A "trio of firsts" will result in Australian Football League side Adelaide Crows' women's team breaking the A$1M ($760,000) banner "before a mark has been taken or a goal kicked in its inaugural year," according to Luke Griffiths of the ADVERTISER. Less than four months after the Crows attained one of eight initial AFL Women’s licences, the club "has signed two naming rights sponsors, two existing sponsors have widened their support, and discussions are ongoing with a number of other parties." For co-major partners Harris Scarfe and Workskil Australia, it is their "first major sports sponsorship and the early uptake of opportunities has exceeded all expectations" of Crows CEO Andrew Fagan. He said, "We’ve seen a significant increase in the interest (of women’s football) right across the board -- (female) participation numbers have almost doubled in SA and the All Stars game’s broadcast numbers were extraordinary -- and we’ve seen that interest replicated from a corporate perspective." Toyota, the Crows' long-term AFL major sponsor, and Thomas Foods have "both broadened their support to include the women's team." The South Australian Government has also kicked in A$275,000 ($209,200) of funding, while the Northern Territory Government has contributed A$75,000 ($57,000) -- the Crows’ submission "was a joint one with AFLNT." Adelaide-founded Harris Scarfe is "repositioning itself as an affordable luxury fashion retailer." Harris Scarfe Marketing GM Simon Burrett said, "We were having small discussions with the Crows last year and when the women's league was launched, we saw our opportunity." In other "good news for women's sport locally," Statewide Super was announced as Women's Big Bash League side Adelaide Strikers' major sponsor (ADVERTISER, 10/10).
