The Adelaide Crows have signed former Collingwood defender Mark Keane.
Keane, 22, played five games for the Pies between 2019 – 2021 before returning home to Ireland to play hurling and Gaelic football.
Keane signs on as a pre-season supplemental signing (SSP), snapping up the final list spot on Adelaide’s list.
Adelaide General Manager List Management and Strategy Justin Reid says Keane will provide great depth to their defensive stocks.
“We are very excited that Mark has decided to return to Australia and committed to continuing his AFL career with us,” Reid said.
“We understand the travel and quarantine challenges he faced during the Covid pandemic throughout 2020 and 2021, but thankfully a lot has changed in that space since then.
“Throughout our discussions with Mark and his management he has made it clear he is eager to pursue an AFL career with the support of his family and friends and we are delighted that will be with our Club.
“Mark is super competitive, with good speed and lateral movement which we think will complement our young and developing backline nicely.”
Keane, who has been living in Ireland for the past 12 months, says it’s the right time for him to return to Australia and have another crack at AFL.
“I never lost the passion to play the sport and when the opportunity arose to come back it was something I obviously considered very strongly,” Keane said.
“The circumstances are right and so is the timing on the back of winning an All Ireland Grand Final with my club Ballygiblin.
“I will be able to have my family and friends fly out and visit which will make a big difference and I’ll also have the support of my partner Caoimha who will be moving to Adelaide as well so we are very excited about what lies ahead.”