Adelaide ruckman Reilly O’Brien says two-time premiership player Callum Ah Chee is fast making an impact at training and impressing his new teammates.

The Crows bolstered their list during the off-season with the addition of Ah Chee after 169 games with Gold Coast and Brisbane, including the Lions’ back-to-back flag wins (2024, 25).

Speaking to the media after Wednesday’s training session, O’Brien said Ah Chee had fitted in seamlessly into Adelaide’s forward line and was particularly impressive during match simulation, kicking three goals.

“Ah Chee has been great, he’s awesome,” O’Brien said.

“He’s another guy with such good experience and premiership experience, similar to Alex Neal-Bullen last year.

“He’ll just elevate our group with his leadership and with his experience, but also with his obvious skill set that he brings.

“He’s a threat in the air, very skilful, and above all he’s a real team player, does the little things that you need to in games.”

O’Brien also highlighted another recruit - former Kangaroo Finnbar Maley - and believed he could add another dimension to the Crows’ line-up.

“He (Maley) takes a great clunk, that’s his weapon, that’s his strength, so hopefully he keeps bringing that while developing all his other areas,” O’Brien said.

“He took (a specky) on Joshy Worrell, so we’ll make sure we play the highlight to that throughout the day, hopefully on the screens around the locker rooms.

“He’s got some real talent and I'm looking forward to seeing what he can do.”

O’Brien’s pre-season, meanwhile, has looked a little different this year, as the 30-year-old works with a new ruck rule which the League is introducing for 2026.

From this year at centre ball-ups, competing rucks will be unable to cross the centre circle line to engage their opponent before the ball is contested.

O’Brien said it was going to take time for him to adjust to the change, but was looking forward to learning more about how to use it to his advantage before the season kicked off.

“It will suit the jumpers, I think that’s what it’s designed to do, to help guys like Tom De Koning, Luke Jackson, Bailey Williams - those guys who are jumpers at the ball,” O’Brien said.

“It gives them a chance to show their strengths in there and not get wrestled out of it, so against those guys it will certainly be a challenge.

“Against the big bruisers like a Tristain Xerri, or Darcy Cameron it might be more of an advantage for a guy like me.

“It will probably depend on the opponent and a lot of adapting to the new rule, though, working with the tactics and getting more rhythm in there.”