AFLW trailblazer Courtney Cramey has been awarded Adelaide Football Club Life Membership for her pioneering contribution to the game.
An inaugural Crow, Cramey was recognised at the Club’s AFLW Club Champion awards night at Morphettville Racecourse on Friday night.
Cramey is the third AFLW player to be awarded Adelaide life membership, with Premiership Co-Captains Chelsea Randall and Erin Phillips receiving the honour last year after the Club evolved its life membership criteria in line with the changing face of the women’s competition.
Cramey played Aussie Rules throughout primary school before joining Sturt in the SAWFL competition in 2004. She went on to win three consecutive flags with Morphettville Park and played her 150th game in 2015.
A Crows supporter growing up, Cramey was a priority selection for Adelaide ahead of the inaugural AFLW season, where she went on to win a premiership and be named in the All-Australian Side.
She retired at the end of the 2020 season following 20 games across four seasons including two flags in 2017 and 2019.
Since hanging up the boots, Cramey made a successful transition from player to coach and holds the position of AFLW Development Manager and Midfield Coach as well as helping to guide the next generation of young talent in her role as Head Coach of the Club’s Next Generation Academies.
Crows CEO Tim Silvers said Cramey’s contribution to the Club’s AFLW program and her wider impact on the growth of women’s football in South Australia was fitting of Life Membership.
“Courtney has displayed exceptional commitment to the Club over an extended period, and is thoroughly deserving of this recognition,” Silvers said.
“Her passion for and buy-in to our AFLW program is evident to all at the Club and her role in inspiring and guiding the next generation of female footballers and growing the game has gone above and beyond.
“Her leadership, knowledge and commitment as a player and a coach have been pivotal to the ongoing success of our women’s side since the first season in 2017.”
