Adelaide Co-Captains Sarah Allan and Ebony Marinoff will lead the team out for the first time when the Crows open their 2024 AFLW campaign against Port Adelaide on Saturday night.
Allan and Marinoff's reign officially kicks off with a Showdown against their crosstown rivals, nine months after the team suffered a heartbreaking, one-point loss in the 2023 Preliminary Final.
As the Club announced on Wednesday, recruit Brooke Boileau will make her AFLW debut and has been included in the line-up at half-forward.
Adelaide Head of Women’s Football Phil Harper said Boileau was likely to split her time between the forward line and midfield, providing a spark around the contest.
“Brooke played really well in our two trial games and deserves her spot in the team,” Harper said.
“She’s fearless with her attack on the ball and showed that in her trial games, so we are really excited to see her play.”
Irish star Niamh Kelly, who won last year’s Showdown Medal, Leadership group member Anne Hatchard and veteran Stevie-Lee Thompson have also been named in the centre, alongside Taylah Levy and Jess Allan in the ruck.
Two-time Premiership players Eloise Jones and Danielle Ponter are set to provide some fire power up-forward, with Rachelle Martin and former Skipper Chelsea Randall.
Sarah Goodwin, Keeley Kustermann, Zoe Prowse and Chelsea Biddell make up the backline, providing support for Sarah Allan.
Maddi Newman, Brooke Tonon, Kiera Mueller, Jess Waterhouse, and Deni Varnhagen have been named on the interchange bench.
Draftees Lily Tarlinton and Tamara Henry have been named as the emergencies, alongside Brooke Smith.
“It’s been an enormous pre-season, we finished our season in November and after just a few months off, the girls trained all the way through,” Harper said.
“We played Port Adelaide in Port Augusta a few weeks ago during a trial game and they more than matched it with us.
“We’ll have our hands full trying to win the game, it’s a Showdown so it will be on and it will be fun.”
Adelaide faces Port Adelaide at Alberton Oval on Saturday at 7.15pm.
They will battle for the same Variety Showdown Shield as their AFL counterparts.
The best way to secure tickets is to buy a 2024 Crows AFLW Membership here.
Adelaide's AFLW Round One team is:
