When Callum Ah Chee walked through the doors of the Adelaide Football Club as one of its newest recruits, there was already a sense of familiarity.
Not only did he support the Crows, and head along to the games to watch his “heroes” Andrew McLeod, Mark Ricciuto and Graham Johncock with his father, but there are two figures who he knows from his former clubs.
Ah Chee joined the West Lakes side via the Pre-Season Draft after a trade with Brisbane was unable to be struck.
The 28-year-old just secured a second consecutive premiership, but a switch to South Australia, reuniting with Murray Davis and Izak Rankine, was an opportunity that excited him.
Davis was the Lions’ forward coach, and played a pivotal role in the club’s breakthrough flag in 2024. Shortly after, he took up Adelaide’s coaching director role.
“I’ve got a really close relationship with Murray Davis, and he was really good for me throughout this whole process,” Ah Chee said for the first time in Crows colours.
“He was really honest with me about what the club’s like, what the people are like, and that ended up becoming a really big draw for me, making the decision to come here.
Brisbane Lions assistant coach Murray Davis (Image via the Brisbane FC)
“I’ve had a very long affiliation with Muz. I won my first premiership with him; he was my forward coach and also my backs coach throughout my time in Brisbane, so I’ve kind of been with him the whole way, to be honest.
“I just think he’s a great person, and he’s so knowledgeable as well. He’s very understanding of his players and how they like to be coached, and that’s what I liked about him most.
“He’s always understood me and how I like to be coached, and I’m always going to have a lot of time for Muz.”
Rankine and Ah Chee spent the 2019 season together at Gold Coast before the latter switched across town to join the Lions.
Crows rebounder Wayne Milera was also in the same 2015 draft as Ah Chee, but headed to the Crows three picks later.
“I played with Ranks at Gold Coast, so it’s pretty special to be able to link up with him again,” Ah Chee said.
“Wayno as well, we got drafted together, so to be able to play with those boys will be pretty cool.
“They play a very exciting brand of football, and I’m excited to have a front row seat to that on the field.
“Off the field, Ranks is super into his music, and I am as well, so it’ll be cool to be able to pick his brain about that, as it is a big passion of mine.”