Adelaide has made changes to its inactive list with two-time premiership player Deni Varnhagen returning to play in AFLW Season Eight.
Varnhagen, 30, will join her teammates for training in coming weeks after sitting out last year during which time she welcomed her first child in October.
Crows Women’s Head of Football Phil Harper said the squad would benefit from Varnhagen’s experience and her return was one of a few list management changes.
“Deni is a proven performer who knows what it takes to achieve success at the elite level and importantly, she has maintained her fitness and conditioning while away from the Club,” Harper said.
“Having missed the past two seasons, albeit they were in the same calendar year, she will immediately strengthen our squad as we look to once again challenge strongly in the finals.”
Hannah Button, who tore her anterior cruciate ligament during a training session last week, has been moved onto the inactive list and she will undergo surgery in the near future.
For the second straight season Jasmyn Hewett’s work commitments as an aviation rescue firefighter in Darwin will prevent her from playing.
Given the circumstances the Club has made the decision to delist Hewett, who played 16 AFLW games in two stints with the Crows and was a member of the 2022 premiership team.
“Every player sets out to win a flag and for Jasmyn to do so at the Club she grew up supporting is something special and we will always appreciate and reflect fondly on her contribution,” Harper said.
“Jas has made the difficult decision to put her AFLW career on hold while she focuses on her aviation firefighter career, as she knows she would not be able to give football her all.
“We have let Jas know that she is always welcome back at Adelaide if she ever has the chance to return to AFLW.”