Five Queenslanders join players from around the country at the NAB AFL Women’s National Academy camp taking place at the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra this week.
The seven-day camp includes combine testing, skill sessions, mentoring, a tour of the Australian Defence Force facilities and match-play.
Tori Groves-Little, Lauren Bella, Kalinda Howarth, Arianna Clarke and Ruby Blair are among the 33 players who have received a NAB AFL Women’s National Academy scholarship and will come together for accelerated Australian Football and personal development camps to be held within Australia over a 12-month period.
The intake includes two squads; Level One – players who are 16 years of age and Level Two – which includes the best 17 year olds across the country who are eligible for the 2017 NAB AFL Women’s Draft.
The squads were selected by AFL and state talent managers following the 2016 AFL Women’s Under-18 Championships.
Academy players to have access to;
- Training with AFL Clubs (which occurred in November and December 2016)
- High Performance training camps in January and April
- Athlete management systems
- Expert AFL coaches, sports science and sports medicine staff
NAB AFL Academy National Head Coach Luke Power said the NAB AFL Women’s National Academy is the first element of new development initiatives that will support female football.
“Women’s football participation numbers have been steadily climbing over the past five years to now represent a quarter of all Australian Football participants and the AFL is committed to supporting the elite players reach the highest level – place on an AFLW list,” Mr Power said.
“The NAB AFL Women’s National Academy players will enjoy the same number of contact hours, insight and expert coaching the men’s program does, including time with AFL clubs.
“I look forward to seeing the players’ development throughout the year.”
First NAB AFL Women’s National Academy intake
Level 1
Madison Prespakis (VIC)
Brooke Struylaart (VIC)
Jordyn Allen (VIC)
Rebecca Webster (VIC)
Courtney Jones (VIC)
Tyla Hanks (VIC)
Georgia Clarke (VIC)
Denby Taylor (VIC)
Tori Groves-Little (QLD)
Lauren Bella (QLD)
Courtney Hodder (WA)
Sabreena Duffy (WA)
McKenzie Dowrick (WA)
Alyce Parker (NSW)
Jordyn Joliffe (NSW)
Angela Priftis (NSW)
Danielle Ponter (NT)
Nikki Gore (SA)
Level 2
Darcy Guttridge (VIC)
Georgia Gee (VIC)
Charis Ulu Peniata (VIC)
Monique Conti (VIC)
Georgia Gourlay (VIC)
Isabella Huntington (VIC)
Kalinda Howarth (QLD)
Arianna Clarke (QLD)
Ruby Blair (QLD)
Kate Bartlett (WA)
Emily McGuire (WA)
Sonia Dorizzi (WA)
Tayla McAuliffe (WA)
Daria Bannister (TAS)
Haneen Zrieka (NSW)
NAB is proud to support the development of female footballers throughout the country from grassroots players and football communities to the NAB AFL Women’s Competition.
The NAB AFL Women’s National Academy is part of the NAB AFL Women’s Rising Stars Program.
The NAB AFL Women’s Rising Stars Program consists of the following elements:
- NAB AFL Women’s Rising Star
- NAB AFL Women’s Draft
- NAB AFL Women’s Draft Combine
- NAB AFL Women’s Under-16 Championships
- NAB AFL Women’s Under-18 Championships
- NAB AFL Women’s National Academy
NAB has been supporting footy from grassroots to the elite level since 2002.
