NT Thunder Football Club congratulates VFL W captain Angela Foley, tall forward Jasmyn Hewett and tough, inside midfielder Renee Forth on signing with the Adelaide Crows for the 2019 NAB AFL Women’s competition.
Foley, who was a 2017 Premiership player and finished fourth in the Crows’ 2018 Club Champion count will play her third season with the Club, while Hewett played all seven games after being drafted to the club with pick number 16 for this year’s competition.
Forth is the first player to be picked up by Adelaide in the AFLW trade period. Originally from Perth and picked up by Greater Western Sydney as an inaugural marquee player she was unable to take the field in the 2017 AFL Women’s season after suffering a knee injury in late 2016 but played five games in 2018.
Forth is currently living in Darwin where she has been training and playing as part of Thunder’s VFL W side.
Joining the Darwin-based trio in putting pen to paper is former NT-product Stevie-Lee Thompson, along with All-Australian captain and defender Chelsea Randall.
Randall, who has been a star recruit for NT Thunder in the VFL W this season, is joined by ThunderW listed players; dual-sport athlete Jenna McCormick, midfielder Justine Mules, ruck Rhiannon Metcalfe and defenders Dayna Cox and Marijana Rajcic.
Along with inaugural AFLW Best and Fairest Erin Phillips and Ebony Marinoff, the first-ever AFLW Rising Star, the Crows have now signed 12 players ahead of the 2019 season.
AFLNT Manager of Talent and Pathways Wally Gallio said he was delighted the NT program and AFLW competition could continue to benefit one another.
“Ange and Jas both developed their craft here in the NT and have improved as players both on and off the field thanks to their exposure at AFL level, which they have then brought back to NT Thunder for the betterment of our VFL W and Academy programs.
“And on the reverse of that, Thunder’s program is exposing more of our players to the top and bringing a unique Territory-style of footy with it, which we are sure will pay dividends for years to come.
“Renee has been a bright spark (pardon the pun) since arriving in Darwin a couple of months ago. There’s no doubt she has the skill and class, and we’re delighted that she’ll continue her AFLW playing days here with us,” he said.
Foley said she was excited to extend her Crows career.
“I love being part of the Crows and thoroughly enjoy the team and the environment I get to be part of.
“From Adelaide to Darwin and in between we always feel well supported and that fills us with the confidence and desire to achieve great things,” she said.
Forth said she looked forward to the next AFLW season with a new team.
“I’m grateful to the Giants for everything they have done. After relocating to Sydney from Perth, Giants staff, players and fans across the board in the men’s, women’s and netball program quickly became a huge support network and extended family for myself.
“The decision to leave the Giants has not been made lightly, but I know it’s going to be best for my football going into season 2019.
“Moving to Darwin and playing for the Thunder means I get to play with some of my new Crows teammates before the AFLW season commences and I’m sure that will smooth out the transition stage.
“I’m looking forward to focusing on my footy at Thunder and getting back into some good form before I head down to Adelaide towards the end of the year.”
The AFLW sign and trade period runs until Monday, 4 June, with clubs able to sign up to 23 players by this deadline.
Currently, AFLW clubs can only contract players on a season-by-season basis.
The League is yet to determine the format of next year’s competition which will be extended to 10 teams with the inclusion of Geelong and North Melbourne.