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, is now back in his homeland to be with family during this incredibly difficult time.
The club confirmed that Vinny passed away after a battle with a terminal illness. This comes just weeks after teammate Jordan Dawson mourned the loss of his own brother, Jaryd. The Adelaide skipper is set to return for the Crows on Sunday, marking his first appearance since his own devastating personal loss.
In response to the news, the club released a statement on Thursday expressing their condolences to Keane and his family. The statement read: “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.” As a mark of respect and in honor of Vinny, Adelaide’s AFL and SANFL players will wear black armbands during their respective matches on the weekend.
Jordan Dawson Returns as a Major Boost for the Crows
It has been an extremely challenging month for the Adelaide team, with Dawson missing two of their last three games after the tragic death of his eldest brother. However, the influential skipper has returned to training this week and is expected to play a key role when the Crows face Richmond at the MCG on Sunday.
Coach Matthew Nicks praised Dawson’s impact on the team, saying: “He’s an energy for our group. 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 against Brisbane. He then sat out another one-point victory over Port Adelaide. Nicks acknowledged that it has been an emotional rollercoaster for Dawson.
“It was interesting watching ‘Daws’ when we played in Brisbane and the different emotions that he went through,” Nicks 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.”
