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AFL Women’s Under 18 All Australian Team announced
MORE than one third of the 2018 AFL Women’s Under 18 All Australian side is still more than 12 months away from being drafted onto and AFL Women’s list. The 22-player team was announced at the conclusion of the State of Origin match last night, with Victoria making up more than half of the team, […]
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Bate kicking goals at all levels
HOLLY Bate has never really listened to popular opinion. If she had, she might never have joined Prahran and kick-started a football career that would see her take out the TAC Cup Girls Leading Goalkicker Award in her top-age year. Looking back, Bate is glad she took the chance on running around with the boys. “Well […]
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Walmsley grabs opportunity with both hands
IT was no surprise that Geelong Falcons’ Sophie Walmsley took to Australian Rules without much work, having already rowed, played local netball and school soccer. “It started last year, I was playing netball with Newtown & Chilwell and I was in Year 12 and the girls that were playing footy on Sunday just said ‘come have a […]
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AFLW dream burning bright for DeGiacomi
A LATECOMER to the sport, Geelong Falcons’ key forward Sachi DeGiacomi has come a long way in a few years since taking up Aussie Rules, and now she cannot let it go. “I started football in Year 9,” she said. “When one of my friends asked me to come play at a club and originally my parents […]
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Humble O’Connor learns a lot from her football opportunities
NORTHERN Knights ruck, Neve O’Connor did not think she would be a part of the TAC Cup Girls program. Nor did she think she would be selected for Vic Metro. The 18 year-old ticked both those boxes this year and is enjoying learning about Australian Rules through these opportunities. Before she played at the Knights, O’Connor was […]
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Father’s influence inspired Jemma Owen’s love for Aussie Rules
BEING the daughter of a man that has played and coached over 500 games in Melbourne’s south east region is no easy feat to live up to. Throw in an uncle who is a former Victorian Football Association (VFA) player for Oakleigh, and you have one talented football family. But perhaps the most talented of […]
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Passionate McLaren leads by example in football journey
PERSEVERANCE and grasping opportunities have helped Oakleigh Chargers captain, Hannah McLaren reach the highest level of her junior football career. From somewhat sulking on the sidelines at Auskick, to leading the TAC Cup Girls side out each week, McLaren is a player who has grown throughout her football journey. “I started playing Auskick,” she said. “I used […]
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Country girl Caris passing on lessons from “amazing experiences”
WHEN the siren sounded at the end of last year’s Herald Sun Shield Grand Final, Ballarat Grammar’s Rene Caris joined her teammates in rejoicing the win. It was not just a one-point victory, it was the result of many years of hard work and a close bond between the players. “I first started when I moved away […]
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From “definitely not” interested in footy; Woods eyes off an AFLW career
FROM never intending to play football at all let alone at the highest level, Eastern Ranges co-captain Emerson Woods has certainly changed her tune of the past couple of years, going from strength to strength. Unlike many of her contemporaries, Woods found her love for the game after a while and now her sights are […]
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Thirty-six invited to AFL Women’s Draft Combine
THE next wave of AFL Women’s talent will strut their stuff at Etihad Stadium in October after the 10 AFLW clubs selected the players for the AFL Women’s Draft Combine. Thirty-six players were selected from across Australia, with Victoria unsurprisingly having 22 invited – 12 from Vic Country and 10 from Vic Metro. Western Australia […]