This weekend for three Sydney Footballers, an opportunity of a lifetime will exist for Marie Keating (Sydney University), Roxy McGee (Newtown Breakaways) and 2009 All-Australian Natalie Redford (Newtown Breakaways) as they go to Melbourne for the inaugural AFL Women's High Performance Academy following their performances at the 2009 AFL National Women's Championships.
I hope that this will become something for all players to aspire to as the ultimate benchmark that within yourself, you too can also become an All-Australian and join our roll of honour.
The following story is modified from AFL.COM.AU
Football traditionalists will be full of praise on June 14 when they
witness the game between the most talented 40 female AFL players in
Australia.
This will be the most significant game to date in the history of female
football as the AFL Women’s High Performance Academy takes to the MCG
for its first ever AFL curtain-raiser. Family and friends are flying in from all over Australia to see their
daughters, sisters and friends play in the game that precedes Melbourne v
Collingwood.
All Australian from 2009, Chelsea Randall (WA), typifies the excitement
levels being felt by the players.“This is such a privilege to play on
the 'G' and wear the Australian colours,” she said. “Young male players
dream of playing on the MCG but it hasn’t yet been a reality for female
players,” Randall said. Randall is particularly keen to play well as she
turns 19 years of age on the day and ended her 2009 Nationals campaign
with a broken leg.
The game is the culmination of a tough week for the girls who will
experience a challenging football and personal development program
similar to the AIS AFL Academy for the boys.
The Academy program includes specialist coaching from the AFL’s High
Performance team of coaches as well as presentations by media
personality Samantha Lane, and AFL Ambassador coaches David Parkin and
Stan Alves. Melbourne Football Club has been especially supportive of
the Academy by providing the players access to their specialist coaching
staff, players and leadership group during the week.
At the conclusion of the Academy the players will nominate their choice
for the Shannon McFerran Medal, which is presented to the Academy member
who scores the most votes for their football performance and personal
development during the Academy program.McFerran is the current All
Australian captain but is unable to participate in the program as a
player due to recently having a brain tumour removed.
Victoria will provide 16 of the 40 participants.
The following is from AFL Queensland:
Six Queenslanders ranging in age from 17 to 33 will head to Melbourne
Wednesday to join the AFL Women’s High Performance Academy training
camp.
Seventeen-year-old Katie Brennan, 22-year-old Aasta
O’Connor and 32-year-old Natalie Thomas (pictured) will go as members of
the 2009 All-Australian side, chosen after last year’s national
carnival in Perth.
They will be joined by 33-year-old Belinda
Blay, 27-year-old Monica O’Brien and 18-year-old Jade Pregelj, who were
also included in the final 40-player squad.
Queensland will have
the third largest representation behind Victoria (14) and WA (10) –
ahead of SA and NSW (3), NT (2), ACT and Tasmania (1).
The girls
will enjoy a five-day stay in the football capital, culminating in a
‘Possibles v Probables’ trial game at the MCG as a curtain-raiser to
Monday’s Round 11 AFL clash between Collingwood and Melbourne.
According
to Julia Price, AFL Queensland’s Female Participation and Coaching
Co-Ordinator, the girls will have the opportunity to enhance their
football skills and personal development under some of the best high
performance coaches in the country.
She says the AFL is committed
to providing football education to the game’s most talented female
athletes, hoping they will take back what they learn to their own clubs
and Leagues.
Girls will travel to Melbourne on Wednesday, with
daily sessions to include the following:-
Thursday: Training
and nutrition sessions at Junction Oval, medical screening and a
personal development session on leadership.
Friday: A
stealth program at St.Kilda Beach, recovery and review, a training
session incorporating kicking analysis and touch instruction, and a
public speaking/media training session.
Saturday: A
training session focussed on stoppages, recovery, free time and a
presentation on the AFL’s national vision for female football.
Sunday:
A core strength session, following by specialised training
sessions, recovery, video analysis and player review, jumper
presentation and team meetings.
Monday: All-Stars
v Gold Stars at MCG.
This story is due to kind thanks of the AFL.COM.AU, AFLQ, Leesa Catto (Media Manager of the VWFL) and Jan Copper (AFL Women's Manager).
SWAFL has produced the following players (please send any missed out players to the editor - N.B. Only if they were playing for NSW when announced as an All-Australian).
2000 – no mention in the annual report
2001 – Nikki Richards, Vicki Keys, Tarsha Gale, Natalie Morgan
2002 – Alena Summers, Belinda Sims, Tarsha Gale, Diane Kennedy
2003 – Stephanie Foster, Kerry Taylor
2004 – Jemma Still, Kerry Taylor, Stephanie Foster and Megan Webster.
2005 – Stephanie Foster, Talei Owen*
2006 – Talei Owen
2007 – Cassi Bell
2008, 2010 – no carnival held
2009 – Natalie Redford
* Played for Australia against Ireland in the International Rules.
Pictured is Chelsea Randall at the 2009 AFL Womens National Championships in Perth and our three lucky footballers. (Other photos taken by Slattery Media which may explain the bluriness).
Last Modified on 24/06/2010 11:37