Coaching South Australia's under-15 girls team has given Adelaide forward Eloise Jones a different perspective on the game.
The 20-year-old was last year elevated from forwards coach to joint head coach of the under-15 state side, losing the Grand Final to arch rivals Victoria.
Jones has also taken on a coaching role with the Crows Academies girls elite talent squad this year, assisting Crows AFLW co-captain Chelsea Randall.
"You see two different sides of the game," Jones told womens.afl.
"I can take what I've learned from playing into coaching, and I can take what I've learned from coaching into playing.
"It's really cool to see different angles of the game and review it, so I've really enjoyed it."
While she's still got a long playing career in front of her, Jones sees coaching at the elite level as a genuine opportunity.
"With the AFLW growing, it's definitely a pathway you can take," she said.
"Even with the men's (AFL), a lot of past players move into coaching, or even line coaching.
"I think it's definitely a pathway that'd be really cool and keeps me engaged in the footy world.
"When my career's over, I'd still like to be involved in the club and hopefully take a coaching role or a line coach."
"We nailed that!" - EJ proves how well she knows new Crow Najwa Allen already! ???? #weflyasone #crowsaflw #teammatetag pic.twitter.com/ZZkxAI7B1O
— Adelaide Crows AFLW (@CrowsAFLW) February 19, 2020
St Kilda coach Peta Searle is the only female senior coach in the AFLW this season, while there are a few women who are line coaches, including Crows forwards coach Narelle Smith.
"Narelle's an amazing coach and an amazing role model," Jones said.
"There's definitely a huge space for women to move into in the AFLW, as well as the AFL.
"Moving forward, it will only just grow and grow."
Jones is in her third season with the Crows and was a part of their premiership-winning side last year.
Their title defence got off to a shaky start with an opening round loss to Brisbane, but they bounced back with a come-from-behind victory over St Kilda in round two.
"Our season's quite short, so every win definitely counts," Jones said.
"Coming off the win against the Saints and especially being down, gives a bit of a confidence booster and momentum to the girls going into next week.
"We've got Geelong at Geelong, another physical, strong team, so hopefully we can continue our form through."
The Crows take on the Cats at GMHBA Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
