Long travel hours not a deterrent for footy “addict” Williamson
THE total kilometres Swan Hill’s Megan Williamson clocks up each week on public transport might be mind boggling for many, but for the Bendigo Pioneers skipper and now Williamstown VFL Women’s midfielder, she would not have it any other way. Williamson has university in Melbourne from Monday to Thursday, but it does not stop her attending […]
Jets’ positive focus the key to turnaround
A MONTH to this day, Western Jets players trudged off Shepley Oval on the receiving end of a 21-goal belting at the hands of Dandenong Stingrays. After a strong start to the season which yielded to wins from three games, the uncharacteristic heavy loss was not what the Jets wanted to stand for in 2018. […]
Bat or ball, Rebels’ dual sport athlete keen to impress
DESPITE always having a bat and ball in her hands, an oblong shaped Sherrin was never too far out of reach in Sophie Van De Heuvel‘s household. Growing up, Van De Heuvel was always a talented cricketer, but her family’s love for all things Australian Rules helped inspire her to give the sport a go. […]
Haua making waves in the sunshine state
LAST year a dreadlocked Geelong star turned heads with a stunning seven-goal performance in the TAC Cup Grand Final, but five months earlier, a little known Queenslander recorded a baker’s dozen in central Queensland. It was April 22, 2017, and 16 year-old Kane Haua walked off the ground having snagged 12 majors for his side […]
Lion cubs ready to roar in 2018
QUEENSLAND’S top young talent is continuing to grow, with 2018 promising to be another busy year for the Brisbane Lions Academy. The Lions have a number of talented prospects they will develop and showcase across the season. Lions Academy manager Luke Curran was kind enough to give AFL Draft Central his time in discussing what […]
Toohey enjoys fresh Eastern challenge
ON a scorching afternoon in Beaconsfield, new talent manager Sean Toohey — a former homicide squad detective and Sergeant with Victoria Police — witnessed his first game as part of the Eastern Ranges TAC Cup program; a win for the girls’ squad in the first round of the season against the Greater Western Victoria Rebels. The vibe around the ground, […]
Confidence the key to girls’ success
“IF we coach young female footballers the way we coach boys then we will lose them to the game.” This is how Nathan Burke, high performance coach, and writer from SEN’s Inside Football magazine, portrays coaching girls. Scott Armour, new coach of the Gippsland Power TAC Cup Girls team, agrees wholeheartedly with Nathan Burke’s sentiments. […]
Progression leads to performance
FOR eight years Natalie Grindal has seen the transformation of girls footy, going from a 30-player state academy team that would train together; to now a clear pathway for girls to play footy at the highest level at AFLW. Grindal highlighted the importance of the AFLW, and how it has given young girls something to […]
Swapping the wicket keeping gloves for an AFL dream
CRICKET in the summer, footy in the winter. It’s pretty simple isn’t it? For talented 17-year-old Nathan Murphy, it was a realistic experience with one having to give way in his final year of schooling. This time last year, Murphy was gearing up for the wicket-keeping job in the Vic Metro Under 19 team at […]
Finals first priority for dedicated Higgins
FEW under 18 players have a football resume quite like Jack Higgins. The Oakleigh Chargers’ midfielder/forward added a Morrish Medal to his already bulky CV to go with two Vic Metro best and fairests (at under 16s and under 18s level), an All-Australian nod, a Kevin Sheahan Medallist as the best under 16s player at […]
