World Footy News

As the need for top level athletic talent for the upcoming 2017 Women's national league becomes more obvious the AFL today released the following announcement that will aim to find talent from other sports in Australia.  As yet there are no announcements about talent from outside Australia being included.

AFL Media Release

The AFL is pleased to announce a female talent search campaign will be held throughout Australia in early 2016.

The campaign is designed to give female athletes who are currently active in other sports the opportunity to test their football fitness and skills.

 

AFL General Manager Game and Market Development, Simon Lethlean said the testing sessions will seek new talent amongst athletes who are not currently registered as Australian football players.

“We want Australian football to be the sport of choice for female athletes and we know there are many talented footballers who have backgrounds in other sports,” he said.

“We want to engage with these players and give them the chance to enhance their football skills while expanding our talent pool as we look towards the national women’s competition in 2017.”

AFL Female Ambassador and Melbourne captain Daisy Pearce will lead the sessions with state female academy coaches. The AFL has partnered with Rookie Me to conduct the athletic testing.

“This is an exciting time for women’s football and I’m looking forward to travelling around the country and meeting the athletes,” Daisy said.

“Many of the current stars in our game have also competed at the elite level in other sports. If we find more of them through the talent search the standard of our sport can only improve.”

Athletes identified during the campaign will be offered places in female state academies (which support players already identified) and places in state league clubs.

Athletes will experience familiar Draft Combine testing; standing and running vertical jumps, agility, 20m sprint and the shuttle run (beep test).

Participants will get an opportunity to demonstrate skills including kicking, marking and hand balling as well as their decision making, spatial awareness and appetite to compete.

Female Talent Search dates:

Melbourne

9am-2.30pm

Saturday January 23

Whitten Oval

 

Perth

8am-1.30pm

Saturday January 30

Trinity

 

Brisbane

9am-2.30pm

Sunday February 7

Anglican Church Grammar

 

Adelaide

9am-2.30pm

Sunday February 14

Prince Alfred College

 

Sydney

9am-2.30pm

Sunday February 21

St Ignatius College

 

Hobart

9am-2.30pm

Sunday February 28

Newtown High School