Josh Rachele

Rachele made an immediate impact at the Crows, kicking five goals on debut against Fremantle in the opening round of the 2022 AFL season.{{cite web | last=Barrett | first=Steve | title=Fremantle Dockers cling on by a fingernail to beat Adelaide Crows, as Josh Rachele impresses | website=The Age | date=March 20, 2022 | url=https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/debutant-rachele-kicks-five-but-dockers-pip-crows-by-a-point-20220320-p5a6a9.html | access-date=March 20, 2022}} In Round 4, Rachele received a Rising Star nomination in Adelaide's game against Essendon, in which Rachele took 9 marks, kicked 3 goals, and collected 19 disposals.{{cite web|title=Adelaide Crow Josh Rachele is the Round Four NAB AFL Rising Star Nominee|date=11 April 2022|url=https://www.afl.com.au/news/740590/adelaide-crow-josh-rachele-is-the-round-four-nab-afl-rising-star-nominee|work=AFL.com.au}}

Rachele became known for his goal celebrations imitating the likes of Tim Cahill{{cite web|title='I'm waiting until a crazy goal': Rachele on Crows' rise, Rankine and backflip plans|date=April 30, 2023|last=Twomey|first=Callum|url=https://www.afl.com.au/news/913355/im-waiting-until-a-crazy-goal-josh-rachele-on-adelaide-crows-rise-izak-rankine-and-backflip-plans|work=AFL.com.au}} and Kylian Mbappé. On June 21, 2023, Rachele signed a contract extension which would keep him at the club until 2029.{{cite web|title=Rachele signs long-term extension|date=21 June 2023|work=Adelaide Football Club|url=https://www.afc.com.au/news/1362105/rachele-signs-long-term-extension}} At the time, this was the longest current-standing contract of any player at Adelaide, equal with fellow draftee Jake Soligo.{{cite web|title=Adelaide Crows Football Club Player List|work=FootyWire|access-date=21 June 2023|url=https://www.footywire.com/afl/footy/tp-adelaide-crows}}

Rachele faced a lot of criticism from the media in the first half of 2024, particularly for a few missed opportunities against {{AFL Ess}} in round 6.{{cite web|url=https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/draper-and-wright-certainties-as-scott-weighs-up-tall-order-20240422-p5flr2.html|website=theage.com.au|title='I wasn't brave enough': Crow speaks up on marks missed against Essendon|first1=Michael|last1=Gleeson|first2=Jon|last2=Pierik|publisher=The Age|date=22 April 2024}} Rachele redeemed himself against Essendon in round 19 when one of his three goals was a last-minute match-winner.{{cite web|url=https://www.afl.com.au/news/1174448/clutch-josh-racheles-last-gasp-goal-sees-adelaide-crows-bring-down-essendon-bombers|first=Gemma|last=Bastiani|location=Docklands Stadium|date=19 July 2024|website=afl.com.au|publisher=Australian Football League|title=Clutch Rachele's last-gasp goal sees Crows bring down Bombers}} His celebration, during which he ran to the crowd and hugged a fan, mimicked James Hird's celebration 20 years prior.{{cite web|url=https://7news.com.au/sport/afl/crows-star-josh-rachele-channels-james-hird-after-match-winning-goal-stuns-essendon-c-15411873|publisher=Seven Network|website=7news.com.au|date=19 July 2024|title=Crows star Josh Rachele channels James Hird after match-winning goal stuns Essendon|first=Glenn|last=Valencich}} Rachele was the center of controversy prior to the Showdown against {{AFL PA}} in round 23 when he used a stereotype of Port fans on FIVEaa.{{cite web|first=Matt|last=Turner|title=Rachele 'apology' sets scene for fiery Showdown|url=https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/sport/afl/showdown-56-adelaide-forward-josh-rachele-labels-showdown-a-mini-grand-final-for-his-side-as-it-looks-to-finish-year-on-a-high/news-story/81373a6b3b7122cba2d1530bb1c2b5ab|publisher=The Advertiser (Adelaide)|website=www.adelaidenow.com.au|date=15 August 2024}} Following the Showdown loss, Rachele received public criticism in the media for the comments, including Kane Cornes and teammate Rory Laird.{{cite web|url=https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/teams/adelaide-crows/let-his-footy-do-the-talking-crows-star-blasted-by-teammate-after-no-teeth-sledge-to-port-fans/news-story/b9fda34df04d3942180505b47cb665cb|title='Let his footy do the talking': Crows teammate joins critics of livewire's Showdown sledge|date=20 August 2024|website=foxsports.com.au|publisher=Fox Footy}}{{cite web|url=https://tags.news.com.au/prod/newskey/generator.html?origin=https%3a%2f%2fwww.geelongadvertiser.com.au%2fsport%2fafl%2fkane-cornes-labels-josh-rachele-the-laughing-stock-of-the-competition%2fnews-story%2fbff0aa355dd190357f187d368d8481d0&172430571821191760|first=Andrew|last=McMurty|publisher=Geelong Advertiser|date=19 August 2024|website=tag.news.com.au|title='Laughing stock': AFL star torn to shreds}} In the following week, Rachele was named in the 22 Under 22 team for the second time{{cite web|url=https://www.aflplayers.com.au/news-feed/stories/anchors-up-young-dockers-take-charge-of-final-22under22|publisher=AFL Players' Association|title=Anchors up! Young Dockers take charge of final 22under22|date=22 August 2024}} and was omitted for the final game of the year.{{cite web|title='I'll always have Josh's back': Nicks opens up on Rachele's surprise axing|first=Josh|last=Cotton|date=23 August 2024|url=https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/teams/adelaide-crows/afl-2024-matthew-nicks-reveals-why-josh-rachele-was-dropped-team-selection-for-adelaide-game-against-sydney-latest-news/news-story/61c2a0c175c7bd7be6ca0acd5fc6a34e|publisher=Fox Footy|website=foxsports.com.au}} Despite the late-season omission, Rachele kicked a career-best 30 goals during the season, which was the third highest of any Crow.{{cite web|url=https://www.afl.com.au/stats/leaders?category=Scoring&seasonId=62&sortColumn=goals&dataType=totals&roundId=-1&roundNumber=0&sortDirection=descending&positions=All&teams=CD_T10&benchmarking=false&playerOneId=null&playerTwoId=null|website=afl.com.au|access-date=23 August 2024|title=Stats Leaders}}

