Limestone Coast sisters Sarah and Jess Allan are the latest Crows to recommit to the club by signing contract extensions.
Vice captain Sarah has signed a four-year deal keeping her at West Lakes until 2027, while younger sister Jess has signed a two-year extension until 2025.
Three-time premiership defender Sarah has been a pillar in defence for the Crows over the past eight seasons and overcame a serious hamstring injury to play five games this campaign.
A three-time All-Australian, Sarah said she was looking forward to playing more football alongside her sister.
“I’m really excited to be able to sign a long-term deal with the club that I started my AFLW journey with,” Sarah said.
“We have got a great group of players and I’m really excited for what the future holds.
“It’s an amazing feeling to have Jess back at the club and obviously after being injured for most of this season, it’s great to be locked in for a couple more years of playing together in the future.”
Jess played four games for Adelaide in 2018 before spending three years living in Canberra and playing for the Giants while studying in the Australian Defence Force (ADF).
After sitting out Seasons Six and Seven due to her ADF commitments, she returned to West Lakes this season as the Crows’ primary ruck, averaging 19.9 hit outs and 8.9 disposals.
The 24-year-old said it was always her intention to remain at West Lakes.
“It was always my plan to hopefully come back and play with Sarah at the Crows,” Jess said.
“The long-term plan for us is to win a premiership together, it did not happen this season, but we will keep trying to get there.
“For me this season was just about playing AFLW again and getting back into it, I feel like I have done a good job getting back amongst the girls and finding my place in the team, so I’m really looking forward to building on that over the next two years.”
Adelaide Head of Women’s Football Phil Harper said the pair were an important part of the club’s future.
“It’s been great to have Sarah and Jess back together and we are really pleased they have recommitted to the club,” Harper said.
“Despite missing most of the season, Sarah played a really important role in the development of her younger teammates and her attitude towards her recovery was fantastic.
“Jess came back to us after a year off and was able to seamlessly slot back into the team so we are really looking forward to seeing how she can develop with another pre-season under her belt.”
