WA players enjoy AFL Academy experienceMonday, January 30, 2017 - 4:19 PM

SEVEN West Australians received the opportunity to participate in the inaugural NAB AFL Women’s National Academy camp at the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra last week.

The seven-day camp included combine testing, skill sessions, mentoring, a tour of the Australian Defence Force facilities and match-play.

A total of 33 players from around Australia received a NAB AFL Women’s Academy scholarship and will come together for accelerated Australian Football and personal development camps to be held within Australia over a 12-month period.

Photo: WA players McKenzie Dowrick, Emily McGuire, Tayla McAuliffe, Sonia Dorizzi - Bottom - Sabreena Duffy, Courtney Hodder, Kate Bartlett

NAB AFL Women’s Academy manager Aasta O’Connor said the program is primed to harness and develop talent that in the past, may have been lost to other sports.

“The aim of the elite program is for the best underage talent from across Australia to not only come out better footballers, but to be positive role models within their communities.”

“Established late last year, the academy offers girls opportunities that boy have had for years, including football, leadership, personal development, sessions with AFL clubs, access to expert coaching, sport science and medical and welfare staff.”

The intake includes two squads; Level One – players who are 16 years of age and Level Two – which includes the best 17 year olds across the country who are eligible for the 2017 NAB AFL Women’s Draft.

The squads were selected by AFL and state talent managers following the 2016 AFL Women’s Under-18 Championships.

Academy players to have access to;

• Training with AFL Clubs (which occurred in November and December 2016)
• High Performance training camps in January and April
• Athlete management systems
• Expert AFL coaches, sports science and sports medicine staff

First NAB AFL Women’s National Academy intake

Level 1

Madison Prespakis (VIC)

Brooke Struylaart (VIC)

Jordyn Allen (VIC)

Rebecca Webster (VIC)

Courtney Jones (VIC)

Tyla Hanks (VIC)

Georgia Clarke (VIC)

Denby Taylor (VIC)

Tori Groves-Little (QLD)

Lauren Bella (QLD)

Courtney Hodder (WA)

Sabreena Duffy (WA)

McKenzie Dowrick (WA)

Alyce Parker (NSW)

Jordyn Joliffe (NSW)

Angela Priftis (NSW)

Danielle Ponter (NT)

Nikki Gore (SA)

Level 2

Darcy Guttridge (VIC)

Georgia Gee (VIC)

Charis Ulu Peniata (VIC)

Monique Conti (VIC)

Georgia Gourlay (VIC)

Isabella Huntington (VIC)

Kalinda Howarth (QLD)

Arianna Clarke (QLD)

Ruby Blair (QLD)

Kate Bartlett (WA)

Emily McGuire (WA)

Sonia Dorizzi (WA)

Tayla McAuliffe (WA)

Daria Bannister (TAS)

Haneen Zrieka (NSW)

NAB is proud to support the development of female footballers throughout the country from grassroots players and football communities to the NAB AFL Women’s Competition.

The NAB AFL Women’s Academy is part of the NAB AFL Women’s Rising Stars Program. 

The NAB AFL Women’s Rising Stars Program consists of the following elements:

• NAB AFL Women’s Rising Star

• NAB AFL Women’s Draft

• NAB AFL Women’s Draft Combine

• NAB AFL Women’s Under-16 Championships

• NAB AFL Women’s Under-18 Championships

• NAB AFL Women’s Academy

NAB has been supporting footy from grassroots to the elite level since 2002.