Vale Dean Bailey, 1967-2014

The Adelaide Football Club was deeply saddened by the passing of friend and colleague Dean Bailey, aged 47, in March 2014.

Bailey, who joined the Crows in September 2011 as strategy and innovation coach, had been diagnosed with cancer in November, 2013.

A fiercely loyal and caring man, he left a lasting impression on everyone at the Adelaide Football Club, and the football industry.

Adelaide chief executive Steven Trigg said the club had lost “a great mate”.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with Dean’s wife Caron and children Darcy and Mitchell,” he said.

“They know that the entire Crows family is here to help and offer support.

“Dean often told how he gained most pleasure from teaching and helping young men become better players and more importantly, better people.

“Dean’s dry sense of humour also provided many priceless moments.”

Bailey’s football career touched many clubs and people. His VFL/AFL career began at Essendon and he then spent three years with Glenelg in the SANFL.

After three years coaching Queensland club Mt Gravatt, he returned to Essendon as a development coach. In 2002 he joined Port Adelaide as an assistant coach. Melbourne then appointed him as its senior coach in 2008.

Three weeks after his death on March 11, Adelaide and Port Adelaide combined to honour Bailey before the first game of the season at Adelaide Oval.

Later in the year, the Dean Bailey Award was presented for the first time to the best development player in Adelaide’s SANFL squad.