SEQ AFL under 17 girls – the competition’s big improvers
SEQ AFL under 17 girls footy: Meeting the big improvers of the Australian football competition
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The AFL SEQ under 17 girls competition is in full swing featuring some of the best young footy talent in the competition.
But the competition is not just for the elite players of the code – it is competition for all seasons, for all types of players, some experienced, and some with little or no experience now learning the game. And it is also for those at a high level who keep improving.
So who have been some of the big improvers in training and during matches this season?
Here we highlight some of them.
Tweed Coolangatta
Charli Yette: Charli has made a great start to season 2023, a classic winger. “She runs arc to arc, holding width,’’ explained her coach Dave Palmucci. “She provides a great defensive exit option and can run and carry and deliver into attacking 50.’’
Southport:
Lauren Game: She has only played two games but is a great athlete that loves to compete. “We think once she gets a few games behind her she’ll go to the next level,’’ said co-coach Marcus Gazsik. “In the two games she has kicked goals as a forward but has also played well both in the midfield and down back.’’
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Victoria Point Sharks:
Kirra de Ridder: A first year player, Kirra has been holding down the ruck position with confidence and class that belies her lack of experience.
“She is a tireless worker who goes hard at every contest, Kirra’s kicking has improved rapidly as has her marking, which is quickly developing into a real asset,’’ said coach Trevor Mayhew.
Olivia Petrillo: Olivia has quickly grown into her role as the team’s full forward, a position she also held down in the Brisbane Lions Academy’s under 16 team.
“Previously a hard, in and under midfielder, Olivia had transformed herself into a hard leading forward with a reliable, long-range kick prior to injury interrupting her season,’’ explained coach Trevor Mayhew.
Sienna Peckham: Another first-year player at Victoria Point who is rapidly improving, Sienna reads the play beautifully and loves to compete. Her improvement has been so rapid that she’s even spent time in the midfield as well as being trusted to hold down a key defensive post. “Her kicking is a work in progress but is improving by the week,’’ coach Mayhew said.
Mt Gravatt-Jindalee (Div 2)
Tahlia Butcher: At the beginning of the year Butcher was struggling to kick, said her coach Damien King. “Tahlia now hits her targets and marks with confidence it will be interesting to see where she is at come years end.’’
Tarnia King: King keeps improving each week her defensive side is sound. “She is now working on getting more of the football,’’ King said.
Wilston Grange
Issy Levine: According to her coach Jamie Sceney, Levine is a wonderful young lady to coach. “She regularly turns up to training early to work on her craft and as a result is one of our most reliable footballers,’’ he said.
“She loves winning contested footy and keeps putting herself in the right spots to get the ball.
“Issy is a very popular member of the team and subsequently voted into the leadership group by her peers.’’
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Sherwood
Lara Bellamywells: A second year footballer, coach Chris Bloor said she had “significantly developed her skills, knowledge of the game and attack on the ball’’.
Maroochydore
Katie Kerr. “This is her first year in the under 17’s and I am expecting her to grow and prosper into her as a midfielder,’’ said Roos coach Aaron Yates. “She is a tough player who wins the ball.’’
Bella Fenandez: She has played ruck most of her life, but the club believes her best football will be an on-baller roll. “We expect her to be versatile in the forwards and backs as well,’’ coach Aaron Yates said.
Morningside (Div 2)
Neva Bell: A talented all around sports person, Bellis juggling AFL and high level netball, and is a footballer full of potential. “She has great attack on the footy both in the midfield and through the backline and I expect her to go to new levels as the season progresses,’’ said coach Alan McGrath.
Coorparoo
Mikaela Findlay: Miki has played for a number of years but this season has really shown in the first few games what she is capable of. “She is willing to put herself in positions to compete in the marking contest or creating stoppages around the grounds’’ said coach Scott Harrison. “She will only improve more this year with each game.’’
Burleigh Bombers
Abby Faber:
Burleigh coach Emily Otto said Faber had “improved out of sight since first meeting her 18 months ago’’.
“She’s put a lot of work into improving her craft and has become a reliable kick. She provides great defensive pressure in our forward line and is able to use her kicks to set up set shots.’’ Otto said Faber was a selfless player and always willing to play her role and give her best. “She has recently broke her hand in her debut for Bond Uni Bullsharks Reserves team which required surgery, but we look forward to welcoming her back late in the season.’’
Wests Juniors
Lucy Denholm: Coach Mack McCabe said Denholm had shown she could cover a number of roles from key forward to a link up role on the wing.
Harriett Bridge: McCabe described her as “a tough defender who keeps working on her skills and is very hard to beat one-on-one’’.
Stevie Fisher: Fisher is another improver at Wests. She moved into defence this season and has done a fantastic job on opposition key forwards.
Broadbeach
Charlotte Newth: Newth was the most improved player according to her coach, James Dofter. “She is super in defence, but has been working hard on her fitness and her kicking to be an all around player for the Cats.’’
Sandgate Hawks
Ryley Gordon and Ruby Austin: Hawks coach Shane Watterson said this pair were unsung. “Both first year players, they keep getting better and better each week.’’
Surfers Paradise
Jas Nagle: Coach Chanel Fletcher said first year player Nagle was a natural footy player. “This is her very first year, but to most you wouldn’t know,’’ Fletcher said. “Jas continues to impress us with how quickly her skills continue to improve and develop. It is exciting to watch her continue to learn and grow.’’ She plays wing or back.
Tweed Coast Northern Rivers Tigers
Arianna Brown and Savannah Hampson
Arianna Brown, who’s pace and connection is inspiring the whole team, and Savannah Hampson, with versatility to play in nearly every position, are two of his team’s big improvers, according to coach Steve Foreman.
Originally published as SEQ AFL under 17 girls – the competition’s big improvers
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