Sav and Maria Ruggiero aren’t names Crows fans would know on the street, but they have been an important part of the Adelaide Football Club for over a decade.
The Seaton couple have welcomed 12 players into their home since 2008, including young pair Chayce Jones and Will Hamill.
The 2018 draftees join former tenants Darcy Fogarty, Tom Doedee and the Crouch brothers in calling the Ruggiero household a home away from home.
“It brings a bit of that family life back in Tassie to Adelaide,” Jones told The Crows Show, brought to you by Optus.
“It’s just like being home.”
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For Sav, it’s the chance to offer the players a traditional life outside of football.
“They’re 18-years-old, straight out of home and they can just slot into a family again,” Sav said.
“They’ve got a normal family life, everything isn’t just football, football, football.
“We love going to the footy, we love watching the boys and they become like your own son really.
“They’ve all been amazing, they’ve all done really well in their careers, so you do get really proud.”
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Maria takes up the mantle of house chef and puts in extra effort to ensure the players stick to the diet plans provided to them by the Club.
“We do all of their washing and cooking, making sure they are on the right diet plan for the various types of boys,” Maria said.
“Every boy has a different type of diet, whether it’s bulking or keeping lean.”
Also on The Crows Show this week, Adelaide media personalities discuss whether the AFL’s new rules have worked, Doedee provides an update on his knee rehabilitation and Don Pyke takes on The Crows Show host Mark Bickley at Glenelg Golf Course.
The Crows Show airs in Adelaide on Channel 7 at 11.30am on Sunday.
