New Adelaide recruit Callum Ah Chee has described his messy departure from the Brisbane Lions as "bitter-sweet," acknowledging the disappointment of the drawn-out process while accepting the business realities of the AFL.
A Trade That Never Happened
Speaking to reporters in Adelaide on Monday, the 28-year-old dual premiership player confirmed his move to the Crows was finally official after the clubs failed to strike a deal during the trade period. This impasse led to Ah Chee being picked up by Adelaide with the first selection in the pre-season draft, meaning Brisbane received no compensation for the 169-game player.
"It's nice to finally be in Adelaide officially, it has been a big month," Ah Chee said. "Not ideal ... it (a trade) obviously just didn't get done." He admitted to following the negotiations closely, realising towards the end that an agreement might not be reached. "But that's the reality. Footy has got a business side of things, I understand that and that is the industry I am in. It's in the past now."
Fond Memories Amid Business Realities
While labelling the trade stand-off "a little bit disappointing," Ah Chee was adamant it would not tarnish his incredible memories of his time with the Lions. "What better way to go out than to win a flag and contribute - and that is something that I will hold with me for the rest of my life, memories that I will have forever," he stated, reflecting on Brisbane's recent premiership success.
The West Australian-born player, who supported the Crows as a child, cited family as a primary driver for his request to return closer to home. "Having family here as well - and it's a lot closer to Perth and that was a big pull," he explained. "I felt for my family, obviously being in Brisbane without any help really for 10 years has been tough, we got through that."
His decision was solidified during talks with Crows coach Matthew Nicks and coaching director Murray Davis, a former Lions staffer, towards the end of Brisbane's finals campaign.
Looking Forward with the Crows
Ah Chee now joins an Adelaide team looking to rebound from a straight-sets finals exit in 2023 after finishing the home-and-away season as minor premiers. He brings valuable premiership experience and perspective on what it takes to build a contending team.
"It's not easy to just make premiership teams overnight," Ah Chee cautioned. "You have got to go through a lot of adversity and learn from it, you can't really shy away from it. Finals are hard. It's almost like another season, it's not easy winning finals games. But I'm sure the Crows boys learnt a lot from last season so I'm sure they'll bounce back."
Despite the complicated exit, Ah Chee's focus is firmly on the future. "I was pretty much set on my decision to come to the Crows and I really wanted to get here, so we put all our energy and time in to that," he said. "And so first pick in the pre-season draft, I'll take it."
