For former Crow James Begley, returning to the Club with his daughter brings a whole new wave of emotions.

Begley was one of eight ex-Adelaide players who returned to the Crows’ West Lakes headquarters on Thursday as part of a past player/daughter event.

The ex-defender brought his seven-year-old daughter, Freya, to the event, which was aimed at allowing past players to reconnect, while their kids participated in a kick-and-a-catch with current AFLW players.

Speaking to AFC Media, Begley said returning to the Club where he played for three seasons for a family-friendly event was a special experience.

“It’s amazing,” Begley said.

“It fills your heart like I could never expect, in part because you can come back to the Club that you’re connected with, and you can share that with your daughter.

“It allows you to catch up with some of the dads in a really organic, relaxed way, and I think it’s a really important way to keep the fabric of the Club strong.”

Begley was joined by former Crows Brad Symes, Rhett Biglands, Kris Massie, Lewis Johnston, as well as AFLW Premiership stars Erin Phillips and Sophie Li, and their children.

Michael Handby and Jason Porplyzia’s daughters also attended.

Symes, who is on the Club’s Past Players Board, said he missed the camaraderie footy brought and events like this helped foster that again.

“I brought Charlie along today, she’s eight, likes her sport, doesn’t know a lot about footy yet, but I am starting to teach her,” Symes said.

“I have been part of the Past Players Board for about two-and-a-half years, so we’ve been actively trying to get past players more engaged, and for my demographic a lot of that is through organising events that can involve the kids as well.

“The (AFLW) girls are really good, and the kids all seem to be having fun. 

“A thing you do miss as a past player is that connection piece, the culture, the atmosphere… coming here today is a really good feeling as a parent, and a past player.”

Phillips finished her W career as one of the League's most decorated players, which included three Premierships with the Crows, two League Best and Fairests and a Club Champion award.

The Crows great attended the past players event with her daughter Brooklyn, 8, and said it was a great way to share the experience with the next generation

“It’s really special,” Phillips said.

“Something this Club does unbelievably well is bringing past players back, and then having our kids be a part of it as well.

“It’s great for the kids to connect with other kids, but also they get to watch the AFLW girls train and see what elite footy looks like, which is really important.

“The interaction is so powerful and something that anytime we get the opportunity, we always come back.”

For Li, who featured in 19 games for the Crows, including the 2019 Grand Final win, it was the first time returning to the Club since hanging up the boots in 2020.

She brought her two children Dorothy, 3, and Rupert, 1, along and said being back brought back plenty of memories.

“It’s so nice, it’s a bit surreal, but really lovely to bring the kids here and have them experience what I did,” Li said.

“Dorothy does love football and she loves kicking the ball around, so she was very excited to be here.

“To be able to share in the experience of being a Crow and experience the culture of how inclusive and family orientated everyone is, is amazing.

“It definitely does bring back so many memories, it’s great.”