The Adelaide Football Club is proud to announce Australia’s most trusted tyre brand, Bridgestone, as the inaugural sponsor of the Club’s three female talent academies.
These academies aim to increase the talent depth in South Australia and give young players an opportunity to gain a greater understanding of what it takes to be an AFLW player.
Dual premiership winning co-captain Chelsea Randall manages the programs including the AFLW Acceleration Squad, which looks to fast-track talented 17 and 18-year-olds.
The AFLW Elite Squad, which focusses on players aged 15 and 16, and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders Academy programs will also benefit from the Bridgestone partnership.
Crows CEO Andrew Fagan said the partnership with Bridgestone would allow the Club to continue to provide opportunities for emerging female footballers to fulfil their potential.
“Bridgestone shares our passion for fostering young talent and we have always strived to be the club of choice for young girls and women who want to pursue a career in football as a player, coach or administrator,” Fagan said.
“Our AFLW program is the most successful in the country with two premierships in three seasons and it is critical that we develop the next generation of South Australian stars and leaders.
“Our female academies not only give young athletes the opportunity to reach their full potential on the field, but also focus on building resilience and leadership which are relevant to their life away from footy.”
According to Bridgestone Australia & New Zealand Managing Director, Stephen Roche, the Adelaide Football Club’s female talent academies present new opportunities to give back to the South Australian community.
“We’re proud to launch our partnership with the Adelaide Football Club’s female talent academies because it supports the development of a new generation of athletes rising through the ranks, and places such an emphasis on grassroots football,” Mr Roche said.
“Bridgestone has a commitment to supporting people as a key area of our global Corporate Social Responsibility initiative, called ‘Our Way to Serve’, as well as through our worldwide Olympic and Paralympic partnerships, where we are encouraging the next generation of athletes to ‘Chase Your Dream’.
“Through this partnership, we look forward to being able to encourage talented girls and women to chase their AFLW dreams, as well as giving back and making a difference in the home city of Bridgestone’s Australian operations by supporting such an iconic club and its grassroots programs.”
Adelaide’s female academies have proven to be an effective talent pathway with eight players progressing to the AFLW in the past three years.
About Bridgestone Australia Ltd.:
Bridgestone Australia is a major supplier to the Australasian automotive industry, providing an extensive range of quality tyres, carefully developed to suit local conditions. The company is supported by an employee network of more than 1,500 people across Australia and New Zealand. Bridgestone Australia also manufactures, wholesales and retails quality truck retread products through Bandag Pty Limited, the world's leading retread brand. Bandag products complement the Bridgestone tyre range and provide a reliable solution for truck fleet customers.
“Our Way to Serve” aims to inspire Bridgestone teammates to continue doing great work, by continuing to do good for the world. “Our Way to Serve” organizes Bridgestone’s CSR efforts under three Priority Areas: Mobility; People; and Environment. “Our Way to Serve” reflects the company’s longstanding philosophy of “Serving Society with Superior Quality” and a recognition that the best companies not only perform for their stakeholders, but also contribute to a better world.
