Three-time Adelaide AFWL Premiership star Anne Hatchard says the Crows have plenty of fire in their bellies, ahead of the new season.
The Crows suffered a heartbreaking one-point loss in last year’s Preliminary Final to North Melbourne and Hatchard said players were eager for redemption in 2024.
Adelaide has begun its pre-season ahead of the 2024 campaign starting in late August and speaking to AFC Media, Hatchard said the focus was on improving the little things to ensure the side was a contender again this year.
“When you lose by one point in a prelim, it really hurts,” Hatchard said.
“We have all come back with a lot of hunger and a little bit of anger I think, which is good to help drive us to get better.
“I think it pushes us to get better and better and to become a really dangerous side.
“We missed out in the prelim final last year, so it’s just about everyone doing the little things to improve themselves.”
The three-time Club Champion winner said the first month of pre-season, which began with a trip to north Queensland, had been “intense” but the connection within the group had strengthened.
“Pre-season has been really fun to start with, we first started off going to Cairns which was cool, to just get away with the girls and have some team-bonding,” Hatchard said.
“Coming back here, it’s been really intense, we are training at a really high level.
“I think we are a lot further forward than we were last year in pre-season (and) I am really excited to see what’s to come.”
The 26-year-old said there were aspects of her game she was looking to improve during this pre-season to ensure she was as best prepared for her ninth campaign of AFLW.
“A couple of things I’m working on personally are my kicking and trying to become a bit more versatile around the field,” Hatchard said.
“I’m working a bit more on my forward craft as well.
“Hopefully each person can just improve a little bit which is just going to do wonders for our team.”
The Crows will be buoyed this season by the addition of a few new faces in their coaching cohort, including 2019 Crows AFLW Premiership player Renee Forth and SANFL Skipper Jack Madgen.
Hatchard said they were having a strong influence on the squad so far and she was keen for the 2024 season to get underway.
“It's been awesome to have some new coaches in, I think having Renee Forth back is great,” Hatchard said.
“She used to be my teammate and is a great friend as well.
“She has got a really great football brain and she’s really having a big influence.
“Jack is just so knowledgeable as well, he cares so much about our side and helping us improve.”
Adelaide’s 2024 AFLW season kicks off with a clash against Port Adelaide at Alberton Oval on August 31.
For the Crows' full 2024 fixture, click here.