Close to 200 students took part in the annual McLeod Challenge at Thebarton Oval on Friday.

Led by Crows legend Andrew McLeod and his wife Rachael, the event is part of the Adelaide Football Club’s suite of indigenous programs.

Now in its fifth year, the nine-a-side round robin football competition is aimed at Year 8 and 9 students and facilitates teamwork, fair play and leadership skills.

The event has had a strong uptake since its inception, but in the last two years there has been a significant growth in the number of girls taking part – in-line with the launch of the AFL Women’s competition.

AFLW players Ebony Marinoff, Anne Hatchard and Rachael Killian were part of the day, lending a hand with the coordination, coaching and umpiring.

Andrew McLeod said the Challenge would also be run in Alice Springs on Friday, May 25 ahead of the Crows’ clash with Melbourne at TIO Traeger Park on Sunday, May 27.

“We’re looking forward to getting up to Alice Springs and re-connecting with the kids and communities up there,” McLeod said.

“The day is all about bringing schools together and provides an opportunity for kids to create new friendships. From a football perspective, there’s teamwork and leadership on show.

“It also allows us to build greater relationships with the schools and the kids to see if they may benefit from any of our other programs.

“It’s been fantastic to see the increase in girls wanting to play and that shows what the AFLW has been able to do.”

Teams once again competed for the opportunity to play the curtain-raiser game on Adelaide Oval prior to the Crows’ AFL Sir Doug Nicholls Round clash against GWS on Sunday, June 3.

Led by the McLeod Centre of Excellence, the Crows have a suite of Indigenous programs including the Youth Leadership Program, the Ready Set Crow Program, the Future Leaders Program and the McLeod Challenge.

The programs use sport and mentoring to engage and educate Indigenous youths, providing them with the experience, skills and knowledge required to seek independence, self-determination and the capacity to achieve their goals.

Click here to find out more about the Club’s Indigenous Programs.

See some pictures from the day below...