The Adelaide Football Club has taken a step in its evolution of talent pathways unveiling a new entry-level program designed to inspire the next wave of footballers.

This week, the Crows officially launched ‘Elevate’ - the newest addition to the Club’s academies program - with almost 100 under-12 boys and girls stepping into an AFL environment for the first time.

Aimed at players in their first season of non-modified football, Elevate has been designed to bridge the gap between grassroots participation and elite development, giving young athletes a taste of what it means to be a part of an AFL club.

Crows defender Max Michalanney and AFLW utility Brooke Tonon are graduates of the Crows academies, and together with AFLW wing Niamh Kelly, spoke to participants about their journeys, while sharing valuable insights from their pathways to senior footy.

For Michalanney, the experience brought back memories of his time in the Crows academies program and how that helped shape his early footy experiences.

“To now be here and hopefully pass on a bit of advice to the potential next generation is something I don’t take for granted,” Michalanney said.

“At the age they’re at now, it’s not about being perfect, but about loving footy and being willing to learn.

“It’s great to see the Club take another step forward with its academies program and you can see how much this means to the next generation.”

The initiative also reflects the Crows’ broader commitment to expanding its reach and strengthening its development pipeline across South Australia.

Elevate will return during the July school holidays, with registrations for the next intake set to open in the coming weeks, offering another opportunity for young footballers to step inside the club and begin shaping their own journey.