Crows fan Leah Albanese has had a great start to the year after claiming first prize in the Adelaide Crows Foundation Lottery.

The 15-year Crows member won a brand-new Toyota Corolla SX Hatch after purchasing lottery tickets for the past five years.

Adelaide forward Darcy Fogarty called Albanese to tell her the good news but she originally thought it was a prank.

“He said it was Darcy from the Crows, and I said, ‘I don’t believe you’,” Albanese said.

“He just kept chatting and I finally realised that it was really him and the fact I had really won a car finally sunk in.

“I told him I’ve been following the Club since before he was born, which he thought was quite funny.”

The surprises kept coming when Crows AFLW star Erin Phillips joined Albanese and her daughter when they picked up the vehicle from the Toyota dealership.

“It was amazing to see Erin walk in,” Albanese said.

“She is amazing and so friendly – she chatted to my daughter about her dancing and asked us so many questions to get to know us.”

Albanese was a little overwhelmed and very appreciative to win such a big prize.

“I’ll speak to someone I haven’t seen in a while and when I tell them, I have to pinch myself,” she said.

“I’ve been supporting the Crows since day one and always want to support them, but it is always nice to get an unexpected gift.”

The Adelaide Crows Foundation uses the power of sport to engage, enrich and inspire the lives of children and youth in our community.

Since the Foundation was established in 2005, almost $5 million has been distributed to support those less fortunate.

For more information about the Foundation and the programs it support, please visit https://www.afc.com.au/community.