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ADELAIDE — April 28, 2
Crows AFLW Gain Valuable Insights in Practise Match Against Swans
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Adelaide Crows’ AFLW team utilized a recent practice match against the Sydney Swans to evaluate young talent and integrate new recruits, despite a loss of 5.6 (36) to 2.1 (13).A unique collaboration with the Brisbane Lions added another layer to the developmental opportunity.
Rasheed’s Rapid Ascent
India Rasheed, the Crows’ top pick in the 2024 National Draft, is already making waves. The young forward showcased her skills in her second unofficial practice match, playing across half-forward and contributing both by scoring and setting up attacking plays.
Pro Tip:
Keep an eye on Rasheed. Her dedication to betterment, combined with her natural talent, suggests a bright future in the AFLW.
According to Adelaide Head of Women’s Football Phil Harper, the match provided a great learning curve
for Rasheed.Harper noted her impressive goal and ball use,stating,Indi kicked a very nice goal,set-shot from about 35 metres out which was great to see,and she used the ball brilliantly.
Rasheed’s self-awareness is also a key asset. She’s the first one to tell us where she went well, and where she can improve, which shows just how dedicated she is to getting better,
Harper said. While acknowledging areas for improvement in marking and tackling, Harper is optimistic about her trajectory: She’s been one of the stars of the show in the SANFLW, and now she’s taken that step up and is eager to get to the highest level as quickly as she can.
cronin’s Aussie Rules Debut
Kayleigh Cronin, recently recruited from Ireland, made her debut in Australian Rules football. Just two weeks after arriving in Australia, Cronin demonstrated athleticism and a rapid understanding of the game.
Did You Know?
Many Irish athletes have successfully transitioned to Australian Rules football,bringing unique skills and a strong work ethic to the sport.
Harper was impressed with Cronin’s adaptation: Kayleigh Cronin, who just arrived a couple of weeks ago, played her first ever game of Aussie Rules and didn’t look out of place at all.
He added that she definitely got better as the game went on, you could tell she started to understand it a lot more, she made much better decisions in the second half around things like when to stay with her opponent and impact the contest.
The plan is for Cronin to gain further experience in the SANFLW and trial games. So she’s going to have a great base behind her before the season starts up,which will be really critically importent for her development,
Harper stated.
strategic Alliance with Brisbane lions
In a somewhat unusual move, Adelaide joined forces with their rival, the Brisbane Lions. Eight Crows players teamed up with younger Lions players to face the swans. This collaboration allowed both clubs to maximize the developmental opportunities presented by the practice match.
Harper explained the rationale behind the partnership: We both had similar goals as to what we wanted to get out of the match, they had a lot of younger players who had played much AFLW footy out there because they’ve got a strong team that doesn’t change too much.
He added, We were a bit the same, bringing over mainly inexperienced players to the game, so it worked well that they got to work collectively as a young team.
The Sydney team, in contrast, fielded a more experienced lineup, providing a valuable test for the combined Crows-Lions squad. sydney were probably more in the mindset of getting the majority of their team a run, so they had a lot more experience out there, which was a good test for our team,
Harper said.
Ballard’s Seamless Return
Abbie Ballard made a accomplished return to the field after undergoing off-season knee surgery. The Crows utility played a key role in the midfield, demonstrating her trademark toughness and skill.
Harper described Ballard’s performance as a typical Abbie game, she was terrific.
He highlighted her impact on the contest: She layed a heap of tackles and cracked in pretty hard, she got quite a few kicks and was one of the more prominent players on the ground.
Most importantly, Ballard’s knee held up well. Her knee stood up really, and that was really what we wanted for her, the last couple have been quite interrupted as well so these games are invaluable for her,
Harper confirmed.
Looking Ahead
The Crows will conclude their series of unofficial practice matches by hosting Sydney at West Lakes this Saturday.
FAQ
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Who is India Rasheed?
A young, talented forward and the crows’ first pick in the 2024 National Draft.
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who is Kayleigh Cronin?
an Irish recruit who recently played her first game of Australian Rules football.
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Why did Adelaide combine with brisbane?
to provide developmental opportunities for younger and less experienced players.
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When is Adelaide’s next practice match?
This Saturday against Sydney at West Lakes.
