Women's Footy AFLW Crows in 2019

[Caputo]

Here are some observations I notated
1. Adelaide needed NT to get initial licence as considered biggest gamble due to lack of playing strength.
2. Helped make AFL feel more inclusive having NT in competition
3. Initially NT had 1/3 players based in Darwin year 1
4. Year 2 1/5
5. Year 3 1/6
6. Only Danielle Ponter residing in NT now
7. Players voted with feet
8. VFLW were unhappy and legislated against Adelaide based Crows in NT Thunder rather than 12 AFLW players permitted to play. Limited Adelaide numbers in mid season.
9. Rumour that AFLW HQ and some other clubs were unhappy that Adelaide a juggernaut
10. Adelaide likely to lose NT Government funding.
11. Possible less costs without NT base and camps and flights
12. More centralised program
13. Possible NT alignment with Gold Coast
14. A void to fill for Adelaide players in winter post AFLW season
15. Lets talk to Williamstown in VFLW

 

[Scorpus]

Here are some observations I notated
1. Adelaide needed NT to get initial licence as considered biggest gamble due to lack of playing strength.
2. Helped make AFL feel more inclusive having NT in competition
3. Initially NT had 1/3 players based in Darwin year 1
4. Year 2 1/5
5. Year 3 1/6
6. Only Danielle Ponter residing in NT now
7. Players voted with feet
8. VFLW were unhappy and legislated against Adelaide based Crows in NT Thunder rather than 12 AFLW players permitted to play. Limited Adelaide numbers in mid season.
9. Rumour that AFLW HQ and some other clubs were unhappy that Adelaide a juggernaut
10. Adelaide likely to lose NT Government funding.
11. Possible less costs without NT base and camps and flights
12. More centralised program
13. Possible NT alignment with Gold Coast
14. A void to fill for Adelaide players in winter post AFLW season
15. Lets talk to Williamstown in VFLW

AFLW HQ unhappy we were a juggernaut. What a surprise

 

[Morning_Fog]

Here are some observations I notated
1. Adelaide needed NT to get initial licence as considered biggest gamble due to lack of playing strength.
2. Helped make AFL feel more inclusive having NT in competition
3. Initially NT had 1/3 players based in Darwin year 1
4. Year 2 1/5
5. Year 3 1/6
6. Only Danielle Ponter residing in NT now
7. Players voted with feet
8. VFLW were unhappy and legislated against Adelaide based Crows in NT Thunder rather than 12 AFLW players permitted to play. Limited Adelaide numbers in mid season.
9. Rumour that AFLW HQ and some other clubs were unhappy that Adelaide a juggernaut
10. Adelaide likely to lose NT Government funding.
11. Possible less costs without NT base and camps and flights
12. More centralised program
13. Possible NT alignment with Gold Coast
14. A void to fill for Adelaide players in winter post AFLW season
15. Lets talk to Williamstown in VFLW

Where did this stuff come from?

The article or your own inside knowledge.

 

[Caputo]

After three seasons and two premierships, the Crows AFL team and AFLNT have mutually decided to part ways
Liz Walsh, The Advertiser August 9, 2019 6:24pm Subscriber only

IT’S been one of the most successful alliances in the burgeoning AFLW competition — culminating in two premierships in only three seasons — but the partnership between the Crows AFLW team and AFL Northern Territory has come to an end.

The Adelaide Football Club and AFLNT formed their alliance in 2016 and together successfully bid for a licence to field a team in the inaugural season of the AFLW in 2017.
The partnership gave the Crows access to players from the NT Women’s Football League, as well as training facilities at Darwin’s TIO Stadium, where the club also played one home game each year.
However after three seasons and two grand final wins, both the Crows and AFLNT say the time is right to separate.

