For Crows AFLW ruck Jess Allan, Anzac Day is a time of reflection and to be grateful.

The day also holds a deeper significance for Allan, who is a Captain in the Australian Defence Force's 3rd Health Battalion.

Speaking to AFC Media ahead of Anzac Day this Friday, Allan said the significance of the day was never lost on her and she enjoyed helping her teammates learn more about Australia’s war history.

“I think the training I’ve gone through has definitely given me a level of understanding of what our soldiers on the ground go through and went through,” Allan said.

“However the environment we work in today gives me a greater appreciation of the hardships they had to face in order for us to live the way we do today.

“I tell this to a couple of the girls who have been asking me about Anzac Day Services that while it’s important to commemorate those who have served and are still serving, it’s important to remember the sacrifices that were made so we can all live the life we do now and have the luxuries we do.

“It’s a day for everyone just to actually slow down, reflect and be grateful for what we have now."

Allan, the younger sister of Crows Co-Captain Sarah Allan, lined up in four games for the Crows in 2018, before spending three years living in Canberra playing for the Giants while studying in the ADF.

She then sat out Seasons Six and Seven due to her ADF commitments, and during that time completed a Bachelor of Arts, with Business and English majors.

Allan said a career within the ADF was a pathway she was always keen to pursue.

“My older sister Megan served as a Quartermaster and she was based in Townsville for about four years, then in Adelaide for two, but she wasn’t exactly my inspiration to join,” Allan said.

“I’ve always had a passion for all the history of not just the Australian Defence Force, but also World Wars.

“I was pretty fortunate as a kid to have opportunities to spend a bit of time at the Beachport Museum and different places to give speeches and do research projects into soldiers and officers who served in previous World Wars.

“That drove a bit of interest in the Defence Force and then as I was coming through school, one of my teachers said it would be a really exciting career pathway for me, essentially because it was a chance to move away and grow up, but also get a degree and set up a career in defence.”

The now 25-year-old progressed through to the Royal Military College (RMC) at Duntroon and transferred back to Adelaide in 2023, returning to the Crows’ line-up.

Allan graduated from RMC as a Lieutenant, before being promoted to Captain in December, while working in the ADF as a medical officer - managing doctors, nurses and medics, as well as welfare, wellbeing, organising training and leadership opportunities.

She said juggling footy with her army career had become easier across the journey and she was enjoying having the flexibility to do both.

“Essentially, I am a health GSO, I don’t have clinical experience, my job at the moment is to sit in the operations space,” Allan said.

“It’s a pretty exciting time because the role is a new capability that we’ve developed down here in SA.

“A lot of my work now is done behind the computer, it’s very helpful and I get a lot of leniency from my 3 HB Chain of Command to be able to come to work at times that suit my (football) training.

“To come home and be near my family and play alongside Sarah again has been incredible, technically Beach Port is technically home for me, Adelaide is pretty close, so I’m absolutely loving it.”

Allan, who signed a two-year contract extension with the Crows in February, is currently in Canberra acting as midfield coach for the ADF women’s All Stars team, which will take on the NSW Police Force on Saturday.

She will commemorate Anzac Day at a Dawn Service at Duntroon, before the ADF All Stars team trains.

“I’m pretty lucky to be in Canberra this week for the ADF All Stars football camp,” Allan said

“The ADF team has been selected based on the best Army, Navy and Airforce players who played in a national carnival earlier this year.

“I was midfield coach of the army team earlier this year, so I am here in the same capacity this week.

“This is the first year I’ve been able to be involved in the program and it’s exciting to learn the game from another angle, as well as be around a whole new group of girls that come from all different postings from around Australia in a range of trades.”