A group of South Australia’s most promising young footballers have been selected in the Adelaide Football Club Academy squads and recently commenced training at West Lakes.

The 60 athletes will visit the Club several times a month to participate in skill and fitness-based training sessions, with the aim of accelerating their development and giving them  a greater understanding of what it takes to be an AFL or AFLW player.

The program will be led by  AFLW premiership winning co-captain Chelsea Randall and former Adelaide Crow Jason Porplyzia as coaches, however the participants will also work with AFL Senior Coach Matthew Nicks, AFLW Senior Coach Matthew Clarke and a number of AFL and AFLW players.

The Elite Talent Squads will also take part in several curtain raisers ahead of Adelaide’s AFL and AFLW matches and will play games against the Port Adelaide Academies squads in the first part of the season.

The 2020 Crows Girls Elite Talent Squad with coach Chelsea Randall

Academies Manager Jarrod Meers said the Elite Talent Squad programs have gone from strength to strength since their inception in 2017.

“The feedback from the players involved, their parents and the SANFL clubs is overwhelmingly positive,” Meers said.

“AFL Club Academies have fast become a vehicle to increase the overall talent pool.

“We are committed to providing the next generation of talent an inspiring experience within a professional club setting for both male and female footballers.

“Montana McKinnon, Jaimi Tabb and Maddi Newman were all drafted for the 2020 AFLW season after being part of the Acceleration Squad, and we are looking forward to more of our players following in their footsteps over the coming years.”