Adelaide Crows Face More Personal Tragedy
The Adelaide Crows have been deeply affected by another personal tragedy, as key defender Mark Keane has returned to Ireland following the passing of his brother Vinny. Keane, who has not played in the AFL this season after sustaining a severe broken leg during pre-season, has gone back to be with his family during this difficult time.
The club confirmed that Vinny passed away after a battle with a terminal illness. This news comes just weeks after teammate Jordan Dawson was mourning the death of his brother Jaryd. The Adelaide skipper is set to return for the Crows’ match against Richmond on Sunday.
In a statement released on Thursday, the club expressed their condolences to Keane and his family. They also mentioned that the team will wear black armbands in honour of Vinny during their respective matches over the weekend. “The Board, executive, staff, coaches and players have Keane and his family in their collective thoughts and will continue to provide support as they navigate this challenging period,” the statement read.
Keane is expected to return to Adelaide next week, and the club remains committed to supporting him and his family through this tough time.
Jordan Dawson’s Return is a Major Boost for the Crows
It has been an extremely challenging month for the Adelaide Crows, with Jordan Dawson missing two of their last three games due to the tragic loss of his eldest brother. However, the influential skipper has returned to training this week and is set to play a crucial role in Matthew Nicks’ side when they face Richmond at the MCG on Sunday.
“He’s an energy for our group,” Nicks said in a recent interview. “Our group love having him around, he’s been here all week and I know he’s really keen to play. We’ll train today and make sure that everything runs smoothly, but we expect him to play this weekend.”
Dawson missed the Crows’ one-point win over St Kilda, before returning for the 52-point defeat by Brisbane. He then sat out another one-point victory over Port Adelaide, with Nicks acknowledging the emotional challenges Dawson has faced.
“It was interesting watching ‘Daws’ when we played in Brisbane and the different emotions that he went through,” the coach said. “Running out on the ground there was a real smile on his face and he was back to what he loves doing amongst his teammates and playing footy, and he performed so well in that game. But (then there is) the emotion post-game when the reality kicks in of what he has gone through and the loss that he’s experienced.”
