Caris hopes to follow sister into AFL Women’s
GREATER Western Victoria (GWV) Rebels’ Maggie Caris is on the verge of following her sister Rene into the AFL Women’s competition, after the AFL Women’s National Academy member received a Draft Combine invitation earlier this month. While the lockdown period that ended her top-age year might have worried the talented ruck, she was grateful to […]
Velardo makes switch to footy after decade-long basketball success
FOR many it might be a move that you want not expect to see coming. Talented basketballer Amelia Velardo had played high-level competitive basketball for up to a decade and it had been her main focus throughout her sporting career. A school captain at Overnewton Anglican Community College and juggling her Year 12 studies, it […]
Dual-sport Matin keen to find right balance
AS a talented cricketer and footballer, Dandenong Stingrays’ Jess Matin is eyeing off a way to juggle both sports into the future. Having already represented Victoria at the cricket Under 18 National Championships as recent as this year, the Stingrays small forward earned an AFL Women’s Draft Combine invite after impressing in the few NAB […]
Knights star Bannan leaves it all out on the field
BUDDING AFL Women’s draftee Alyssa Bannan came into her top-age year looking to “put everything out onto the field with every game.” Little did she, or any of her fellow NAB Leaguers know that their season would be cut short to just three games, but an increase in work-rate, work ethic, and intensity certainly payed […]
Flying solo: Vandenberg the surprise packet
IT is a unique experience being able to test at an AFL Women’s Draft Combine, but it is made all the more unique if you are the only one invited. While Tasmania’s Charlie Vandenberg was not alone for company – the Tasmanian AFL Draft Combine invites were there – the state hockey representative was the […]
One game enough for talented Astbury
NOT many aspiring footballers receive an invitation to the AFL Women’s Draft Combine. Even fewer have only played one elite junior game of Australian rules football. In fact, that exclusive club belongs to one player – Alice Astbury. The Greater Western Victoria (GWV) over-age talent recently tuned 19 over the break and was not expecting […]
Surprised McRae loving footy journey
WHEN she first started football, Grace McRae and her father had to “sneak around” behind her mother’s back in order to play the new sport. Eventually her mother caught on and everyone was on board, and now it is hard to keep it a secret after the Gippsland Power midfielder was invited to the AFL […]
Charlton prepared to live out “dream come true”
A PASSIONATE Crows fan and talented teenager who has been touted as one of South Australia’s top young talents in recent years, Teah Charlton is not far away from living out her dream of playing at the elite level. One of four players to receive an AFL Women’s Draft Combine invitation, Charlton is not expected […]
Team-first Laing sees positives in season cancellation
AT first it was heartbreaking. Being told that the NAB League Girls season was put on hold and then eventually cancelled. For a top-age player it was the news no one ever expects coming into the most important year of their football career, and for someone like a club captain, it burns deep. But for […]
Successful basketballer Eldridge focuses on footy
FORMER national representative basketball player, Jorja Eldridge made a decision last year to give up years of basketball and focus on an Aussie rules career. The talented baller had been playing since she was 11-years-old and represented the South Australian state country team on five occasions, then went to a national championship a further three […]
