Josh Rachele Posts Career-High Midfield Numbers in Adelaide Shift
josh rachele is enjoying his midfield minutes, and the numbers back it up. He has posted career highs of 20.8 disposals, 3.8 clearances and 3.4 tackles per game this season. Even so, the Adelaide forward said he still misses his time up forward.
Rachele on The Crows Show
Rachele joined Ben Keays on this week’s episode of The Crows Show and spoke about the move into the middle. “I am loving my time in the midfield, but am also missing my time up forward, I’ll always be a forward at heart,” he said.
That split shows the shape of his season. He has taken on a more demanding role on the ball, but he is still carrying the instincts of a forward when he gets there. The balance has given Adelaide a young player who can attack stoppages and still understand what the other end of the ground needs.
Bontempelli and Daicos lessons
Rachele said the midfield work has brought him into direct contact with some of the competition’s best. “Playing in the midfield it’s been great to learn off some of the older boys, shout out to Daws, and then to play on some of the best players in the competition like Bontempelli and Daicos - it’s a great time.”
He also said his forward background helps when he is on the ball. “Having played as a forward, you know you want the ball to come in quick and hit that last line of an opposition's defence, so when I’m on the ball I’m really trying to utilise that knowledge and use it to my advantage.”
That is the practical edge in his shift: he is not just learning a new role, he is using an old one to shape how he plays it. For Adelaide, that gives the club more than a straight midfield move. It gives them a young player who can read both ends of the field.
Adelaide’s 2021 draft group
The midfielder also pointed to the group around him. “We have a great friendship, we (Luke, Jake and I) have lived together for the past four years, and shout out to Zaccy Taylor as well, it’s great to see all of us boys from that 2021 draft playing good footy and contributing to the Club,” he said.
He added that the younger group around Adelaide is already building something useful for the future. “We all love each other’s company, and it’s just been great to build a connection with not just those boys but the entire crop of younger boys, we’ve got a great group of one-to-five year players which will really help the Club in the years ahead.”
Rachele also touched on his 2026 goal celebration, saying it was inspired by Juventus player Kenan Yildiz and planned this season, with Darren Burgess at Juventus linked to the idea. He said, “There’s nothing better than when you kick a nice goal and get the crowd up and about.”
The Crows Show episode featuring Rachele was scheduled to air at 11am on Sunday on Channel 7 Adelaide, giving supporters a clear look at how Adelaide is using him now and how he sees his role evolving.