Following his controversial end to 2024, Rachele did not miss a beat in the 2025 pre-season, receiving public praise from coach Matthew Nicks and teammate Ben Keays.{{cite web|url=https://www.afl.com.au/news/1264417/high-praise-for-electric-adelaide-crows-forward-josh-rachele-after-controversial-end-to-season|website=afl.com.au|date=18 January 2025|first=Alison|last=O'Connor|title=High praise for electric Crow after controversial end to season}} Rachele started the season in good form, kicking six goals and collecting 37 disposals from his first two games. In round 3, he collided with {{AFL NM}}'s Tristan Xerri and fractured three ribs, leaving the ground at quarter time and sitting on the sidelines in the following few weeks.{{cite web|title=Crows gun learns severity of rib injury in blow|website=afl.com.au|url=https://www.afl.com.au/news/1291020/adelaide-crows-gun-josh-rachele-learns-severity-of-rib-injury-in-blow|date=31 March 2025}}

:Updated to round 3, 2025.{{cite web|url=https://afltables.com/afl/stats/players/J/Josh_Rachele.html|title=Josh Rachele|work=AFL Tables|access-date=31 March 2025}}

{{Australian rules football statistics legend}}

{{AFL player statistics start with votes}}

|-

| 2022 || {{AFL Ade}} || 8

| 13 || 17 || 11 || 93 || 53 || 146 || 36 || 24 || 1.3 || 0.8 || 7.2 || 4.1 || 11.2 || 2.8 || 1.8 || 1

|-

| 2023 || {{AFL Ade}} || 8

| 21 || 23 || 25 || 204 || 117 || 321 || 81 || 70 || 1.1 || 1.2 || 9.7 || 5.6 || 15.3 || 3.9 || 3.3 || 0

|-

| 2024 || {{AFL Ade}} || 8

| 22 || 30 || 17 || 202 || 109 || 311 || 79 || 51 || 1.4 || 0.8 || 9.2 || 5.0 || 14.1 || 3.6 || 2.3 || 0

|-

| 2025 || {{AFL Ade}} || 8

| 5 || 9 || 7 || 29 || 13 || 42 || 16 || 3 || 2.0 || 1.3 || 9.6 || 4.3 || 14.0 || 5.1 || 1.0 ||

|- class="sortbottom"

! colspan=3| Career

! 59 !! 76 !! 57 !! 528 !! 292 !! 820 !! 212 !! 148 !! 1.3 !! 1.0 !! 8.9 !! 4.9 !! 13.9 !! 3.6 !! 2.5 !! 1

|}

Since October 2022, Rachele has lived with fellow Victorians and current teammates Luke Nankervis and Jake Soligo.{{cite web|url=https://www.afc.com.au/news/1260272/the-friendship-pushing-rachele-to-new-heights|first=Daniela|last=Harvey|website=Adelaide Football Club|date=5 January 2023|title=The friendship pushing Rachele to new heights}} He has a close relationship with former {{AFL GWS}} forward Cooper Hamilton, with whom he boarded with at Caulfield Grammar School.

Rachele's Italian and Greek heritage keep his family close knit. His parents are named Michelle and Jason, and he has two younger twin brothers. Jason Rachele works on the family-owned orchard in Shepparton.

{{reflist}}

{{Commons Category}}

• {{Adelplayer}}
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{{Adelaide player squad}}

{{2022 AFL Rising Star nominees}}

{{2021 AFL national draft}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Rachele, Josh}}

Category:Living people

Category:2003 births

Category:Adelaide Football Club players

Category:People educated at Caulfield Grammar School

Category:Murray Bushrangers players

Category:Australian people of Greek descent

Category:Sportspeople of Greek descent

Category:Australian people of Italian descent

Category:Sportspeople of Italian descent

Category:Australian rules footballers from Victoria (state)

Category:21st-century Australian sportsmen