The annual Bridgestone Crows Academies Girls NGA curtain raiser will take place at Norwood Oval ahead of Adelaide’s Round Nine clash with Collingwood. 

Coached by AFLW Premiership player Courtney Cramey, the Academies program features some of South Australia’s emerging U15 talent from Central District, Glenelg, Sturt and North Adelaide SANFL Clubs. 

The Academy also includes three Father-Daughter draft prospects. 

2022 will be the fifth time the Bridgestone Crows Academies Girls program features in an AFLW curtain raiser.

This year’s game will be extra special, with Adelaide using the game to celebrate Indigenous Round in front of a home crowd.

The Academy squad will be split into two teams, TEAM PONTER and TEAM HATCHARD. 

Cramey said curtain raiser games like this were an important part of the Academy program. 

“These games offer an unbelievable opportunity for the State’s best emerging talent to be showcased on the same stage as the game’s best,” Cramey said.  

“To be able to do this while the Club celebrates Indigenous Round is even more special, particularly for our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander players.

“To see someone like Teah Charlton, who has played in curtain raiser games like this, go on to perform the way she has this season and get nominated for the league Rising Star award just shows our current crop of footballers that anything is possible.”

Bridgestone Crows Academy member Sarcha Taylor said playing in matches like this was one a highlight of the Academy program.

“It is very special for us to play on the same oval as the AFLW side, especially this round,” Sarcha said.

“I haven’t been there before so it’s the first time I get to play on there.

“I started playing football when I was nine with the boys and it is great to have a squad like this with the other girls. 

Adelaide will celebrate Indigenous culture against Collingwood in Round Nine in front of fans at Norwood Oval on Sunday, March 6, with the first bounce at 2.40pm.

The match, which is proudly sponsored by BHP, will include activities for families, as well as a special pre-match performance by Kuma Karru.

 Tickets are still available via Ticketek. Secure yours here.