Adelaide’s AFLW side will look to build on its already strong team bond this week when it travels to the Northern Territory for pre-season training.

The reigning premiers leave Adelaide on Wednesday night and will spend four days in the top end, with a focus on fitness and team bonding.

Players will take part in many activities including a full day of training with the Australian Defence Force, skill-based, team building activities and training at TIO Stadium.

Crows Head of Women’s Football Phil Harper said the trip to Darwin was an important part of getting players mentally and physically ready for Season Seven’s start.

Harper expects the upcoming AFLW season to be the toughest yet, given all 18 Clubs will have a team in the competition.

He said training with the ADF, which will include many physical challenges, such as obstacle races, will help boost fitness and mental toughness.

 “We haven’t been able to go on a proper pre-season training trip for the past few years due to the Covid pandemic, so we are all really looking forward to this,” Harper said.

 “The team is very fortunate to be training with the Australian Defence Force and I know the players are keen to learn as much as they can.

“The ADF can help our players learn more about what an elite training environment looks like.”

Harper said it was also an opportunity for the newest members of the Crows squad - draftees Keeley Kustermann, Kiera Mueller, Amber Ward, Niamh Kelly and Jess Waterhouse - to get to know their  new teammates. 

“Over the past six years our squad has prided itself on being a really close knit group and the strong  bonds  that they  have created have helped us gain  success ” Harper said.

“The team has been training really hard now for the past month and a half and this trip gives them a chance to continue that and interact outside of footy, all whilst in a much warmer climate.

“There will certainly be lots of footy-based drills however getting to know each other well off the field, we believe  will  help us generate  strong results on field.”

The Crows will travel to Darwin on Wednesday, July 20, and most will return on Sunday, July 24.

Adelaide kicks off its premiership defence with a Grand Final rematch against Melbourne under lights at Norwood Oval on Friday, August 26.