The first month of the home and away season seems to have passed by in a flash and it is obvious to all footy fans that the evenness of the competition is sure to deliver plenty of surprises each weekend. I feel like we say it each year but every game is a tough task, and beating the Swans in Sydney like we are focused on doing tonight is right up there with the toughest of all. It is also a great opportunity, coming off a very disappointing result last week and I know Pykey and the boys are going in with the right mindset. I'd also like to wish Myles Poholke the best of luck as he plays his first AFL match.

On-field, results are unpredictable, but one thing for certain off-field is the level of support we receive from our Members and fans. For the fifth straight season we have pushed the Club to a record membership tally. We now have more than 82,000 committed members, with the number of women’s team members doubling, while demand for our digital We Fly As One offering continues to grow at a rapid rate. In addition to pledging genuine support, we also love the commitment shown by so many to attend matches both at Adelaide Oval and elsewhere, no matter the time slot or weather conditions. It is very much appreciated.

I would also like to offer a big thank you to Bec Goddard who finished up as our AFLW Senior Coach last week as she returned to Canberra to further her already successful career with the Australian Federal Police. Ideally, we would love to have seen Bec continue in her coaching role, but it wasn’t possible given these circumstances. She not only delivered a premiership but played an integral role in establishing our women’s program and inspiring young girls and women across the country to pursue a career in football as players, fans, coaches and officials. The manner in which she embraced all aspects of the coaching role and particularly her willingness to promote the Club and game more broadly was first class. Bec will always be part of the Crows family and we hope that she can remain involved in some capacity.

While the AFLW season is well and truly over, there is still plenty happening and we are thrilled that Erin Phillips has ignored interest from rival teams and committed to the Club, meaning she should now finish her playing career as a Crow. Stay tuned for more announcements in the weeks and months ahead.

Quite a few of you have been asking about the AFL’s recent announcement of a 20-year extension to the agreement for the Grand Final to be played at the MCG. It sparked much debate, especially among fans of non-Victorian clubs like ours. Rest assured we pushed hard on a number of issues which in turn led to several concessions, like greater access to the MCG during the home and away season. Having travel arrangements in and around the Grand Final designed to the clubs’ needs rather than existing commercial flight times is also beneficial to those who earn the right to play on the biggest of days. Ultimately, it is widely accepted that the latest deal has invested significant funds into the footy and facilities and is in the best interests for the game in general.

Speaking of off-field agreements, our Club’s push into the burgeoning esports landscape continues to gather momentum. Not only do we have our own team in Legacy but we have also won the rights to run a high school esports competition - the first of its kind in Australia. We have partnered with Riot Games Oceania, multi-faceted creative agency Bastion Live and the University of South Australia to deliver a competition that will involve hundreds of schools and thousands of students around the country. It is yet another significant step forward for an innovative and exciting part of our organisation!

The Club's media platform continues to grow as well and we have launched a second television show called Footy Plus, which as the name suggests features footy insights as well as updates and feature stories about other South Australian sporting teams and athletes. The first episode was a ratings success so keep an eye out for the next edition on Channel 7 after tonight's match broadcast wraps up. You can also find it on digital streaming channel 7plus at a time that works for you.

Let’s hope the boys can get the job done against the Swans tonight! Thanks again for your support.

We Fly As One!

Regards,
Andrew