AFL Female High Performance AcademyFriday, December 6, 2013 - 11:24 AM

FIVE WA players and coach Jenna Allomes have been selected to participate in the AFL Female High Performance Academy in Melbourne following their success at the National Schoolgirl’s Carnival in Darwin, where WA defeated Victoria in the Grand Final.

Rachel Ortlepp (Coastal Titans), Claire Ortlepp (Coastal Titans), Erin O’Brien (netballer), Rachel Ashley (Perth Angels), and Beatrice Devlyn (South Fremantle) will all attend the Academy program in Melbourne in January 2014 for a week of intense physical drills, fitness testing, strength and conditioning activities, and seminars on fitness, nutrition, tactics and strategies.

Guest Coaching segments led by various AFL Coaches will also be a highlight.

Both players and coaching staff will also have the opportunity to represent  the female Australian team 'The Breeze' in New Zealand in September next year.  

WAFC Female High Performance Manager Alison Moore said to have five players selected for the Academy was a great result for WA.

"It is the most players that WA has ever had selected for the High Performance Academy and signifies the quality players coming through the Female Football Player and Talent Pathways," she said.

"Four of the girls were awarded All Australian status at the recent Schoolgirls Nationals. Erin being a netballer played her first few games of football at a National level. Her supreme fitness and height were exactly what the selectors were after.  

"Along with the girls, we would like to congratulate our outstanding female coach; Jenna Allomes (WA 19-23yrs Talent Academy Assistant Coach, WAWFL League Head Coach: South Fremantle ) who will act as a mentor to the girls as well as attending seminars.

"It is certainly an opportunity of a lifetime and I’m sure the players and the coach are extremely excited with this wonderful chance to follow their football dreams, as either a coach or a player courtesy of the AFL Female program."

The High Performance Academy also encourages the coaches to begin their journey to achieving a Level 3 status.

To be invited to the Academy, the players  undertook rigorous testing procedures involving a 50m sprint, Beep test, Vertical Jump and Running Vertical Jump, Sit and Reach, Height and weight measurements and 3km time trial.