Adelaide’s AFLW players will have the opportunity to line-up for the Northern Territory Thunder in this year’s VFL Women’s competition which kicks off this weekend.

As many as 10 Crows are expected to be named in the Thunder team when they meet the Darebin Falcons in Round 1 on Saturday afternoon, May 5 at Preston City Oval.

The team will be made up of players from the Northern Territory, including Crows vice-captain Ange Foley and forward Jasmyn Hewett, as well as Crows AFLW players and some development players based in Adelaide.

Foley has been selected as the first captain of the side, with Darwin-based Lisa Roberts and Crows vice-captain Sally Riley named joint vice-captains. Defender Sarah Allan has also been named on the seven-person leadership group.

The inclusion of Crows players extends the partnership between Adelaide and AFL Northern Territory which was formed in 2016 as part of the bid for an AFL Women’s licence. The partnership aims to grow the women’s game in Australia’s central corridor.

Under VFLW rules, each team can play a maximum of 12 AFLW players in any one game. However, more than 12 can be named on the overall club list so Crows players are expected to be rotated in throughout the season.

Forward Sarah Perkins, who has returned home to Melbourne to play with Hawthorn’s VFLW side, and co-captain Erin Phillips, who is in Dallas working as an assistant coach with WNBA side the Dallas Wings, are the only two Crows players who aren’t expected to line-up with the Thunder.

GWS Giants players Renee Forth and Emma Swanson will also be part of the Thunder team after relocating to Darwin for work.

Crows co-captain Chelsea Randall said the opportunity to line-up with the Thunder would help players continue to develop during the AFLW off-season.

“It’s exciting to continue our successful partnership with the AFLNT through the NT Thunder team in the VFLW,” Randall said.

“I’m really looking forward to playing in the team with some of my Crows teammates as well as some of the up-and-coming talent from across the Northern Territory.

“Coming up against quality opposition every week through this competition will help us to continue to develop our skills and get more match fitness under our belts.

“Season two of the AFLW was a much faster game and we’ve got to be able keep moving with that and keep developing our young players that are coming through the system as well. It’s a great opportunity for us all to keep learning.”

The Thunder team will play six games in the Northern Territory – five at TIO Stadium in Darwin and one at TIP Traeger Park in Alice Springs. The remaining 10 games will be played in Victoria.

NT ThunderW Head Coach and former SANFL player Tim Weatherald said the group was excited to have the opportunity to be part of the competition.

“I’ve been very impressed with the commitment and positive attitude shown by all the players both here, in the NT, and in Adelaide,” Weatherald said.

“We want to be a successful team so the addition of the AFLW players will help guide some of the younger, developing players and also the more mature locals who have not yet been exposed to this level of professionalism and competitive football before.”

Clubs can lodge 10 list changes throughout the VFLW season, with development players or those recovering from injury able to be added to the list.