The Crows Inclusive Academy celebrated a successful first year with a graduation ceremony for participants and their families.

About 70 young people with special needs spent four weeks training alongside Crows men’s and women’s players developing key football skills, while forging new friendships and learning how to work as part of a team.

At the graduation evening, athletes were presented with a certificate and tested out their latest skills with their new Academy friends at AFL Max.

Adelaide Crows Foundation Manager Louise McDonald said the transformation in the children was remarkable.

“To see a child not leave their parents side in the first week, or even step out onto the AFL Max footy field, to be rock climbing and so relaxed and happy in week four is something I will never forget,” McDonald said.

“They had a new-found sense confidence in both themselves and their skills and you could see them develop friends who share their passions and interests.

“We had more than 40 players join us across the four weeks and I know they can’t wait to do it again next year.

“We surveyed parents at the end of the program and every single one said that they loved the Academy, that they would come again and that they would recommend it to their friends.”

This program was a joint initiative of the Adelaide Crows Foundation and Variety: The Children’s Charity.

“Variety shared our vision for the program and its success is a testament to our close partnership,” McDonald said.

“This was the first year for this program and our goal is to build upon it in 2022 and we are really proud of what we are facilitating.”