By Ant Wingard
A mammoth eight Queenslanders have been named in the NAB AFL Women’s Academy for 2020 as the opportunity for women’s footballers continues to grow across the state.
The eight Queenslanders are headlined by versatile tall pair Maddison Levi and Annise Bradfield, who formed integral parts of the 2019 Queensland side that competed at the NAB AFL Women’s Championships in July this year.
The Gold Coast duo of Bradfield (Southport) and Levi (Bond University) join top-agers Zimmorlei Farquharson (Calamvale/Yeronga South Brisbane) and Townsville product Daisy D’Arcy (Hermit Park) as those named in the Academy squad who are eligible for the 2020 NAB AFL Women’s Draft.
With four more teams joining the AFLW competition in 2020, the demand for female football talent has never been greater and as a result, the intake of academy members 17 Level One players for those ages 16 years of age and eligible for the 2021 NAB AFLW Draft.
The four Queenslanders named in the level one portion of the squad are Teagan Levi (Broadbeach) and Maroochydore trio Bella Smith, Maggie Harmer and Mikayla Pauga.
As part of the NAB AFLW Academy, players will have access to training sessions with AFLW clubs (between December 2019 and January 2020) as well as high performance training camp sin January, April and August.
Expert coaches, sports science and medicine staff will also be at their disposal throughout the year in a bit to improve their athlete management.
AFL National Female Talent Manager Sophia Samartzis said the fourth intake is the biggest squad to date.
“With the introduction of four new AFLW teams in 2020 the demand for young talent is higher than ever,” she said.
“I look forward to the development of the players over the next 12 months as they strive for the dream of playing in the AFLW.”
Queensland trio in the 2020 NAB AFL Women’s National Academy
Level Two Academy
Annise Bradfield Southport QLD
Zimmorlei Farquharson Calamvale/Yeronga QLD
Daisy D’Arcy Hermit Park QLD
Maddison Levi Bond University QLD
Level One Academy
Teagan Levi Broadbeach QLD
Bella Smith Maroochydore QLD
Maggie Harmer Maroochydore QLD
Mikayla Pauga Maroochydore QLD
