NSW/ACT is delighted to announce the launch of the first ever Female AFL Academies in the region, giving 200 females the opportunity to hone their skills ahead of the National Female competition in 2017.
The female academies will be based at four venues – Canberra, Wagga Wagga, Sydney and Newcastle – with up to 200 females taking part across the four cities.
The Academies, to be run by AFL NSW/ACT as part of its talent development program, will be comprised of two age groups – Women’s (Over 18), and Youth Girls (Between 14-18) – and will be modelled on the existing Sydney Swans GWS GIANTS Academies, with venues and facilities shared where possible.
A run of female Academy games will also be played on the same days as the existing junior Academy games series between the Swans and GIANTS’ academies, held in February and March this year.
Former Sydney Swans player Tim Schmidt has been appointed to head the program as NSW/ACT Female Football High Performance.
“I am delighted to be given the opportunity to steer the next phase of female football growth in NSW/ACT, as we head towards a national competition,” Schmidt said.
AFL NSW/ACT CEO Sam Graham said this announcement caps a significant year for AFL in NSW/ACT.
“Women’s and girls’ AFL are the fastest growing segments of football in NSW/ACT, and the formation of these academies comes as a result of demand from our extremely enthusiastic and driven female participants,” Graham said.
As a part of the selection process AFL NSW/ACT is calling all age eligible females to attend the academy trials, which will commence in early 2016. There is no previous AFL experience required to nominate or trial for a place in the academy. Nomination details, trial dates, times, and locations will be found on the AFL NSW/ACT website.
Eligible players from the Sapphire Coast are encouraged to attend the open trials at the Canberra centre with details below:
Location: Football Park, Phillip, ACT.
Date:
- Wednesday 20th Jan 6:30-8pm
- Thursday 28th Jan 6:30pm-8pm
- Tuesday 2nd Feb 6:30pm-8pm
- Thursday 4th Feb 6:30pm-8pm
Time: 6:30-8:00pm
Last Modified on 18/03/2016 18:07