Crows AFLW coach Matthew Clarke hails pre-season camp to Darwin a team-bonding success

With less than two weeks until start of AFLW season, team returns from pre-season camp with a new team bond and self-belief.

• No hiding team spirit
• Ponter show family traits
• Injuries sour win in NT
• Big two to lead Crows

THE Crows are jumping into Season three of the AFLW buoyed by a pre-season focused on fitness and a team spirit forged on land and in water.

Having spent four days in Darwin on a pre-season camp the team returned to Adelaide on Monday, prepared for the season after bonding in some of the Northern Territory’s most picturesque locations.

Following their 20-point win over Fremantle in a trial game on Saturday night, on Sunday morning the team headed to Litchfield National Park and swam under the raging waterfall of Florence Falls, where some of the team’s daredevils proved more adventurous than others by climbing rock faces and jumping into the lagoon below.

Despite injuries to two key rucks — Rhiannon Metcalfe (ACL) and Jasmyn Hewett (ankle) — head coach Matthew Clarke said their win over Fremantle showed the side’s focus on conditioning during pre-season had paid off.

“They ran out the game and it was an important part of our preparation from a physical stand point,” he said.

“The whole squad played significant minutes in tough conditions, so that was really pleasing and we saw enough in how we went about it to feel confident that we’re in good shape come round one.”

Metcalfe’s ACL injury is expected to be confirmed by the club on Tuesday and will likely see her sidelined for the seven-round AFLW season, which Clarke said was hugely disappointing.

The extent of Hewett’s injury to her right ankle is still being assessed.

“We have to wait and see on that one,” Clarke said.

“X-rays cleared her of bone breaks and she’ll have another scan to assess ligament damage, then we’ll map out a plan for her.”

He said despite not having enormous depth in ruck stocks, there were options.

Clarke said the pre-season camp had offered a good opportunity for the squad’s 10 new players to properly get to know their teammates.

“They’ve spent a lot of time training really hard together, but the weekend provided an opportunity to interact outside of the footy realm and the players certainly enjoyed spending that time together.

“Ultimately it’s kicks and handballs and goals and all those skill components, but the understanding between teammates is enhanced if they know each other really well beyond the field and that’s where (the camp) kicks in.

“In times of challenge they’re able to get the best out of each other.”

The launch of the Crows 2019 season for both the men’s and women’s programs is on Tuesday at the Wayville Showgrounds, where young Crows fans will have the opportunity to meet players and participate in activities including paper plan competitions, a dance-off and minigolf.

The event runs from 5-7pm, with Showground gates opening from 4.30pm.

The Crows AFLW season starts on February 2 when the side takes on reigning premiers the Western Bulldogs at Norwood Oval at 8pm.