Adelaide Crows AFLW return to training track with new a look side that is brimming with excitement
THE music was blaring and the energy was high as the Adelaide Crows AFLW squad returned to the training track for the first time in preparation for the 2019 season.
THEY arrived at West Lakes early, compared notes on skin folds and then warmed up on The Shed’s indoor grass with the music blaring: the Crows women are on a mission with 2019 success in their sights.
Last night was day one of Adelaide’s AFLW pre-season and its high-energy vibe seems to be setting the tone for new coach Matthew Clarke’s new look Crows side.
“We’ll make a lot of errors at training, but I’m not too stressed … the only way for us to get better is by training hard,” he told the group.
Last season’s club champion, Chelsea Randall, with sun visor on, shared quick kicks with Ebony Marinoff and Irish rookie recruit Ailish Considine joined in.
Considine - the club’s historic first import - laughed as her teammates debated which nickname to give her: Swish or Delish? Time will tell.
Fan favourite Sarah Perkins was impressive early in the drills, which will have supporters excited for the Crows first game of the new season on February 2, when they take on AFLW’s reigning champions the Western Bulldogs at Norwood Oval. Courtney Cramey was equally sharp.
Missing from training were leader Erin Phillips — still in the US on assistant coaching duties with the Dallas Wings — and Danielle Ponter — the first cousin of Hawthorn champ Cyril Rioli — who was drafted from Essendon in the AFLW last month and is training in Darwin along with Angela Foley and Jasmyn Hewett.
Fellow draftee Katelyn Rosenzweig was there but watched from the sidelines as she recovers from neck surgery.
Jess Foley — who retired from a decorated international basketball career in 2015 — is no stranger to elite sport training, it didn’t stop the nerves ahead of her first AFL training session, particularly forward-thinking to the daunting 2km time-trial.
“I’ve never been so nervous for a pre-season,” the former Australian Opal and Adelaide Lightning captain said.
“It was amazing to be drafted, it’s just been words up until now and it’s exciting to all meet each other and get on the track.”
Foley, 35, said she hadn’t spoken yet with her former Lightning teammate Phillips, but was looking forward to the star returning to Australia and joining the Crows on the track from next week.
“It will be fun actually, being teammates with Erin again and getting up to our old tricks hopefully … winning championships for one,” she said (Foley and Phillips won a WNBL championship together in 2008).
“It will be very nice to be playing with her again, she’s an amazing competitor.
“I thought when I’d given up the basketball boots that would be it for me, but I’m really excited to be giving football a go.”
Before the team ran out on the old footy park oval, Clarke set some homework: for the team to write down what they love about sport and why they’ve chosen to play AFLW footy.
But given the high energy and big smiles, it seems those answers will be easily given.