The Western Australian Youth Girls team will head to Melbourne on September 6 for the first ever AFL National Youth Girls Carnival.
The team, consisting of 28 players under the age of 18, will compete against South Australia, Queensland, ACT/NSW and Victoria in a bid for national honours.
As part of the promotion of the national carnival the AFL started the “Follow the Flight of the Ball” initiative which saw a pink ball sent to each state to be photographed with famous icons or people, including Julia Gillard.
West Australian Football Commission Manager of Emerging Markets Clint Degebrodt, who is also travelling with the team as an assistant coach, said the National Carnival was an indication of the growing profile of female football within Australia and said it would be a great opportunity for WA girls to showcase their talent.
The AFL National Youth Girls Carnival is the idea of AFL National Female Development Manager and former WAFC Female Football Coordinator Jan Cooper.
Picture: WA team members ruck Georgia Peach (East Fremantle), half back Sally Ford (Joondalup Falcons) and utility Alex Williams (East Fremantle).
The Western Australian Youth Girls team:
Coach: Megan O’Mara
Assistant Coach: Nicole Graves and Clint Degebrodt
Team Manager: Leigh Elder
Fitness and Conditioning Coach: Dana Pimley
Head Trainer: Neridah Lloyd
Key players:
Kellie Gibson (Swan Districts)- WAWFL 2010 Best first year player.
Nicola Iriks (East Fremantle)- WAWFL 2010Division 2 fairest and best.
Ashlee Atkins (Swan Districts)- WAWFL 2010 Division 1 leading goal kicker.
Sarah Noga (Coastal Titans)- State open women’s and state 16’s schoolgirls football.
Tiah Haynes (East Fremantle)- Smarter than Smoking Schoolgirls Champion.
Lauren Osborne(Swan Districts)- Swan Districts powerful midfielder.
Levi Mculloch(Peel Thunderbirds)- Peel Smarter Than Smoking champion and power forward.
