Former AFL recruiter Matt Rendell believes Adelaide are set to go to the next level having secured the signing of Neil Balme as football boss from 2022.
Having experience running football departments at Geelong, Collingwood and Richmond, wherever Balme goes, premierships follow.
Having worked with Balme in various roles at both the Magpies and Demons, Rendell believes he’s the right man to “boost” the Crows’ football department.
“I worked with Balmey at Collingwood and was an assistant coach with him at Melbourne,” Rendell said on FootySA.
“He’s one of the great people in football, he’s got a real calmness about him, he’s very pragmatic and he doesn’t suffer fools.
“He’ll tell you how it is, he’ll be a great boost for their football department.
“You can talk to him about anything, he’ll have a laugh so you can take the stress out of it.”
Rendell believes Balme’s appointment is the cherry on top with the club set to poach high performance guru Darren Burgess from Melbourne.
“The Crows have already got their top draft pick in Darren Burgess,” Rendell said.
“He was Port Adelaide’s fitness boss before he was poached…he was at Arsenal in the EPL, he’s at Melbourne and there’s no surprise they’re top of the ladder.
“He’s had success wherever he’s gone, his teams are the fittest in any competition they’re in.
“This is a great get for the Crows, Burgess and Balme, Adelaide people should be ecstatic about that.”
Rendell believes Burgess’ appointment comes at the perfect time with the list set to become even more powerful on field.
“It is timed perfectly,” Rendell said.
“I would say they weren’t an unfit team, they were running on top of the ground. But we’re talking about next level elite in Darren Burgess.”