The Futures program provided 32 under-16 girls with opportunities to further develop their skills over four weeks under the watch of AFLW players and coaches.
AFLW Head Coach Daisy Pearce gave the young players a pre-game rev up, before watching on as her players were involved in the match as coaches, water runners or cheering on from the sidelines.
Throughout the month-long program, Lauren Wakfer, Emily Elkington, Mackenzie Webb and Georgie Cleaver all assisted as line coaches whilst Belinda Smith led the group as the Head Coach, all providing a wealth of knowledge to the up-and-coming footballers who may one day take the field alongside them.
Smith was thrilled to see all the hard work the Futures girls had put in over the four weeks pay off with slick ball movement and an exceptional level of skill being major highlights.
“The girls played so well on Wednesday in what was an exciting and fast paced game. I was really impressed with the skill level of the group and how hard they attacked the ball,” she said.
“They have improved enormously over the course of the program with the development in their knowledge of the game and application of training standards becoming really apparent in the match.”
With the Futures program now complete, the girls will put many of the skills they’ve learnt into action as they look to prove themselves as one of WA’s best and make the State 16’s team.
Academies Coordinator Chad Morrison praised the showcase of underage talent coming through the pathway and highlighted the improvement in footballing standard year-on-year.
As people at the game would’ve saw the skill of all the girls hitting targets, taking really good marks and just the pattern of movement in play was fantastic to watch. It’s going to be exciting seeing these girls progressing into the State 18’s and see where their football takes them.
“These girls ranging between 13 and 16 years old have come into our program for the last month, and for them to be coached by our AFLW players and have that connection with their role models putting time and effort into them is huge for their development.
“The growth of female football and the role models that we’ve got in the female space at our Club is second to none.”
