For Adelaide AFLW Captain Ebony Marinoff, seeing the new Club’s Thebarton Oval Precinct headquarters take shape brought back memories of where her Crows journey began.
A member of the Crows' inaugural AFLW side, Marinoff played in Adelaide's first AFLW game at Thebarton in 2017 and said returning to the venue as the Club's permanent home base next season would be a full-circle moment.
“It’s kind of starting to feel a little bit more real, even though it's a little bit away, next season will be exciting,” Marinoff said.
“I just remember running out with Erin Phillips and Abbey Holmes (in that first game), we were kind of at the front, I can take myself back to that moment.
“So when we get to that moment next year, it will be yeah a full-circle, for sure.”
Marinoff joined teammates Eloise Jones, Jess Allan, Caitlin Gould and Chloe Bown at Thebarton on Monday, with the players having a kick on the newly-laid turf.
“I just watched Caitlin Gould kick a goal, so hopefully we can look forward to more of that,” Marinoff said.
“It’s just so exciting. It's been a long time coming, for players like myself.
“It looks awesome, I'm excited to get in there and see the changerooms because apparently they're Taj Mahals.
“(The turf is) good, bouncy. I hit the post before, so did EJ, so (we need) a little bit more training. I think we'll be here for the (AFL) pre-season in January, so Christmas will come and we'll be here before we know it.”
The Thebarton Oval Precinct remains on track for completion next month, before the Club begins transitioning operations to the new facility.
Once complete, the precinct will become the permanent home of Adelaide’s AFL, AFLW and SANFL programs, bringing players, staff, members and supporters together at a purpose-built facility.
Supporters still have the opportunity to become part of the development through the Club's pledge a picket initiative, creating a lasting connection to the new headquarters with a named picket or personalised message surrounding the oval.
Click here to pledge your picket today.
