A host of Adelaide AFLW players featured in the SANFLW competition for the first five rounds, as part of the off-season training.
As Round Five came to an end last weekend, the 10 Crows players have now completed their playing duties with their respective State League Clubs.
The players who took part in the SANFLW included, Sarah Goodwin (Glenelg), Brooke Tonon (Glenelg), Najwa Allen (Norwood), Tamara Henry (North Adelaide), Brooke Boileau (South Adelaide), Jess Waterhouse (South Adelaide), Keeley Kustermann (West Adelaide), Brooke Smith (West Adelaide), Taylah Levy (Woodville West-Torrens) and Lily Tarlinton (Woodville West-Torrens).
Adelaide AFLW Assistant and Development Coach Courtney Cramey said new draftee Brooke Boileau was the standout performer of the group.
“Brooke Boileau obviously had an outstanding first half to her SANFLW season, she played all five games, featured in their best players quite a bit and put together a few strong performances through the midfield of South Adelaide,” Cramey said.
“She was able to hit the scoreboard too which was nice for her.
“She had an outstanding year last year and got drafted off her strong success, so to see her go out and perform like that again reinforces the strengths that she has and what she is working on as a player.
“(We’re) excited for her career with us.”
Fellow 2023 draftee Lily Tarlinton also impressed Cramey, after the tall forward finished off the season with a solid four-goal performance.
“She finished strong and we definitely saw some great improvement from her across her games,” Cramey said.
“She is coming off the back of moving her life here from Queensland and finding her feet.
“To see her finish her last game at SANFL with the Eagles with four goals is really exciting for her.
“She keeps getting better and better so time in our program will definitely help.”
Defender Najwa Allen lined up with the Redlegs and Cramey said she showed strong leadership across the five SANFLW matches.
Allen concluded her SANFLW games with a best-on-ground performance in Norwood's 38-point win over Sturt, amassing 24 disposals, seven marks and seven rebound 50s.
“She obviously had an interrupted season last year at AFLW level with a hamstring injury and then suspension," Cramey said.
“For her to be able to go back to SANFLW at Norwood and really impact it at that club in not just on field but in a leadership capacity as well, and helping others was really pleasing.
“To see her get some footy under her belt and obviously play some really good footy, is exciting for us leading into next season."
Cramey said giving some players an opportunity to play in the State League was a way to help them build on their match fitness and develop in key areas of their games.
“Those girls that didn't get a lot of footy in the AFLW previously were encouraged to go back and really get some footy under their belt,” Cramey said.
“It is obviously the off-season period for AFLW, but they do continue to train, and it was exciting that a lot took it up and enjoyed their time with their SANFLW teams.
“They are all working on certain elements of their game so it is good to see them week in week out go out and put that into their game.”
Adelaide's 2024 AFLW season will kick off during the final week of August, with pre-season training on Monday, June 3.
The fixture for the 2024 NAB AFLW Season, including the Grand Final, will be announced at a later date.