The Adelaide Crows only remaining Darwin-based player Danielle Ponter, poses for a photo at Darwin’s TIO Stadium earlier this year.
AFLNT chief executive Stuart Totham said at the end of the 2019 AFLW season, that the AFLNT and the Adelaide Football Club mutually decided that “given the ever-changing landscape of the women’s game, the time was right to look at other opportunities”.
“The three-year partnership we enjoyed with the Crows has no doubt directly contributed to the growth of women’s footy across the NT and the success that our players experienced via two premierships will remain a legacy of the relationship,” Totham said.
“AFLNT will continue to focus on the development of young, aspiring Territory talent and forge pathways that will see more of our players become the next crop of AFLW stars.”
The Crows echoed those sentiments.

The Crows run onto the ground during the 2019 NAB AFLW Round 4 match between Adelaide and Fremantle at TIO Stadium on February 23, 2019 in Darwin, Australia.
“Our partnership with AFLNT played an integral role in increasing the popularity of women’s football and improving talent pathways in the central corridor of Australia, while also helping to deliver on-field results including two premierships,” a Crows spokesman said.

“Given the changing landscape and growth of the women’s game, it is an appropriate time to look towards fresh opportunities and partnerships which can further add to the strong platform we have established.”
The alliance with AFLNT also meant the Crows headed to Darwin for their pre-season camps and this year the players came face-to-face with crocodiles .
While the AFL said it wasn’t in a position to comment, there is widespread speculation that the NT’s talent pool will be diverted to another club in the future.

Adelaide Crow’s joint vice-captain Angela Foley photographed with Fremantle’s Kara Donnellan at TIO Stadium in Darwin in 2018. Foley played in the NTFLW before being drafted by the Crows to play in their inaugural AFLW season in 2017.
There are still a number of players in the Crows AFLW squad that were picked from the NTFLW including joint vice-captain Angela Foley and 2019’s leading goal kicker Stevie-Lee Thompson. But those players have now relocated to Adelaide and the only remaining Darwin-based Crows player is this year’s AFLW rising star nominee Danielle Ponter.
In the off-season many of the Crows players take to the field with the NT Thunder, a team which plays in the VFLW. While Adelaide players will no longer play for the Thunder beyond this season, it is unsure what will happen in terms of off-season football for the Crows.

 

[Firewalker]

Interesting to see if they roll this out at this years draft & are they just going to try & straight swap with the Gold Coast so they play games in Darwin instead next year and force upcoming NT players to the Gold Coast to try to make the womens side of that shell of an organisation stronger or are the NT players going to be allowed like other states to still select Adelaide as a drafting location? Which given the work Adelaide has put in there over the years a number of upcoming draftees will.

Losing the NT Thunder connection in the VFL is a big loss as in my opinion having a fair amount of players playing together in a good standard Comp in the winter last year developed them & helped the team win the 2019 Flag. Now they are back to square one behind the VFL aligned clubs needing to find a way to organise players in the team to play as a group against decent opposition in the winter.

AFLW HQ unhappy we were a juggernaut. What a surprise

Of course, only Victorian AFLW clubs were supposed to win the premierships so they could gain more traction in Victoria over the fledgling years. To try to ensure that happened was why they split up all WA’s top talent and sent them to different non-Victorian teams under the guise of a ‘more competitive league’. Crows and Lions playing in the 1st AFLW GF was a monumental f*****g disaster for the AFL and Adelaide now finding a way to have a strong Womens system and foundation is bad for the Victorian football publicity-machine.

 

[Caputo]

For those interested in the NT component of the Crows.

