The Adelaide Crows have signed former Collingwood defender Mark Keane via the supplemental selection period to fill the final spot on the club’s list.

Keane departed the Magpies after five games across three seasons from 2019 to 2021 to return to Ireland to play hurling and Gaelic football.

After briefly returning to pre-season training last November, he opted to retire from the game.

But the 22-year old will begin a second AFL stint at the Crows, having signed a one-year deal with the club. He’s expected to join his new teammates in the coming weeks.

“I never lost the passion to play the sport and when the opportunity arose to come back it was something I obviously considered very strongly,” Keane said.

“The circumstances are right and so is the timing on the back of winning an All Ireland Grand Final with my club Ballygiblin.

“I will be able to have my family and friends fly out and visit which will make a big difference and I’ll also have the support of my partner Caoimha who will be moving to Adelaide as well so we are very excited about what lies ahead.”

Keane joins Conor McKenna, Tadhg Kennelly and Marty Clarke as Irishman who returned to the AFL after coming home to play for their county.

It marks the second former Magpie to join Adelaide this off-season after Tyler Brown earlier this week also signed with the Crows via the SSP.

Adelaide’s final list spot opened up last week after key defender and former top 10 draft pick Fischer McAsey called time on his career, citing a lack of a passion to play the game.

Crows list boss Justin Reid said Keane would help boost the club’s defensive stocks.

“We are very excited that Mark has decided to return to Australia and committed to continuing his AFL career with us,” Reid said.

“We understand the travel and quarantine challenges he faced during the Covid pandemic throughout 2020 and 2021, but thankfully a lot has changed in that space since then.

“Throughout our discussions with Mark and his management he has made it clear he is eager to pursue an AFL career with the support of his family and friends and we are delighted that will be with our club.

“Mark is super competitive, with good speed and lateral movement which we think will complement our young and developing backline nicely.”