AFLW’s first dynasty is born as Crows reap rewards of investment | Rana Hussain

Adelaide’s dominant grand final win over Melbourne has set the benchmark for the heights an AFLW side can achieve

A third premiership won on Saturday by the Adelaide Crows, who now boast more trophies than the club’s men’s side, is just reward for their investment in women’s football, the ability to retain star players and the importance of sound leadership.

Adelaide were amongst the first AFL clubs to feature in the inaugural AFLW season – beneficiaries of the hard work of Gina Dutschke and others who established women’s football in the state after founding the South Australian women’s football league in 1990. Many doubted the state’s ability to produce a quality women’s side when the AFL announced plans to fast track a competition in 2016 and there were legitimate concerns over the talent pool, but Adelaide began building their pathway programs in 2015 and 2016 in collaboration with the SANFL.