For second-year Crow Charlie Edwards, this season wasn’t just about adjusting on the footy field, but also embracing every opportunity to grow off it.

Edwards, who was selected with Pick No.21 at the 2023 AFL Draft, continued to hone his craft in the SANFL this past season, with the Club's success in the AFL making it a difficult side to crack into.

This year, the 20-year-old also made a positional switch, moving into defence from the midfield.

While the year brought a new set of challenges, it also opened doors for Edwards to discover more about himself - not only as a footballer - but as a person.

Reflecting on 2025, Edwards said he had embraced the chance to evolve.

“This year has been about finding ways to improve on-field in the SANFL each week, finding ways to take steps forward in my game, and different ways to impact,” Edwards said.

“But then also off-field, taking opportunities I have as a Crows player around Adelaide to really develop holistically as a person, as well, and I’m enjoying the process of both.

“There’s a few things that I’m most proud of; taking steps to become a proper backman is one. Making the positional switch was part of my pre-season, so playing SANFL and in the backline have been two massive pillars of my development. I think it’s really rounded out my game nicely.

“Staying motivated for me is pretty easy - there’s always that dangling carrot of the (AFL) game. It would’ve been nice to get it off the back of the shoulders this year and play, but at the same time I know that I am improving.”

Edwards, who was recruited from the Sandringham Dragons, featured in all 20 SANFL games for the Crows this past season, including the team’s two finals.

He averaged 19.5 disposals, 4.6 defensive rebounds and six marks per game.

The Victorian product, who this year lined up in his first State League finals campaign, said he was proud of the Club’s year as a whole.

“You look back throughout the year with both levels (AFL and SANFL), and we kind of mirrored each other, which is probably a sign of a good squad,” Edwards said.

“I loved playing in the SANFL this year, developing, but we also had a really strong season.

“It was exciting to play finals, and cool to be playing at Adelaide Oval every week, then also to see what it means to South Australia. Being Victorian, it’s very different. You’ll get a few people at the VFL, but not the same as in South Australia.

“It was obviously heartbreaking with that first loss to Glenelg going down by a point, and then losing to Norwood was obviously disappointing, but with both the AFL and SANFL playing finals, as well as the women’s doing well, I think it shows we are heading in the right direction as a club.”

Edwards, who is studying a law and commerce degree, is set to challenge himself beyond football this week, when he takes on the gruelling task of the Kokoda Track, in support of the Adelaide Crows Foundation.

The Kokoda Track team will be led by former Foundation Chair Garry Winter, with Edwards, former Crow Kyle Hartigan, and fellow trekkers Sam McClure, Chris Powell, Ron Meyn, Jeremy Meyn, Todd Brown, Scott Dolling, Justin Stewart-Rattray, Arabella Winter and Mark Battistella in tow.

The group is set to depart on October 18, and will hike a 96 km trail in Papua New Guinea that was once the site of a crucial World War II battle, but is now a challenging pilgrimage.

So far, $80,000 of the group’s $100,000 target has been raised, with every dollar helping to fund the Foundation’s programs, which supports kids in need.

“I am quite lucky as a person and a player to be at the Crows and be in a position to help people who are a little bit less fortunate,” Edwards said.

“It’s always been something I’ve been passionate about, but we are very lucky in Adelaide being a two-team town and the impact we can have on people, not just children but everyone in Adelaide.

“It’s been a really enjoyable part of my footy career so far, being able to put smiles on people’s faces and seeing how the Crows can impact South Australia.”

All auction items have been generously donated by the trekking group and the Crows Foundation.

Prizes up for grabs include a hit of tennis with Crows stars Reilly O’Brien and Billy Dowling, a dinner with Ryan Fitzgerald and Adelaide Captain Jordan Dawson, as well as an Inner Sanctum match day experience.

To bid on an auction prize click here.

The auction closes on Sunday, November 2, at 5pm (ACDT).