Adelaide AFLW Co-Captain Ebony Marinoff says her side is putting the heartbreaking finish to last season behind it, as the Crows look towards the 2024 campaign kicking off this weekend.
The Crows open their season with a Showdown against Port Adelaide at Alberton Oval this Saturday - nine months after a one-point loss to North Melbourne in the 2023 Preliminary Final.
Speaking to the media at a joint Captains’ press conference on Tuesday, Marinoff said a focus during pre-season had been working on different tactics to help win close games.
“I think it just comes down to our system and game awareness when those tight games are upon us,” Marinoff said.
“We’ve worked really hard on scenario-based training over the past eight to nine months, so hopefully that holds us in good stead.
“When finals come around it’s a whole different ball game and we probably didn’t execute which was really tough.
“But it’s a matter of fact that you’ve got to be able to execute in those games and hopefully the work we’ve done over the past eight to nine months will help us get there again and we’ll be well equipped to hopefully win those games.”
This weekend’s game will be the third Showdown between the two sides, after the Power entered the AFLW competition in Season Seven (2022).
Marinoff said players were keen to continue to etch their names in the Showdown history books, after the clubs had met 56 times in the men’s competition.
“There’s obviously a big rivalry, if you’re a South Australian like I am, I’ve grown up watching many Showdown battles,” Marinoff said.
“I might be biased but it’s the best rivalry in the game and listening to the NSW Clubs, they can see that.
“The fact we (get to) build on that rivalry is really fun, they’re the games you want to play in.”
The Crows and the Power AFLW sides will battle for the same Variety Showdown Shield as the Clubs’ AFL teams, thanks to Variety - the Children's Charity.
The Variety Showdown Shield will be presented at all Showdown matches for both the AFL and AFW contests, emphasising the Variety trademark of equality.
The design has the State at its heart as this unites South Australia, regardless of team allegiance.
Variety - South Australia is the preeminent children’s charity in our state, supporting more than 200,000 children in the past three years alone.
It has also teamed up with the Adelaide Crows Foundation to enable more South Australian students to benefit from the Open Parachute program, focused on improving child and youth mental health.
The partnership means an additional 2000 disadvantaged South Australian students will be able to take part in the leading wellbeing program this year.
“To see Variety jump on board for the rights of both (men’s and women’s) Showdowns is super exciting,” Marinoff said.
“We have built a great partnership with Variety and hopefully we can bring the Shield back home to West Lakes after a couple of weeks.”
Adelaide plays Port Adelaide in the AFLW Showdown on Saturday, August 31, at Alberton Oval at 7.15pm.
The best way to secure tickets is to buy a 2024 Crows AFLW Membership by clicking the image below.
