There’s no hiding our team spirit, says Crows forward Marijana Rajcic ahead of third AFLW season

Crows AFLW player Marijana Rajcic says a disappointing 2018 season has given this “special team” the fire in its belly to return to its premiership-winning form.

EVEN with six seasons in elite soccer under her belt, for Marijana Rajcic nothing comes close to the team spirit that’s building at the Adelaide Crows.

In Darwin for a pre-season camp ahead of round one on February 2, Rajcic said there was something special about the team the Crows had assembled.

“I was talking to Erin (Phillips) about it … and she said: ‘There are very few teams where I’ve felt like I do with this team’ and I can tell her the same thing,” Rajcic said.

“There are times when I’ve had similar feelings in teams that I’ve had success with in soccer, but there is something special here.

AFLW Adelaide Crows player Marijana Rajcic holds a snake with fellow teammates during a visit to Crocosaurus Cove in Darwin as part of their pre-season camp. Picture: Justin Kennedy

“It’s the group, the individuals, it’s what (former coach) Bec (Goddard) created and what (current coach) Doc (Matthew Clarke) is building on.

“It’s that mix of diverse backgrounds and stories, but I can’t explain it, it’s very unique, like family, there’s a love for each other you can’t put a price on.”

But as she knows from her six seasons with Adelaide United in the W-League — one of them as captain — to be successful, good teams need to translate that off-field chemistry into on-field performance.

“That’s a challenge for every team,” she said.

The Crows got up close and personal with some Northern Territory locals on Saturday, charming snakes and holding crocs, before taking to TIO Stadium for a trial game against Fremantle.

Crows meet crocs in the Top End. @TheTiserSport @CrowsAFLW #aflw pic.twitter.com/BvpehjsHyl

— Liz Walsh (@lizwalsh77) January 19, 2019

Rajcic, who spent last season in the backlines, will be moving forward this year after being trialled in attack during her seven games with the NT Thunder during the VFLW season.

“I was a natural striker when I played soccer and naturally I always want to attack and score goals and I think that helped me when I was in halfback because I could read the game and every chance I got, I would run off,” she said.

“The NT Thunder were happy with how I did in the forward line during the VFLW season and now they’re giving me a crack.

“It’s exciting.”

And having kicked one solitary AFLW goal, she’s looking to rapidly add to her tally.

AFLW Adelaide Crows players Sarah Perkins, Sally Riley, Chelsea Randall and Erin Phillips pose for selfie with a baby croc in Darwin. Picture: Justin Kennedy

Rajcic said a disappointing 2018 season — where the Crows failed to back up their premiership win from the inaugural 2017 AFLW season — had given the group a fire in the belly to succeed.

“We have that hunger that we need to be better and we want to be better and now we get stuck in and do the work,” she said.

And that work, she said, included a pre-season focused on skill development and improving fitness. The 29-year-old was one of 22 players who, post-Christmas, logged a personal best time in the yoyo test.

The Crows opening game of the AFLW season is against reigning premiers the Western Bulldogs on February 2 at Norwood Oval.