Adelaide has celebrated a successful year in the Academies Program, despite the impact of the coronavirus pandemic. 

With group training sessions put on hold, the Academies program shifted to technology-based meetups and continued to promote young talent across South Australia.

Thanks to partner Bridgestone, 2020 still managed several matches for the girls’ sides - including curtain raisers for AFLW and a tri-series with the Port Adelaide Academies sides. 

“One of our goals was to establish a program that was the ultimate experience and we felt that was AFLW curtain raisers,” Crows Academies Manager Jarrod Meers said.

“Also to be able to play a tri-series against Port Adelaide… that was all about providing terrific platforms for them to showcase their skills.”

“It was awesome Bridgestone was able to come on board.”

“Bridgestone’s values that they instill in their organisation are very much aligned to the pillars we have in the Crows Academies - aspire, nurture, develop and accelerate young female talent.

“It’s been amazing having them on board as the inaugural partner.” 

Bridgestone Australia & New Zealand Managing Director, Stephen Roche, believes the success of the partnership lies with the common goals between the Academies and Bridgestone.

“Our global Corporate Social Responsibly initiative, ‘Our Way to Serve’ is in place to improve the way people move, live, work and play, and our partnership with the Adelaide Football Club’s female Academies programs is a practical demonstration of how we are doing this,” Roche said.

“The resounding outcome of the Crows Academies program in 2020 highlights the power of shared values between Bridgestone and the Adelaide Football Club, and we couldn’t’ be prouder to be the inaugural partner of this great initiative. 

“Adelaide Football Club and all its Academies players have shown incredible flexibility and resilience throughout this year and demonstrated their determination to chase their dreams – and for us, that’s the ideal outcome.” 

Bridgestone’s Our Way to Serve platform is made up of three priority areas: people, mobility and the environment. The partnership with the AFC’s Academies Program is driven by the tyre company’s pursuit of supporting youth in chasing their dreams. To learn more about the Our Way to Serve platform, visit the Bridgestone website.

For more on Adelaide’s Academies Programs, click here.