Adelaide has successfully targeted a combination of speed, agility and elite ball use with the five new players selected in Monday’s 2025 Telstra AFLW Draft.
The Club is entering a new era under recently-appointed Senior Coach Ryan Davis and there was a focus on strengthening the midfield with its three first-round selections.
Crows Head of AFLW Phil Harper said the Club had executed well on its pre-draft strategy.
“Looking at how the competition has evolved, there was a need for us to bring in some transition running players and we were successful in doing that,” Harper said.
With Pick No. 5, the Crows drafted midfielder Chloe Bown, who is strong, athletic and a prolific ball winner.
She was named captain of the U18 All-Australian team, along with being Victoria Metro’s Most Valuable Player at the National Championships.
At Pick 21, the Crows selected West Adelaide’s Lucy Waye who stood out to the recruiting team because of her ability to hit the scoreboard and bring defensive pressure.
Waye represented South Australia at the U18 National Championships and she was selected in the SANFLW Team of the Year.
Olivia Gorman was drafted at Pick 25 from the Northern Knights.
Known for her stoppage craft and decision making, she was chosen in the Talent League Team of the Year.
At Pick 39, the Club looked to Western Australia and claimed athletic forward Alicia Blizard.
A member of the AFLW National Academy, Blizard finished top six in the 20m sprint and agility test at the National Draft Combine.
With the last pick of the night - Pick 63 - the Crows drafted Swan Districts’ Ava Stewart.
Standing at 180cm, Stewart is strong in the air and possesses excellent skills, and she can play as a competitive one-on-one defender, or a high-marking forward.
She played all four games for Western Australia in this year’s AFLW U18 Championships.
“We are really excited to welcome Chloe, Lucy, Olivia, Alicia and Ava, and their families, to the Club,” Harper said.
“Now it’s time to get to work and make sure we develop them into the elite players we know they can be.”
Adelaide’s 2025 Telstra AFLW Draft Picks:
Pick 5:
Chloe Bown
DOB: 20/12/2007
Height: 173cm
Club: Oakleigh Chargers
Position: Midfielder
Pick 21:
Lucy Waye
DOB: 7/6/2007
Height: 169cm
Club: West Adelaide/Goodwood Saints
Position: Midfield/Forward
Pick 25:
Olivia Gorman
DOB: 25/10/2007
Height: 167cm
Club: Northern Knights
Position: Midfielder/Defender
Pick 39:
Alicia Blizard
DOB: 15/11/2007
Height: 174cm
Club: East Fremantle
Position: Forward
Pick 63:
Ava Stewart
DOB: 25/11/2007
Height: 180cm
Club: Swan Districts
Position: Tall key position
