The Adelaide Football Club welcomes the AFL’s announcement of Next Generation AFL Club Academies in South Australia.

The academies are aimed at attracting future players, both males and females, who are not currently playing football or are from demographics which are underrepresented in the AFL.

The Crows have been allocated academy hubs in the metro area with Central District, Glenelg, North Adelaide and Sturt.

The Club will also have access to Indigenous players from the North Adelaide Country Zone – Northern and the Woodville-West Torrens Country Zone – APY Lands – East (Kenmore, Fregon, Mimili and Indulkana).

Crows Chief Executive Officer Andrew Fagan said the Club supported the Next Generation AFL Club Academies.

“We support any initiative that helps grow our game and makes football more accessible to more people,” Fagan said.

“The demographic continues to change in this state and the nation so it’s important that we continue to develop pathways for those that might not have reached their potential via traditional structures.

“The Crows have worked closely with the AFL, SANFL and Port Adelaide to develop an effective network of academy hubs and we are well placed to make them a success.

“The academies will help build on our already strong links within the community developed through our Club’s industry leading Growing with Gratitude and Indigenous programs.

“We are committed to growing football at a grassroots level and we encourage and embrace gender and cultural diversity in our game.”

Talent concessions similar to the current bidding process for players in the northern states academies will apply.

Adelaide will be eligible for automatic talent concessions for players who graduate from the Club’s academy and fully participate in the program for a minimum of three years prior to being drafted.

Automatic concessions will apply to players with Asian or African heritage or Indigenous players who reside in the Club’s Indigenous Development Region.