Talent Pathway Program Welcomes Class of 2024 Tuesday, December 5, 2023 - 10:10 AM

The West Australian Football Commission Talent Pathway Program has welcomed a new group of players to begin training as a group. 

WA's State 18 Boys commenced training on November 27 with 38 players beginning their journey with the program. 

The schedule for the group prepares the players for the challenges which are ahead over the next 12 months. 

Monday night consists of weights and touch and the players will also complete a Fuel School education program which has six modules all based around fuelling young athletes for high level sports. 

Leading teams has also been engaged and will run sessions on Monday nights. 

Tuesday and Thursdays are the main training nights and then players are given additional running to complete on a Saturday at WAFL club training. 

?WAFC State Talent Manager Adam Jones is excited about the new batch of players. 

“We are really pleased with the level of engagement and buy in of this playing group so far,” he said. 

“The intensity of training has been fantastic. 

It is only the initial stages of the training program, but we are excited about the development potential for this group.” 

Jones has outlined what is ahead of the squad. 

“The players will train in the preseason program until the end of February at which point, they will be released back to their WAFL clubs for a couple of months. 

“Initial selection for the Winter Program will take place after WAFL round 3 with the 12-week Winter program running from April through to the end of June.” 

For the State 18 Girls, the summer squad of 31 came together in late November, with Trent Cooper, Female Talent Manager & Coaching Specialist, has been impressed with the standards from the playing group. 

“The majority of the squad are returning from either the 18s or 16s programs from last season and their familiarity with the standard required has seen them hit the ground running,” Cooper said. 

“We think there is plenty of talent in this squad and the level of application they are currently showing should ensure that they perform well as individuals and as a team in 2024.” 

The group is training together three times a week, with?Monday nights designed on strength, skills and education and a football focus on Tuesdays and Thursdays which Cooper believes will set up the squad for a strong 2024. 

“It is great to be training alongside the boys and the two groups will band together for a lot of their education and those experiences will be benefit both cohorts in their development.” 

“We will train together for all the pre-season and have one match against the WAFLW All-Stars.  

“The girls will then go back to their WAFLW clubs before we select a playing squad and return in July to prepare for our three National Championship Games in August,” he said.