Year 1 – 2017 List size 27
Angela Foley signed as a Priority signing and initial Co Vice-Captain
Stevie-Lee Thompson Drafted
Heather Anderson Drafted – Injured in Grand Final
Sally Riley Drafted and initial Co Vice-Captain
Abbey Holmes Drafted
Tayla Thorn Drafted
Sophie Armitstead Drafted
Lauren O’Shea signed as a Free Agent nil games
Jasmine Anderson signed as Rookie Delisted nil games

Year 2 – 2018 List size 30
Angela Foley Co Vice-Captain
Stevie-Lee Thompson
Sally Riley
Abbey Holmes
Sophie Armitstead
Jasmyn Hewett
Calista Boyd – Rookie

Year 3– 2019 List size 30 + 2 Inactive players
Angela Foley Co Vice-Captain
Stevie-Lee Thompson
Sally Riley
Jasmyn Hewett
Danielle Ponter

Year 4 2020 22 Signed Pre Draft
Angela Foley
Stevie-Lee Thompson
Danielle Ponter

 

[jatz14]

Maybe the perception in the NT is, the Crows need the NT less and less, and it will be harder and harder for NT based players to get into the team. GC are more likely to be in need of a top up, and NT players have more prospect of playing there?

 

[jatz14]

For those interested in the NT component of the Crows.

Year 1 – 2017 List size 27
Angela Foley signed as a Priority signing and initial Co Vice-Captain
Stevie-Lee Thompson Drafted
Heather Anderson Drafted – Injured in Grand Final
Sally Riley Drafted and initial Co Vice-Captain
Abbey Holmes Drafted
Tayla Thorn Drafted
Sophie Armitstead Drafted
Lauren O’Shea signed as a Free Agent nil games
Jasmine Anderson signed as Rookie Delisted nil games

Year 2 – 2018 List size 30
Angela Foley Co Vice-Captain
Stevie-Lee Thompson
Sally Riley
Abbey Holmes
Sophie Armitstead
Jasmyn Hewett
Calista Boyd – Rookie

Year 3– 2019 List size 30 + 2 Inactive players
Angela Foley Co Vice-Captain
Stevie-Lee Thompson
Sally Riley
Jasmyn Hewett
Danielle Ponter

Year 4 2020 22 Signed Pre Draft
Angela Foley
Stevie-Lee Thompson
Danielle Ponter

3 of them already at the suns.

 

[Caputo]

Also the NT Thunder Coach Heidi Thompson has just moved from Brisbane competition and coaching the Under 18. Also the Gold Coast team is well set up and are not a basketcase like the men. The Suns have the Brisbane Captain and Vice Captain.

 

[John Who]

For those interested in the NT component of the Crows.

Year 1 – 2017 List size 27
Angela Foley signed as a Priority signing and initial Co Vice-Captain
Stevie-Lee Thompson Drafted
Heather Anderson Drafted – Injured in Grand Final
Sally Riley Drafted and initial Co Vice-Captain
Abbey Holmes Drafted
Tayla Thorn Drafted
Sophie Armitstead Drafted
Lauren O’Shea signed as a Free Agent nil games
Jasmine Anderson signed as Rookie Delisted nil games

Year 2 – 2018 List size 30
Angela Foley Co Vice-Captain
Stevie-Lee Thompson
Sally Riley
Abbey Holmes
Sophie Armitstead
Jasmyn Hewett
Calista Boyd – Rookie

Year 3– 2019 List size 30 + 2 Inactive players
Angela Foley Co Vice-Captain
Stevie-Lee Thompson
Sally Riley
Jasmyn Hewett
Danielle Ponter

Year 4 2020 22 Signed Pre Draft
Angela Foley
Stevie-Lee Thompson
Danielle Ponter

From the list shown here, I can see it's not really going to affect us in the immediate future. Certainly would limit our potential future stocks, but I guess I don't mind the AFL redistributing the players to weaker teams to make the AFLW competition more balanced. It would make for a better spectacle and the quicker the game will improve.

 

[FR0GGY]

Could see it happening after there was moaning on the tv by the Melbourne commentators pre the grand final.

 

[Caputo]

Now that the Crows won't be obligated (welcome) to play in Darwin I think we should consider a country game each season. Possibly tie this into the Community Camps the men do. Like a week at Mt Gambier

 

[NikkiNoo]

Also take note of which former Crow is now up at Gold Coast. There have been rumours that they were close to the head of AFLNT.

