EDFL: Aberfeldie’s Lara Churchill to play in Woomeras and Medleys clash
One of the rising female stars from Aberfeldie will test herself against some of Australia’s best under 16 players this weekend with several other Victorians joining her.
Essendon
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Aberfeldie’s Lara Churchill is a star on the rise.
The under 16s girls footballer has been recognised for her stunning start to the season with selection in the Woomeras team, featuring under 16 Indigenous players from across the country, to play against the Medleys multicultural side on Sunday.
Churchill played her first season of footy at Abers in 2021 playing 11 games in a Covid effected season being named in the best six times.
Those were performances which earned her a place on the Calder Cannons NAB League Girls list this season.
In her only game she finished with three goals from nine touches.
Her Aberfeldie coach Ash Koenig said Churchill was a player who “rises to the occasion against the better teams”.
“She’s a fantastic player who can play right across the ground,” he said.
“I’ve challenged her to play different position this years and she has really brought in. Lara is quiet off the field but as soon as she steps over the line, you can see she has the ability.
“At training, she provides us with a lot of voice and is always positive with her teammates.
“Sunday will be a terrific opportunity for her.”
Koenig said Churchill was a player who could go forward and kick goals as well.
“She’s a nice kick of the footy,” he said.
“Sometimes we’ll put her in the ruck and she does a great job despite being smaller than her opponent. She enjoys hitting bodies.”
Joining Churchill as the other Victorian selections in the game will be Chloe Kodagoda (Parkside), Judie Goldman (South Melbourne Districts) and Kisha Monleon who will all play on the Medleys team.
Jemika and Shaleah Cooper, who play for Moama on the NSW-Victoria border, will play alongside Churchill on the Woomeras side.
The Woomeras will be coached by former West Coast and Fremantle AFLW player Cassie Davidson, who will be assisted by Melbourne AFLW midfielder Krstel Petrevski and Hawthorn VFLW on-baller Jordan Mifsud.
Amanda Robertson has been named head coach of the Medleys, with Hawthorn AFLW signing Akec Makur Chuot, GWS Giants midfielder Haneen Zreika and Sabrin Nyawela also part of the coaching panel.
Selection in the Woomeras and Medleys programs provides players access to a national online mentoring program to improve their leadership and football skills, which will take place from now until December.
The game will be played at Geelong’s GMHBA Stadium on Sunday from 12.30pm after an AFLW Futures match.
It can be live streamed at https://www.womens.afl/talent-pathway/u18s.
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