Adelaide has launched a Father Son Academy with the hope of unearthing the Club’s first recruit under the AFL’s Father-Son rule.
Connor McLeod, son of Crows games record holder Andrew, Zac Hart, the eldest child of dual-premiership player Ben, and Andrew Jarman’s son, Stefan are confirmed participants in the Father Son Academy, which will officially be launched at West Lakes on Tuesday.
The Academy, for eligible ‘sons’ aged between eight and 18, is a long-term initiative aimed at introducing the children to the Club culture and nurturing their football development through relationships with current-day players and coaches and the resources available an AFL club.
The program is also viewed as a way of welcoming the fathers, who invested significant time into the Club, back into the environment.
There are currently only a dozen children aged between eight and 18, who are eligible for selection by the Crows under the Father Son rule, but general manager of football operations Phil Harper said the Club was confident the Father Son Academy would become an institution at Adelaide.
"When it comes to Father-Son selections, we've probably had the rough end of the pineapple ... but we can see there's quite a few sons being born now and quite a few young ones coming through," Harper said.
"Nathan Bassett has a son, but he's too young for the Academy at the moment.
"Mark Bickley's son is too young, as is Brett Burton's.
"Tyson Edwards has three boys, who are eligible as Father-Son selections, and Simon Goodwin's got little Eddie, who is only really young.
"Darren Jarman's son Ben is eligible and we're hoping he'll come out when we start the Academy.
"Chris McDermott, Shaun Rehn, Mark Ricciuto, Nigel Smart, Mark Stevens, Scott Thompson, Simon Tregenza, Scott Welsh and Ben Rutten all have young sons, so there are a lot that are coming through.
"When they're old enough, we're trying to get all of those who are eligible down to the Club.
"We understand that some of them might not be into footy.
"I know Connor McLeod plays soccer, but even if they don't become a player at our Club we at least want them to be a supporter and a friend of our Club.
"We've had the rough end of the pineapple for the last 10 years, but with all those eligible kids we might have the front end in the next 10."
The sons will be involved in an induction day on Tuesday, where they will have photos with their fathers in front of their former lockers, watch a Crows weights session and join in some light skills work.
They will return to West Lakes four more times during the year, taking part in a game-day experience and learning more about the lifestyle requirements of an AFL player.
