Port Adelaide and Crows to have two women’s SANFL Showdowns next year

The expansion of SANFL women’s football will continue next season with two new teams and historic Showdowns involving Port Adelaide.

Port Adelaide will finally have a women’s team wear the Power jumper with two historic SANFL Showdown battles against Adelaide next season.

The exhibition games will follow the SANFLW season when the eight clubs will be split into two teams based on the same alignment as the Next Generation Academies.

Players from Sturt, North Adelaide, Glenelg and Central District will represent the Crows, while West Adelaide, South Adelaide, Norwood and Woodville-West Torrens will form a team to wear the Power colours.

The first game will be a curtain raiser to the men’s state league clash between the Bloods and Crows at Richmond Oval on June 8 with the second at Alberton Oval on July 21 before Port hosts the Tigers.

SANFL general manager of football Adam Kelly said the new series would provide great incentive to the rising stars of the women’s state league to push their claims in an elite

environment ahead of the 2019 AFLW draft.

SANFL women’s players Rhiannon Busch of Norwood, with a Power jumper, and Caitlyn Swanson of Sturt, with a Crows jumper, at Adelaide Oval. Picture: Naomi Jellicoe

“This initiative complements the expansion of the women’s state league next year with the introduction of teams from Central District and the Eagles,’’ Kelly said.

“Importantly, it provides for the aspiration of players in the competition. The players will have the opportunity to compete against the best players from the league and at the same time, will be given an AFL club experience.”

Port Adelaide’s SANFL and Next Generation Academy manager Shane Grimm said the club welcomed the new series against the Crows.

“We already have an under 16 female talent squad who will play three games against the Crows,” he said.

“Port Adelaide is delighted to be involved in the female talent pathway to the AFLW competition and we remain committed to promoting and developing women’s football at a grassroots level in South Australia.”

Adelaide’s general manager of football administration Phil Harper said the concept

would be beneficial to scouting ahead of the AFLW draft.

“These games will be a great opportunity for aspiring AFLW players to show their ability against all the best players in the SANFL,” he said.

“The club is committed to growing the game in both SA and the Northern Territory

and helping young girls fulfil their football dreams.”