The Crows AFL Women’s team came together for the first time last week for a two day player induction forum in Melbourne.

All but three of the inaugural squad of 27 attended the forum, with dual-code athletes Anne Hatchard and Jenna McCormick fulfilling commitments in the WNBL and W-League, and Erin Phillips not due to arrive in Australia from the US until the end of November.

The two days involved all eight clubs that are part of the inaugural competition and incorporated sessions on anti-doping, integrity, brand and media, wellbeing, contracts and inclusion.

With the Crows to have players based both in Adelaide and Darwin as part of Adelaide Football Club’s partnership with AFLNT, the induction also provided an opportunity for the team to catch up socially.

The group will officially commence pre-season training next Monday, November 21 with identical programs to be run in both locations. The entire squad will next come together for a camp in Adelaide on December 3 and 4.

The inaugural NAB AFL Women’s competition will run in February and March 2017, with the official fixture expected to be announced by the AFL later this week.