EAST Gambier women’s footballer Neave Delaney played a curtain raiser for the Adelaide Crows v Western Bulldogs AFLW match at Norwood Oval on Saturday night.
Delaney played alongside East teammate Brooke Tonon and Millicent’s Ella Little, while Mount Gambier’s Maddy Freeman was also on show as she played for the opposition.
Delaney described the experience her proudest sporting moment.
“It was my highest sporting achievement, as it is the sport I most enjoy”, she said.
“The moment I ran onto the field, I was so nervous and excited.
“I kicked a goal and we won by one point I think, so it was a great night.”
The standard of the opposition and the Norwood venue impressed Delaney as it had exceeded anything she had experienced before.
“The quality of the opposition would probably be more elite (than WBFL) with better all-round standards,” she said.
“The ground’s conditions were probably the best I have ever played on without a doubt.”
In preparation for the occasion, Delaney described the warm up for the game as more technical than she was accustomed to.
“Before the big game we warmed up with much more running, kicking and stretching than what I am used to down here,” she said.
“They also tracked our heart rate, running distance and positions on the field with a GPS which was something new for me.”
The opportunity for the girls to play on the same ground as the AFLW stars was brought to fruition through their recent selections in the Adelaide Crows Academy.
Through the academy Delaney, Tonon and Little have participated in five training sessions, where they have had full access to the Crows’ high-class facilities, while being coached by some of the leading AFLW names such as Erin Phillips and Chelsea Randle.
During these sessions the trio have been taught valuable skills on and off the football field, ranging from basic kicking to meditation.
“We have learned so many different skills as the training drills get right into the technical side of the game, especially tackling which was very different,” Delaney said.
“In our last session we worked on our activation skills and did lots of effort in the shed which included stretching, sprints, kicking, swimming, fun skill games and drills.
“We have also completed many tests such as the strength test, agility test, sprint test and the vertical jump test to improve our game.
“We have been introduced to some meditation which was really good because the professional Crows players do it three to four times a week.”
Neave’s East Gambier coach and father Damian Delaney has witnessed firsthand the development of his players from their experiences in Adelaide, which he believes can not only benefit themselves, but the whole Bulldogs’ women’s side for the upcoming season.
“How great of an opportunity it is for the kids, you can see from the girls they are getting specialised training by some great coaches,” he said.
“It will definitely give those players some leadership skills.
“They can use that knowledge and pass on some of things they have learned to the inexperienced girls down here at training.”
Neave Delaney has already learned many lessons from her short time at the academy and believes this is a giant leap towards her goal of one day playing in the AFLW.
“My time at the academy has improved my football skills immensely by having higher standards of coaching,” she said.
“This is 100pc a step towards my future football ambitions to play women’s AFL.”
Delaney and the other players win the Adelaide Crows Academy will have further opportunities to play alongside their AFLW heroes in the future, with up to five possible curtain raisers, including three against the rival Port Adelaide academy.
