Adelaide wants Xavier Campbell as its new chief executive.
The Crows have identified the Essendon CEO as their primary target to replace Andrew Fagan, who resigned last month.
Campbell has held the CEO position at the Bombers since 2014, is also a SANFL premiership player with Sturt who worked for the South Australian government.
But it’s understood Campbell wants to stay at Tullamarine, where new coach Ben Rutten faces a critical first year in the top job following the departure of John Worsfold.
Campbell also turned his back on a move to the AFL and a new executive position in 2019.
Fagan stepped down in January, declaring he was no longer in it for the long haul. The Crows last year finished bottom for the first time since the club’s 1991 inception.