First-year Adelaide AFLW player Kiera Mueller has helped launch the Club’s 2023 Bridgestone Crows Academies NGA Girls program.

Mueller, who’s pathway to the national competition came through the Bridgestone Crows Academies NGA Girls program, attended the squad’s first training session on Tuesday night, when 34 emerging young female footballers were put through their paces at West Lakes.

The program, which brings together some of the state’s best young players, is heading into its seventh year and will again be led by two-time Adelaide premiership player and now assistant coach Courtney Cramey.

The squad is selected from the best under-15 female players from Adelaide’s four aligned SANFL NGA clubs – Central District, North Adelaide, Glenelg and Sturt.

The 2023 Crows Academy also includes 11 players from regional zones and a future Father-Daughter draft prospect in Polly Turner, whose father Peter was on the Crows’ original playing list in 1991.

Crows Academies Manager Jarrod Meers said the success of the Academies program was evident in the number of graduates now in the AFLW system.

“Our Bridgestone Crows Academies NGA Girls program has been incredibly successful over the past six years and plays a significant role in the South Australian female talent pathway,” Meers said.

“We have had 17 graduates from this program drafted in to the AFLW system in that time, including our most recent Crows AFLW draftee Kiera Mueller.

“In addition to the great work the SANFL NGA aligned clubs do with these girls, our program provides amazing AFLW education and coach Courtney Cramey gives them a sample of what it’s like to be inside the inner sanctum of the most successful AFLW club in Australia.”

Mueller, 19, is now playing alongside her former Academies coach Chelsea Randall with the Crows’ AFLW team.

“My time in the Academies was such a great experience, not just for the friendships that were made with the other squad members but also the exposure to AFLW facilities and players,” Mueller said.

“I lucky enough to talk to the new Academies squad about my journey and pathway into AFLW and it was wonderful to see how enthusiastic and excited they were to be part of the team.”

2023 UNDER-15 BRIDGESTONE CROWS ACADEMIES NGA SQUAD: