After recently attending the Female AFL High Performance Academy in Melbourne with the top 20 players from around Australia, not only do I feel I have grown as a player but as a person as well.

Over the 5 days we improved our skills and performance by participating in various training sessions including kicking technique, strength and conditioning, gym sessions and running technique.

We also conducted in a range of testing including the Buckley/Lloyd test (performed by Matthew Lloyd himself!) and fitness testing which was run by Ben Dickson and Robbie Campbell at the Western Bulldogs training facility.

Not only were Ben, Robbie and Matthew fantastic players, they also were really nice, approachable guys who you can learn a lot from.

Then came the mental side of things. This for me was the most interesting part of the camp.

We did a nutritional session learning the right foods to eat when in training and the importance of a healthy diet then we put our knowledge into practice by cooking a 3 course meal at the Victoria Institute of Sport with Dineamics.

Also, we did various personal development activities such as; what makes a good role model and decision making.

Then it came time for the game. After having breakfast with the Carlton boys we were all pumped and ready to play! We played a 9-a-side game at Visy Park which was so much fun and such a great experience.

Straight after the game we headed off to the gym facilities at Visy Park.

 After doing recovery in a massive 40 degree pool with James Pattern it was time to enter the ice bath with a built in treadmill…. At first we entered and began to laugh. Then, 5 minutes passed and we all became quiet and cold. By the time 10 minutes were up I had no expression left on my face and no feeling from my chin down!

I have to admit it was very cool to have the opportunity to use the amazing facilities at Visy park and not to forget the amazing meals cooked every day for us according to our training schedule by Jason Johnson.

I feel very privileged to have had the opportunity to learn from some of the best in the business and to use state of the art facilities.

I already have shared plenty with my club and hope to encourage other girls to become involved in this amazing game! I believe female football has so much room to grow with amazing people involved.