Dozens of students will have the unique opportunity to play on Adelaide Oval this Saturday as the curtain-raiser to the Crows’ Sir Doug Nicholls Round clash with West Coast.
After battling it out in the annual McLeod Challenge earlier this month, four victorious teams won the chance to play out their grand final matches on one of Australia’s best sporting venues.
Over 200 students participated in the Challenge, now in its seventh year, at Thebarton Oval on Friday, May 10.
Since its inception, the nine-a-side round robin football competition has been aimed at Year Eight and Nine students and facilitates teamwork, fair play and leadership skills.
Led by Crows legend Andrew McLeod and his wife Rachael, the Challenge is part of a suite of Indigenous programs included within the McLeod Centre of Excellence.
The event has had a strong uptake over the years, but, across the last two, there has been significant growth in female participation.
AFLW Premiership players Jenna McCormick, Anne Hatchard and Eloise Jones were involved in the 2019 event, helping with the coordination, coaching and umpiring.
McLeod said the uptake of female participation was a testament to the impact of the AFLW competition and the success of the Crows AFLW side.
“We were really pleased with the turn out this year, and it was great to have our AFLW players here, as well as a visit from some of our men’s team as well,” McLeod said.
“The day is all about bringing schools together, providing an opportunity for kids to create new friendships as well as having a kick of the footy.”
From a football perspective, McLeod said teamwork and leadership skills were key elements of the Challenge.
“The Challenge allows us to continue to build strong relationships with our partnering schools and to see if any of their students may benefit from our other educational programs,” McLeod said.
Led by the McLeod Centre of Excellence (MCoE), the Club has a number of Indigenous programs including the Youth Leadership Program, Future Leaders Program, and the McLeod Challenge.
The programs use sport and mentoring to engage and educate Indigenous youths, providing them with the experience, skills and knowledge required to seek independence, self-determination and the capacity to achieve their goals.
This year’s Grand Finalists, who will go head-to-head on Saturday, are:
Boys final: Rostrevor College versus Seaton High
Girls final: Roma Mitchell Secondary College versus the All Stars Girls team from Seaton High, Adelaide High and Westminster School
The matches will be played before the Crows face the Eagles at 4.05pm.
