Adelaide’s AFLW players are hoping to inspire a new generation to give AFL a go.

The new program, Crows Kickstart, is an industry wide collaboration between the Adelaide Football Club, SANFL and AFL, and will visit 16 schools this term, delivering a four-week foundational football program to over 2,000 students.

Delivered in collaboration with the SANFL and Crows players, the program provides a fun and enjoyable experience with the aim of engaging underrepresented students and their families in long term involvement with the game.

Female participation in South Australia has grown from just over 2000 in 2016 to over 8600 since the introduction of the AFLW in 2017 but the program is looking to extend that further by ensuring all people no matter their gender and cultural background can access the game of AFL.

The rollout of the program this year follows a successful pilot in term four 2023, whereby Crows AFLW players including Eloise Jones and Danielle Ponter visited primary schools across the Charles Sturt and West Torrens Council, reaching more than 1700 students.

AFLW midfielder Taylah Levy said she hoped to inspire participants to take up football or become engaged with the game as fans.

“A lot of the students we visit are new to AFL, so it’s really rewarding to introduce them to footy and show them how great it is,” Levy said.

“It’s fantastic to see the kids so excited by our visits and see their footy skills and passion for the game grow over our time with them.”

SANFL Executive General Manager of Football, Matthew Duldig said that the new collaboration with the Crows would provide long term benefits for the wider community. 

“We know that participation in footy offers so much more than just playing our game – it helps increase social connections, improves wellbeing, mental and physical health, and personal development,” Duldig said. 

“Through our involvement in this initiative, we hope to provide these outcomes to as many young South Australians as possible, to get them involved in our great game, no matter their gender or cultural background”.

Interested schools can submit an expression of interest here and if the school fits the Crows Kickstart program criteria, the SANFL will make direct contact.