Max Michalanney

Michalanney became Adelaide's first father-son selection at a National Draft after he joined the Crows on the opening night of the 2022 draft. The Crows matched a bid by Sydney Pick 17 to secure the 18-year-old, who was part of Adelaide’s Next Generation and Father Son Academy. His father Jim played 211 games and in four premierships with Norwood between 1974 and 1986, making him eligible to be drafted by the Crows under the AFL’s father-son rule. Michalanney is a 191cm defender who played three SANFL League games for Norwood in 2022. That same year, he was named in the Under-18 All-Australian Team after impressing in the national championships which included being named SA’s best player against the Allies and Victoria Country. Michalanney enjoyed a standout debut year, lining up in 22 AFL games, averaging 10.8 disposals and 3.4 tackles. He was nominated for the AFL’s Rising Star award in Round Five, 2023, following a standout performance, in which he recorded nine pressure acts, 10 disposals at 90 per cent efficiency, four intercepts and four tackles in the Crows’ 56 point win over Carlton. Capping his outstanding debut campaign, Michalanney won the Club's Mark Bickley Emerging Talent Award in 2023. The Mark Bickley Emerging Talent Award recognises the achievements of a player under the age of 21 as the best ‘all round’ emerging talent. Michalanney further cemented himself as one of the Crows' key backman in 2024, playing all 23 games.