For the first time in the Club’s history, Adelaide welcomed mothers to its Crows Academies Father Son and Daughter program on Thursday morning.
AFLW star Erin Phillips brought her two-year-old twins Blake and Brooklyn to West Lakes to join a host of famous Club names at the program’s first event of 2019.
Almost 40 kids watched on as Adelaide’s men’s team trained, including Eddie Betts’ two boys Lewis and Billy, who are eligible to play for either the Crows or Carlton, and Tom Lynch’s son Koby.
Several past players were also in attendance with their sons and daughters, including Mark Ricciuto, Brett Burton, Matthew Robran, Tony Modra and Kym Koster.
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Currently, there are 38 past and present players who have children eligible for selection by the Adelaide Football Club in the either AFL or AFLW side.
Eddie Betts with his sons Billy and Lewis at the Crows Academies event
“To now welcome our first Mother Son/ Daughter combination today through our AFLW co-captain Erin and her children Brooklyn and Blake, was a significant moment,” Crows Academies Manager Jarrod Meers said.
“This AFLW connection to the Academies will be further enhanced by past players who now reside interstate, when we invite their daughters to be special guests when our AFLW side plays in Melbourne.”
Meers said the program was gaining momentum every year.
“It’s a unique initiative and provides a wonderful experience for 40+ children of former/ current Crows players and strengthens that special connection to the Club, whilst acknowledging their parents’ contribution at Adelaide,” he said.
Past and present Crows players with their kids at the Father/ Mother/ Daughter/ Son event
Another three events for the program will be held in Adelaide, including the Round 20 curtain raiser match at Adelaide Oval before the Crows take on St Kilda.
There will also be two interstate events in 2019, including the AFLW side’s Round Two match with Carlton at Princess Park and the AFL side’s Round Nine clash with Brisbane at the Gabba.
