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AAP
AAP
Steve Larkin

Crows' Rachele craves consistency, not X-factor status

Adelaide's Josh Rachele wants to be remembered for consistency, not his overt goal celebrations. (Matt Turner/AAP PHOTOS)

Adelaide forward Josh Rachele doesn't want to be a so-called X-factor.

Rachele also doesn't want to be known for his overt goal celebrations, or as a hot-head who can boil over.

"My goal this year is just to be a consistent footballer," he told reporters on Wednesday.

"I have showed I can play at the level.

"But throughout the last couple of seasons I have been a bit in and out in the back-end, so being able to be consistent and play the 22, 23 games at a high level (is important)."

Rachele said there was still a time and place for his eye-catching goal celebrations, which include mimicking soccer stars Kylian Mbappe's crossed-arms stance and Tim Cahill's corner-flag boxing.

"I still think there will definitely be some fun, I still love having fun with the crowd, so there will be a few little cheeky things coming out," he said.

But Rachele craves being a dependable on-field character.

"Exactly right. We don't want to be guys who just show moments here and there," he said.

"I want to be that consistent AFL player that helps the team.

"We all do have strengths in the team and Izak (Rankine) and myself bring that bit of X-factor, that bit of fun to games.

"But for us the end goal is to play finals and win a premiership, so it's going to be about balancing that."

The 20-year-old is also pledging not to take the bait from niggling defenders after being suspended for two games last year for an off-the-ball strike against GWS.

"It's a fine line, especially being a forward," Rachele said.

"There's always going to be guys who are going to get under your skin, and that is their role, to be able to do that.

Josh Rachele
Josh Rachele has quickly become a fan favourite for the Adelaide Crows. (Matt Turner/AAP PHOTOS)

"For me it's being able to think team first and not being in my own head in those situations, and think what is best for the team and how we can win.

"Because in those situations in the past I have probably thought a bit more internally, which has showed my emotions on the field, so being able to control that.

"For me this year is just about the little things, being on top of all my recovery and diet, that was something that probably wasn't at the 100 per cent level that I could have done the last couple of years.

"So (it's about) being able to be really critical on myself in that sense and being consistent with that." 

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