUB – 2012 to 2013

  • Director of Sports Performance in 2012.
  • Took over as caretaker coach of Melbourne during the 2013 season

ESSENDON FOOTBALL CLUB – 2014

  • Head of Coaching Development and Strategy

CARLTON FOOTBALL CLUB – 2015 to 2017

  • Director of Coaching, Development and Performance

GOLD COAST SUNS – 2019 to 2021

  • Coaching consultant

OTHER ROLES

AUSTRALIAN OLYMPIC CYCLING TEAM – 1999 to 2000

ENGLAND RUGBY UNION – WORLD CUP CAMPAIGN 2019

AUSTRALIAN RUGBY UNION – WORLD CUP CAMPAIGN 2023