 

[radiojake]

Riley ?

 

[1970crow]

Might send the club an email and tell em my membership money is for the women only

It’s the only dollar of mine that’ll be getting. As much as the club needs to be punished financially, I can’t not continue to support the women’s team.

 

[1970crow]

My friend in the know just told me NT partnering with Gold Coast for men and women

Would be AFL forced. I think there was something mentioned about Gold Coast getting the NT zone. Makes sense, they need help, no go home factor for NT kids.

 

[1970crow]

Riley ?

Wigg?

 

[Firewalker]

From the list shown here, I can see it's not really going to affect us in the immediate future. Certainly would limit our potential future stocks, but I guess I don't mind the AFL redistributing the players to weaker teams to make the AFLW competition more balanced. It would make for a better spectacle and the quicker the game will improve.

A number of factors led to the NT numbers dropping off, SA is producing enough consistent talent now through the draft that the Crows can now just top up their current talent base with those players & the higher professionalism standards meant the top standard NT players like Thompson & Foley moved down and the stragglers were eventually cut. NT only managed to produce 1 special young talent over the past few years in Ponter and the only other one that the Crows will now likely miss out on which is a pity as she’ll be a star will be Stephanie Williams who’s eligible to be drafted next year but that’s not where the NT deal was a positive it was the community engagement and growth as well as the VFLW involvement where it will be missed.

AFL NT was no doubt used as a pawn by the club for a means to an end but they’re happy for that to happen as just like their deal with Melbourne in the AFL as long as it keeps their organisation in the AFL landscape is all they really want. Teaming up with the Gold Coast might get them a couple more NT players on a AFLW list but they’ll lose the relevancy that they really desired.

Also take note of which former Crow is now up at Gold Coast. There have been rumours that they were close to the head of AFLNT.

Ange Foley lost her connection there didn’t she? That probably didn’t help.

 

[brucetiki]

Thebarton Oval is getting a $13 million upgrade. A new stand will replace one of the stands, which will have AFLW standard facilities, plus new lights. The oval will also be reconfigured to the same dimensions as Adelaide Oval.

Hopefully this means we will stop playing at Coopers Stadium when this redevelopment is complete.

 

[Morning_Fog]

Thebarton Oval is getting a $13 million upgrade. A new stand will replace one of the stands, which will have AFLW standard facilities, plus new lights. The oval will also be reconfigured to the same dimensions as Adelaide Oval.

Hopefully this means we will stop playing at Coopers Stadium when this redevelopment is complete.

I don’t understand why we are not trying to turn the aquatic centre move into a venue to host AFLW game.

 

[brucetiki]

I don’t understand why we are not trying to turn the aquatic centre move into a venue to host AFLW game.

Would there be space for a ground that can hold 15k (and the associated facilities) at the Aquatic Centre precinct?

 

[Morning_Fog]

Would there be space for a ground that can hold 15k (and the associated facilities) at the Aquatic Centre precinct?

I would have thought so. They have 2 full sized sorry grounds and we will have to put a training ground down anyway.

Would be very similar to the Gillian Rolton cricket stadium over the road from the nRAH

 

[NTRabbit]

Would there be space for a ground that can hold 15k (and the associated facilities) at the Aquatic Centre precinct?

Space yes, ACC agreement no. We're already pushing the limit with a what is essentially an office building. A specialist function and design certainly, but still an office building.

 

[Morning_Fog]

Space yes, ACC agreement no. We're already pushing the limit with a what is essentially an office building. A specialist function and design certainly, but still an office building.

So we are going to spend ~$60 million dollar to move 11.4 kms.

Amazing management.

 

[NTRabbit]

So we are going to spend ~$60 million dollar to move 11.4 kms.

Amazing management.

We were going to have to move at some point anyway, our lease on what is left of West Lakes is not eternal, might as well move when a good opportunity comes along.