Crows ruck Jess Foley says injured co-captains still vital to team’s chances of going back-to-back in the 2020 AFLW season
Crows’ ruck Jess Foley has opened up about the off-field influence of the team’s co-captains Erin Phillips and Chelsea Randall, despite them both suffering torn ACLs in 2019.
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Crows premiership-winning ruck Jess Foley has revealed the leadership of the team’s co-captains remains just as important to the club’s chances of success, despite them both suffering devastating knee injuries in 2019.
Erin Phillips tore her anterior cruciate ligament in last year’s grand final win in March, while Chelsea Randall’s 2020 season was over before it began when she tore hers on the first day of pre-season training in November.
“The fact that we’ve got two captains that are likely not playing round one, but the importance of them and their leadership to our team is undeniable,” she said.
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“To have them around still working really hard, still creating energy through their voices, and the way that they communicate with all the players is massive.”
Foley, 36, was this week announced as a member of the five-person leadership group that will assist Phillips and Randall while they return from their injuries.
“There are a lot of leaders on our team,” the former Australian Opal basketballer said.
“The fact that I am experienced and I’ve captained lots of teams in basketball, you would think that I would be a major leader on our team, but I actually just feel like one in a whole group of people that drive the standards, that use their voice and it’s important having leaders on every line.
“There are people all across the ground who represent all that our club would want.
“I’ve slotted in as one of many leaders.”
Foley described the 2020 team as entirely different to the outfit that won the 2019 AFLW premiership in March.
“We’ve had so many hits, so many injuries and there are so many new players,” she said.
Eight new players joined Adelaide in the off-season, and the Crows have lost three of their 2019 premiership players Chelsea Randall (ACL), Hannah Button (ACL) and Jenna McCormick (soccer).
Clouds are hanging over the return dates of Phillips, Chloe Scheer and Rhiannon Metcalfe (ACLs), while defender Deni Varnhagen injured her knee in last weekend’s trial game win over Fremantle and could be out of the side for up to six weeks.
Regardless of the injuries, Foley described this year’s Crows outfit as a “very competitive team”.
“Will we be trying to win every game? Yes, absolutely,” she said.
“Do we want to win another premiership? Yes, absolutely.
“But it’s a bit too soon to see whether we’re even in that realm yet.”
The squad was able to get in some pre-season bonding at their trip away to Perth last weekend, which included a day-trip to Rottnest Island.
Foley said getting on the road was particularly important for on-field successes.
“We all get to know each other and it’s a lot of fun and when people are away from their partners and their families and their phones that’s when you start to build relationships and for me, that’s all culture is, actually getting to know one other, trusting and respecting one another and all of your differences, that’s how you build culture,” she said.
The Crows start their quest for back-to-back AFLW glory next Saturday against Brisbane in Queensland.