Women’s football pioneer Courtney Cramey achieved a great deal in her sporting career: South Australian captain, four-time SAWFL premiership player, inaugural Crows AFLW player in 2017, two-time AFLW premiership player, 2017 All-Australian, 2018 team vice-captain.

And when Cramey retired in 2020 having played 20 AFLW games across four seasons, she moved into an assistant coaching role with the Crows AFLW team - a role she continues into her sixth season this year - and in 2024 was honoured with Life Membership of the Adelaide Football Club. 

Through it all, there was one constant by Cramey’s side - her football-loving grandmother, Joan Kranz, cheering her on from the boundary line.

“The one thing that Grandma was very passionate about was the Adelaide Crows,” Cramey says.

“She would always put her two-bobs in about players and coaches and if she had her time again, she would have been a footy coach I’d suggest.

“She was also an avid knitter, so you can imagine all the things Grandma came up with and gave to us when we were kids - socks, scarves, little Crows that dangled from your car mirror.”

Sadly, Joan died in April 2025 aged 93 and Cramey says the past 12 months have been challenging as the family navigated the milestones - first Christmas, first Easter and celebrating birthdays - without her there.

So when the Adelaide Football Club unveiled its Pledge a Picket campaign last year - an initiative that allows people to have a name or message affixed to a picket at the new Thebarton headquarters, while also raising funds for the facility - Cramey jumped at the chance to honour her Grandma.

“I thought it would be fitting given that she is no longer with us, that she could have a place with the Crows and can continue to support them and watch on,” Cramey says.

“When I told my mum I was going to do it - my mum is an only child - she also wanted her name there as well, alongside my Grandma. So, soon you’ll see the Peta Kranz and Joan Kranz picket at Thebarton Oval.”

In an added touch, Cramey’s first game of AFLW - the historic Round One in 2017 - was played at Thebarton Oval on February 4, 2017, and Joan, of course, was boundary side to witness the momentous occasion. 

“Grandma followed my footy journey and was very proud of everything I was able to achieve,” Cramey says.

“She was there for our premierships in 2017 and 2019 and she cut out and kept every article that even just featured my name in it once.

“She loved the Crows they were her No. 1 team as soon as they were formed - she’d been a mad North Adelaide supporter before that - and Nigel Smart was her favourite player … until he shaved his hair off. In more recent times, Rory Sloane was her favourite player, so I think you can surmise she had a soft spot for curly blondes.”

Cramey said the entire Club was excited by what the new Thebarton Oval Precinct would deliver. 

“It’s going to be amazing; not only is it going to be world-class, the integration that will occur across the facility will be massive,” she said.

“It’s awesome that people can come and watch our teams train and be part of events at the one place and hopefully with all the staff and players, too, we get a sense of place at Thebarton and build that history there, and our fans will too.” 

And the fact that the oval will be surrounded by a white picket fence, featuring names of people whose love of the Crows runs deep, will be an added touch, too.

The donation of a picket is $500 and is tax-deductable via the Australian Sports Foundation.

Adelaide supporters can join those who have already pledged here.

For updates on Adelaide’s Thebarton Oval Precinct, click here.