Chapman’s unassuming rise to success
“STAND there and don’t touch the ball.” They were the first words uttered to Geelong Falcons’ Abbey Chapman when she stepped onto a football ground for the first time. It might have been a bit abrupt and imposing had the words not come from a familiar face. “My sister told me to stand there and […]
Douglass dedicated to self-improvement
AIMING to just improve and develop her game regardless of her future post-AFL Women’s Draft next week, Bendigo Pioneers’ Kate Douglass is a player who has always been in and around football and that is not likely to change any time soon. “I started off just kicking with my dad and brother because my brother […]
Daicos, Edwards among 150 players named in 2020 AFL Academy Squads
ONE-hundred and fifty of the top identified 2020 and 2021 AFL Draft talents have been named in the NAB AFL Academy Squads today. The program sees players from across each state and territory take part in high performance camps focusing on players’ on and off-field education throughout the month of December. In what has been […]
Harley provides leadership target for Chargers
IN a much improved season compared to last, Oakleigh Chargers had plenty of top-age players and bottom-age players who experienced their first taste of NAB League Girls action the year before and came into the season much better prepared. One of the leaders of that group was Emily Harley who provided not only a strong […]
Pescud thrives on contested game
AFTER experiencing the AFL Women’s Under-18 Championships as a bottom-ager last year, West Australian Taylor Pescud has used the experience of returning in her top-age year to enjoy the moments along the way. “I definitely enjoyed it (this year) a lot more and I felt a lot more confident how to play and how to […]
Lagioia loves team aspect of footy
COLLINGWOOD premiership player, Gemma Lagioia has been in and around Australian rules football for more than a decade and her ability to do some magical things with ball-in-hand attest to her experience. The Oakleigh Chargers’ talent has risen through the program and put together a consistent season, winning the club’s best and fairest award and […]
Improved Georgostathis backs up sensational bottom-age year
IT is hard to imagine that a player who won their club’s best and fairest award in their bottom-age year could surprise you in their top-age one, but for Western Jets’ captain Elisabeth Georgostathis, she has gone to another level in 2019. Her numbers, influence, opportunities and testing show just that, with the tireless midfielder […]
Lesosky-Hay blessed for the opportunities
BY her own admission, Luka Lesosky-Hay has felt very lucky. The balanced midfielder has followed the women’s football pathway at the right time, moving through the system as it continually grew, picking up a premiership with the Geelong Falcons, earning Vic Country representation, and playing Victorian Football League Women’s (VFLW) for the Geelong Cats. Now […]
Wood tackles all challenges in top-age year
AFTER missing out on the AFL Women’s Under-18 Championships last year due to injury, Greater Western Victoria (GWV) Rebels’ Ella Wood was not going to let anything stop her missing her top-age championships. The tough inside midfielder earned her place in Vic Country’s side for the championships following a NAB League Girls season where she […]
Former hockey junior McDonald ready to fly
MANY current and future AFL Women’s players have come from other sports, or tried out other codes before settling on Australian rules football. For Sophie McDonald, she is no different with the former hockey playing heading down to a West Coast Eagles identification day to give it a crack, and 12 months later she earned […]
Sheppard follows sisters to grasp opportunities
FOLLOWING in the footsteps of her older sisters, Paige Sheppard was lucky enough to already have people she could lean on in the female football pathway. The Geelong Falcons’ top-ager earned Vic Country selection after a strong year, which then followed on by a National Draft Combine invitation. Speaking at the combine, Sheppard recalled how […]
Vernon hopes to follow in footsteps of former Demon and Stingray
A SWITCH of ends helped Brooke Vernon find her role in the NAB League Girls competition, flourishing as a rebounding defender after spending her bottom-age year as a forward. Following in the footsteps of fellow Stingrays’ and local club Rye teammate, Jordyn Allen, Vernon is hoping her consistent year is enough to see her land […]
