The Adelaide Football Club’s Female Crows Academies players will take centre stage this weekend in a curtain raiser game ahead of the Club’s first AFLW home game of the season.

The game will host Team Randall and Team Phillips from 2.30pm this Sunday 16 February at Richmond Oval.

Team Randall will include members of the Elite Talent squad while Team Phillips will comprise of a primarily Aboriginal and Torrens Strait Islander squad, who will wear a special guernsey designed by the players.

This will be the first of four curtain raiser games throughout the 2020 AFLW season.

Academies Manager Jarrod Meers believes the opportunity to play in games like these are key to a players’ development.

“Being part of our Crows Academies program gives our athletes a taste of what it could be like to prepare, train and play for our AFLW,” Meers said.

“For many, playing before our defending AFLW Premiership team might be intimidating at first, but they will take so many lessons and experiences that they can grow from.

“I have no doubt we will be seeing some of these Crows Academies players in our senior squad in the coming years and I know AFLW fans will love seeing the next generation of talent on show.”

The Adelaide Football Club Crows Academies aim to nurture, attract, inspire and develop participants and talented players to chase their dream of playing in the AFLW.

The squads are led by Crows AFLW dual premiership winning Captain Chelsea Randall and highly respected coach Bronwyn Davey.

Both sides receive ongoing mentorship and support from Crows premiership players Marijana Rajcic, Courtney Cramey, Eloise Jones and Danielle Ponter.

The Adelaide Football Club Female Crows Academies are proudly supported by Bridgestone, who are passionate about supporting the next generation of athletes.

The Aboriginal and Torrens Strait Islander Squad is supported by Cancer Council Quitline and the Adelaide Crows Foundation.