South Australia’s most promising young female footballers took centre stage at Unley Oval on Sunday, taking part in an Academies curtain raiser before the Crows’ clash against Melbourne.

Adelaide’s girls’ academies side faced Port Adelaide in the first Academies Showdown since 2023.

The match brought together some of the state’s leading under-15 players aligned to SANFL clubs, as well as eligible father-daughter prospects, with the Crows’ squad featuring Grace Burton, daughter of former Crow Brett Burton.

All players involved in Adelaide's side are part of the Club's Be a Pro talent pathway program, which provides aspiring footballers with an opportunity to experience the inner workings of an elite AFLW environment.

Port Adelaide claimed a 39-point win in wet conditions, but the game provided the Crows’ young crop a valuable experience against a strong opposition.

Sturt’s Arabella Lehmann, who is the daughter of the late Jason Lehmann, a much-loved and long-time former Adelaide Football Club employee, was named best-on-ground for the Crows’ Academies.

Arabella Lehmann, Crows Academies' best-on-ground.

Niah Wanganeen (Central District) was the team’s goalkicker.

SANFL and Crows Academies Manager Jarrod Meers said the fixture played an important role in the development of the state’s emerging stars.

“Our Crows Academies staff continue to work with the SANFL Talent Department to add value to the state female pathway,” Meers said.

“This is the ninth occasion we have played a Girls Crows Academies Curtain Raiser of some form and each year the standard of the game rises to another level.

“We see how dominant the SA Female State Squads have been over the past few years and are confident that our Girls Academies Curtain Raiser games play a part in preparing the girls to perform on such a big stage.

“It was wonderful to have Port Adelaide back in the Girls Academies curtain raiser game format and congratulations on their victory.”

Grace Burton, daughter of former Crow Brett Burton, in action.

 Meers said the Club’s Be a Pro program continued to provide participants a unique insight into what it takes to be an AFLW player.

 “Being able to yet again run our Be a Pro program gives all of our Academies players the opportunity to prepare, train and play like an AFLW player,” he said.

 SCOREBOARD

Crows Academies 1.6 (12) 

Port Academies 7.9 (51)

BEST

Arabella Lehmann (Sturt), Alexis Farr (North Adelaide), Brooke Weatherald (Glenelg), Anabelle Gordon (Sturt).

GOALS

Niah Wanganeen (Central District).