This Sunday (November 8) will see the launch of the AFL Victoria Women’s Football Academy at IKON Park, Carlton North.
The Academy will see over 100 of Victoria’s best female footballers begin a nine month program that will involve training and skills testing at AFL club venues including Carlton, Essendon, Richmond, Western Bulldogs and Melbourne, as well as Maribyrnong College.
Players from over 20 VWFL clubs will have access to experts in their field from AFL and VWFL clubs, with a detailed training program covering areas such as kicking, strength, conditioning and nutrition.
Calder Cannon's Graham Burgen will be the Academy Head Coach, with Tenille Hay and Brendan Major working in the area of Strength & Conditioning, to name just a few of the VWFL coaches and staff involved in the Academy.
AFL Victoria Female Football Manager Darren Flanigan said this is the first step towards preparing these players for a future AFL national women’s competition.
“It is an exciting program we have developed, and is a great opportunity for the players invited to challenge themselves to reach their full potential,” Flanigan said.
“We are bringing together individuals from a wide variety of backgrounds in an attempt to give everyone involved the best possible opportunity to pursue their aspirations of playing high-level Australian Football.”
A host of the VWFL's best players including Daisy Pearce, Katie Brennan, Moana Hope and Steph Chiocci – all who have been part of the recent Melbourne and Western Bulldogs AFL Women’s Exhibition games - will participate in the program, along with up and coming players from across the VWFL divisions and graduating Youth Girls.
The Academy program will include a match component in March across two weekends, with AFL Queensland and AFL NSW invited to participate in the games.
“The Academy and coaches will provide players with the tools and a platform in which they can thrive if they choose to work hard throughout the program,” Flanigan said.
“Participants will have the ability to track their wellbeing and training load whether at the weekly sessions or at home doing their own personal or club work outs.”
The first session for the Academy includes an address from Carlton’s Director of Coaching Neil Craig, along with a gym session and 2km time trial.
The Academy program will continue Tuesday at Maribyrnong College with a fitness testing night.
Follow @womensfooty for updates from the Academy
Last Modified on 09/11/2015 09:20