PORT ADELAIDE vice-captain Ange Foley will face her former side on Friday night in the first ever women’s Showdown – an historic event for South Australian sport.
AFLW Showdown I is shaping up to be a significant spectacle for women’s football, but Foley isn’t letting the threat of three-time Premiership club Adelaide cloud her preparation.
“We're competitive and we want to win every game,” Foley said.
“In terms of that rivalry…there’s a fair passion for women's footy in general in every game that we play. So, will that rivalry start straight away on Friday night when the ball goes up? Absolutely.
“We're six rounds deep into this competition now and we're just going about our business at Port Adelaide and improving every week. We’re really proud of where we are and where we sit at the moment. You know, the result didn’t fall our way yesterday (against Gold Coast) but we're absolutely on the right track and can show physically that we can match it with anyone in this competition and on Friday night we hope to do that.”
Foley, along with Adelaide Crows captain Chelsea Randall and The Honourable Peter Malinauskas MP. Premier of South Australia, launched Showdown week in style on Monday at Adelaide Oval in front of a large Adelaide media pack.
“We know that the contest on Friday night, as is the case with any Showdown, is likely to be very close,” said Malinauskas, draped in a black, white and teal scarf.
“This will be a fiercely fought battle and we're very, very excited about the prospect of the first AFLW Showdown here in front of a packed house at Adelaide Oval. This is a really fantastic way to celebrate women's footy and everything it is contributing to our community as a whole.
“We have seen an explosion in female participation in sport here in South Australia on the back of women’s footy and it is so exciting for so many South Australians, women and men, to be able to celebrate that success here at Adelaide Oval on (Friday) night.”
The Power is currently recovering from Sunday’s 14-point loss, however Foley is confident her side can challenge the Crows, despite the quick turnaround.
“I think the competition’s a little bit up and down at the moment (and) I think any team can beat any team,” she said.
“We saw it with Brisbane having their first loss during the week and GWS (who lost to Adelaide) honestly have shown really promising signs in their first four weeks and then all of a sudden go out against the Crows.
“On any given day, it’s that passion that can sometimes get teams over the line in such a fierce, even competition that is staring to unfold now that there’s 18 teams.”
Those heading to the game on Friday can take advantage of free public transport from 4.30pm on all bus, tram and train services to and from the city, with additional train and tram services operating to accommodate crowds.
“We do anticipate a big crowd,” Malinauskas said.
“There is free public transport, tickets only cost $10, it is free for kids under the age of 18, which means this is an accessible event and we are encouraging as many people as possible to come along to see the historic first women’s Showdown.”
Foley and her teammates are relying on the passion of their home crowd to get them up and about on Friday.
“Port Adelaide have obviously got some fairly passionate fans and we saw that in round two when they showed up in droves at Alberton Oval and again against Sydney last week,” Foley said.
“We're just hoping that all the members at Port Adelaide to get down, well not hoping, I know that they’ll come. They’re passionate, they get behind us…it’s going to be a great game and I think everyone will get around it.”
AFLW Showdown I begins at 7:30pm on Friday at Adelaide Oval, with tickets on sale now.
